An engineering contractor has sued the entity behind the planned $200 million West End Summit and its general contractor for nonpayment.

Minnesota-based Harmon Inc. has claimed in Davidson County Chancery Court that West End Summit Development LLC, which is being developed by Alex Palmer, and Bovis Lend Lease have failed to pay $120,000 for services performed on what is now a big hole in the ground along West End Avenue.

According to a December 2007 letter attached as an exhibit, Harmon had been released to proceed with "engineering, shop drawings and those other activities as required to initiate the engineering for the curtainwall system(s) on the West End Summit Office Tower and Intercontinental Hotel 'Podium.'"

After several months of not being paid, Harmon placed a mechanic’s lien on the property in August.

Representatives with Palmer and Bovis couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

Typically, when a subcontractor is suing, it usually means that the developer is not paying the general contractor, either.

Bovis leases office space in Palmer's Palmer Plaza across West End from the West End Summit site. It also is working on government office projects Palmer has won.

Most of the action over the past three years with the proposed 900,000-square-foot West End Summit has been the announcement of a deal with InterContinental Hotels and the digging of the hole in the ground.

Like other developers, Palmer has been angling for an anchor office tenant so he could begin the project. The soured economy along with tight credit on large projects has delayed or killed plans here in Nashville as well as around the country.