Friday, February 25, 2000 QM work stopped in dispute   By Wendy Thomas Staff writer LONG BEACH Workers contracted to refurbish 365 hotel rooms aboard the Queen Mary have walked off the job, citing a dispute over payment with the ship's operator. Hospitality Furnishings International Inc., which began the $8 million project in January 1999, laid off between 50 and 60 men and halted construction late last month, said company president Henry Hass. "They haven't paid us since September," Hass said, estimating that he is owed $800,000. "We put a demand on them, and they're not able to come up with the money." But Joseph Prevratil, president of Queen's Seaport Development, which leases land from the city of Long Beach to operate the ship, said the dispute has nothing to do with the ship's finances, which he said are solid. Rather, Prevratil said he stopped paying Hospitality Furnishings because the workers were 10 months behind schedule and refused to sign a new contract that would extend the original February 2000 deadline and include a liquidated-damages clause. Such a clause would force the contractor to pay a certain amount of money if the job wasn't completed by the new deadline. "He couldn't agree to that," Prevratil said of Hass. "He really abandoned the job." The job, which is less than halfway done, includes restoring original wood walls and installing new ceiling frames, carpet and furniture in every room, said project superintendent Michael Allen. One of many things Hass and Prevratil can't seem to agree on is how many checks were issued to Hospitality before Prevratil stopped payment. Hass said Prevratil stopped payment on three checks. Prevratil said it was just one. The disagreement may be ironed out in court. Hass has indicated his desire to sue by filing a claim for damages against the city of Long Beach. The city, Hass contended, can be held liable as the ship's landlord. City investigator John Woodrum said the City Attorney's Office has referred the claim to Prevratil. "We feel, obviously, that we don't have anything to do with this," Woodrum said. "And we believe our tenants are going to do something to address the issue."