A Bucks County, Pa., contracting firm was awarded more than $38.4 million last week in its suit against the city of Newark, Del., for terminating its contract to build a reservoir and later tarnishing its reputation by accusing the contractor of quitting the job.

In the suit, Donald M. Durkin Contracting Inc. of Southampton, Pa., claimed its contract to build a 318-million gallon reservoir was terminated after it raised concerns about whether the reservoir could be built as designed.