MIAMI � The gate is down and the first occupants have finally begun moving into the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Federal Courthouse, Miami’s newest federal courthouse that has been mired in construction problems and was due to open in July 2005.

But the fight over who is responsible for the defects and delays is continuing. The government is seeking $3.5 million in liquidated damages from the contractor, the Dick Corp., which the government alleges walked off the job site last year.