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Construction Delays in the Time of Coronavirus: A Legal Perspective
A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida demonstrates how facts supported by documents generated during the project can be vital to prime contractor/subcontractor disputes. In...more
The court in AECOM v. Flatiron was back at it last week with rulings on the parties’ post-trial motions. As you may recall, the case was tried to a jury earlier this year. The jury returned a verdict for AECOM in the amount...more
Construction projects are often complex endeavors involving multiple parties, intricate contracts, and significant investments. Despite meticulous planning, disputes can arise, posing challenges that require legal expertise...more
In NASDI, LLC v. Skanska Koch Inc. Kiewit Infrastructure Co. (JV), 2024 WL 1270188 (2d Cir. Mar. 26, 2024), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment dismissing a...more
When a party fails to comply with a condition precedent, especially if such a provision includes a time limit for the fulfilment of the obligation, it will often advance various arguments to avoid the consequences of...more
In a significant decision on April 17, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld significant penalties and attorney fees awarded to C.J. Hughes Construction Company, Inc. under the Pennsylvania Contractor...more
In an unpublished opinion, a California appeals court has upheld a subcontractor’s mechanics lien claim despite the subcontractor’s failure to strictly follow the procedural requirements set forth in the mechanics lien...more
A mechanics’ lien is a powerful remedy that provides a contractor with a priority lien on a property and a fast means of being made whole if payment is not rendered at the completion of a job. In order to successfully obtain...more
Welcome to our third issue of 2024 for our construction industry insights e-newsletter - The Site Report. In honor of last week’s Women in Construction Week, last Friday’s International Women’s Day, and Women’s History...more
General Contractors may seek to condition payments to Subcontractors by using “pay-if-paid” or “pay-when-paid” clauses in their contracts. Typically, as the name suggests, pay-when-paid provisions concern the timing of...more
Retainage can be tricky in Alabama, particularly on public projects. In this post, we address retainage on public projects for public owners in the state (e.g., a governmental board, commission, agency, body, authority,...more
If you get into a construction dispute concerning payments made to your contractor, subcontractor, or supplier, you want to be sure that your lien waivers are enforceable in your jurisdiction. A lien waiver is an agreement...more
As a construction and design attorney who both negotiates contracts and litigates disputes, I’ve evaluated many a project gone wrong because of the rights, obligations, and remedies allowed by contract terms. Too often as...more
On June 12, 2023, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia held in WW Consultants, Inc. v. Pocahontas County Public Service District and A-3 USA, Inc., Orders Construction Company, Inc., and Pipe Plus, Inc., No. 21-0485,...more
On April 13, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 360 (Chapter 2023-22, Laws of Florida), which shortens the time period for bringing design and construction defect claims, clarifies the application of these time...more
The golden standard for the measure of damages in a construction case alleging defective or incomplete work are the actual costs of completion or repair. That is to say, if there is a breach (or multiple breaches) of quality...more
Contractors or subcontractors who perform offsite work can face unique challenges when an owner decides to suspend or end a project. Luckily, states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, have legislation that offers remedies...more
Bridges, Natural Disasters and Liability - The Skanska Decision (Part 2) - In the last edition of The Site Report, we discussed the legal issues surrounding the damage caused by Skanska's construction barges to the new...more
On June 7, 2022, the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued an opinion of first impression regarding the Massachusetts Prompt Payment Act, G.L. c. 149 § 29E (the “Act”). In Tocci Building Corp. v. IRIV Partners, LLC, Appeals Ct....more
Three cases have come out in the last year that will significantly impact construction law in North Carolina. - The Court in Crescent v. Trussway held that an owner of a commercial project cannot sue a subcontractor or...more
Here are some ideas about how contractors can manage risk through a construction contract. These ideas may be useful to owners as well. One foreseeable risk is breach. If a contractor’s work is defective, the owner may...more
Legislation about retainage has become common place as many states have adopted different limitations, requirements, and schemes. A recent case in Tennessee is a good reminder that you must pay attention to all of the...more
A federal district court in Washington recently rejected a subcontractor’s motion for reconsideration of a previously granted motion to stay in a Miller Act lawsuit (the Miller Act governs prime contractor bond requirements...more
The coined phrase “time is money” especially applies in the construction industry. Construction participants go to great lengths to build their projects on time and avoid delay costs. To facilitate timely project completion,...more
Property owners are often confronted with a contractor threatening a mechanic’s lien on their property. These liens may stem from a dispute between them and their contractor, or even between a subcontractor and a general...more