Flood Basics still causing pain for some
Climate-Proofing Our Infrastructure: Building Climate Resilience with the Army Corps of Engineers
The Calm Before and After the Storm: How to Maximize Insurance Recovery for Catastrophic Weather Events
Law Brief®: David Pfeffer and Richard Schoenstein Discuss the Legal Implications of Infrastructure Collapses
Employer Responsibilities During the Texas Winter Storm
Filing Insurance Claims After the Texas Winter Storm
Hurricane Season Begins
The recent derecho storm caused severe damage throughout Houston and the surrounding area. The intense winds and flash flooding served as a costly lesson to many contractors and project owners. With the expected active...more
The recent extreme weather events in the UAE, characterised by unprecedented rain and flooding, serve as a stark reminder of the broader implications such severe weather can have on construction projects. We explore these...more
The cost of construction insurance in Florida is having developers second-guess their willingness to invest in the Sunshine State, while business leaders are growing concerned that higher insurance costs may slow Florida’s...more
The growing frequency and ferocity of major weather events and natural disasters have pushed the climate change discussion to the forefront of governments and businesses. Droughts, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic...more
In the construction industry, resilience generally refers to a building’s or infrastructure element’s ability to avoid, mitigate, absorb, or recover from physically destructive events, with an eye toward overall longevity. ...more
The New York region has experienced some of the worst air quality in the world as a result of the recent Canadian wildfires that continue to rage out of control, something weather forecasters believe will become more common...more
What follows is a cautionary tale for anyone involved who fails to follow a natural disaster preparedness plan. Taking short cuts and failing to follow agreed upon emergency preparedness plans are a recipe for disaster. While...more
Bridges, Natural Disasters and Liability - The Skanska Decision (Part 1) - What follows is a cautionary tale for anyone involved who fails to follow a natural disaster preparedness plan. Taking short cuts and failing to...more
Over the past couple decades, building codes have responded to disasters, rather than averting them. Resilience is now an essential design element needed to withstand our changing climate....more
On the latest Law Brief® episode, David Pfeffer, Partner and Chair of the Construction Practice, joins Host Richard Schoenstein to discuss the legal implications of building collapses, and more common partial collapses. David...more
Perception becomes reality. Whether alarmist or denier, believer or skeptic, those responsible for making decisions in response to the perceived threat of climate change have taken the side of caution over indecision and...more
Dear YouDig? We are thrilled to be adding a four story children’s wing to our hospital. Construction was progressing well and near completion. Last week a blizzard with sub-zero temperatures blew through. When we returned...more
Given the recent tropical systems that have hit Texas including Laura and Beta (who still has not departed), there will undoubtedly be a need for disaster remediation contractors to address some of the damage recently caused....more
Last year, we wrote a post to mark the sixth anniversary of “Superstorm Sandy,” a Category 1 storm that made landfall in October 2012. We also shared a preview of this year’s series of posts on extreme weather, and its impact...more
Given the numerous storms which appear to be set on making landfall in the United States, most prominently category four Hurricane Florence heading toward the East Coast, it makes sense to take a quick look at what...more
On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter. Given the likely bad weather, these six weeks of “down time” are the perfect opportunity for construction professionals to develop,...more
Anyone watching what has happened in Houston, and what is predicted to happen in Florida, immediately thinks about the safety and well-being of those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Once the rain stops, the water...more
In light of the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, we want to remind area builders of the 2011 law that applies to disaster remediation contractors performing work in Texas....more
Lend Lease (US) Constr. LMB Inc. v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., No. 11, 2017 N.Y. LEXIS 112 (N.Y. Feb. 14, 2017) - Early, in its opinion, the New York Court of Appeals noted that “[o]ne of the most dramatic images of...more
As solar technology continues to become more efficient, construction of solar plants is expanding rapidly around the world, including in colder environments that, in the past, may have lacked the irradiance necessary to make...more
Governor Scott, for the second time, has extended the State of Emergency issued for the Zika Virus. As a result, holders of development orders and building permits have another opportunity to claim a longer extension. The...more
In accordance with Section 252.363, Florida Statutes, when the governor declares a state of emergency in Florida, the time to exercise rights under a permit, authorization or development order is tolled and an opportunity to...more
If there's any good news in a hurricane or tropical storm, this is it: an officially declared state of emergency that allows permit-holders to extend their permits, as well as certain other government authorizations. Not only...more
Construction labor is always in the news. Last month, I wrote an article for the Nashville Business Journal challenging industry leaders on how to respond to the shortage of skilled labor in the area. Recently, the U.S....more
There is limited time remaining to claim the extension referenced below under the state wide Emergency Order issued by Governor Scott. The opportunity to claim the extension will end on January 25, 2016. Should you have a...more