Residential Contractor Boot Camp
Construction Delays in the Time of Coronavirus: A Legal Perspective
A statute of repose is a law that sets a fixed time limit after which a lawsuit cannot be brought regardless of when an alleged injury occurred or was discovered....more
The NSW Court of Appeal in Roberts Co (NSW) Pty Ltd v Sharvain Facades Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2025] NSWCA 161 has confirmed that, under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)...more
Businesses — especially service providers like contractors, subcontractors, consultants and design professionals — rely on their contracts to define their risks in the marketplace. For decades, a legal doctrine known as “the...more
Many construction contracts include a provision that prohibits the parties from recovering “consequential” damages in the event of a breach. Sometimes parties will negotiate and agree to a waiver of consequential damages that...more
A federal judge in Oklahoma last week ruled against an electrical subcontractor who quit work before finishing because it was allegedly unsafe to continue. The court found that the subcontractor was simply losing money, and...more
With more than 40 years of experience in construction mediations, I’ve seen how early mediator involvement can significantly streamline the resolution process. By engaging a mediator early—before discovery heats up—parties...more
In a closely watched order issued July 11, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida addressed a previously unresolved and critical question under Florida law: whether remediation costs for defective...more
The Utah Court of Appeals delivered a significant ruling – including its length, approximately 12,500 words – underscoring the critical importance of adhering to contract provisions, particularly regarding payment terms in...more
Often times, subrogation practitioners take the “kitchen sink” approach when pursuing claims: they name all potentially liable parties under all available legal theories and whittle down from there. With construction defect...more
Court rules typically govern, among other things, court procedures, filing requirements, and timelines/deadlines for filing papers. Failing to comply with court rules and procedures can lead to serious and potentially costly...more
In addition to two other newly enacted Texas laws coming out of the most recent legislative session affecting the construction industry, Governor Greg Abbott also signed HB 2960, providing updates to Texas’ “home-rule”...more
Construction law in the United States consists of two main bodies of legal rules. The first, federal law, applies to contracts involving the U.S. government and its agencies. The second, state law, applies to pretty much...more
In Dobson v. Archibald, the Washington Supreme Court addressed and confirmed statutory analyses concerning the required contractor registration in Washington. 1 Wash. 3d 102, 523 P.3d 1190 (2023). Contractors and potential...more
In the world of construction, it is essential for both prime contractors and lower-tier subcontractors to carefully manage financial risk when negotiating subcontract agreements. While a party’s ability to distinguish and...more
The UK Supreme Court’s (Court) decision in URS Corporation Ltd v. BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21 resolves key questions around the recoverability of remediation costs where the developer no longer owns the property and has no...more
Builder’s risk insurance is a cornerstone of effective risk management in the construction industry. It offers protection against a variety of physical and financial risks that can impede the successful and timely completion...more
On May 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of Ohio passed on an opportunity to settle a long-standing legal question: Does Ohio law require a trial court to conduct an oral hearing before compelling arbitration under R.C. 2711.03?...more
Federal construction contracts often involve unforeseen delays. The key question is who is responsible for the resulting costs. A new decision from the ASBCA provides a blueprint for how contractors can maximize recovery...more
On Monday, June 9, 2025, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Missouri real estate developer could not recover insurance proceeds for lost rental income arising out of a retaining wall failure that caused delays...more
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has rejected a contractor’s performance bond claim due to the lack of adequate notice to the subcontractor’s surety (see Flintco LLC v. Total Installation Management Specialists, Inc., No. 120,100...more
Large public infrastructure projects typically involve several stakeholders and a complex array of contracts and subcontracts. A thoughtful approach to the negotiation and drafting of contractual dispute resolution clauses...more
Construction bonds are vital tools in the construction industry. A construction bond is an instrument arising out of suretyship law. A project owner may require a contractor to obtain one or more types of construction bond to...more
A contract’s limitation of liability or “LOL” clause is often the subject of considerable attention and negotiation between contracting parties and frequently arises during the contract drafting process in which owners,...more
Not long ago, I spoke with a general contractor on a multinational infrastructure project. “We had five nationalities on-site,” he said, “and six different ways of interpreting the same deadline.” He wasn’t exaggerating. ...more
Owners can trigger an insurance policy without formally alleging a tort claim if the contractor's defective work could support a tort claim. The Oregon decision may allow property owners to assert only a breach of...more