Construction

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Because construction liens can affect other interests in real property, both public notice and actual notice to certain parties with recorded interests are essential to a fair lien system. In Oregon, timely recording a claim of lien with the county recorder provides the required public notice and is a prerequisite to a valid lien. Oregon’s…

In Oregon, the construction lien was created by the legislature and codified in statute.  As such, construction lien rights were not recognized at common law or in equity. As statutes in derogation of the common law, Oregon’s rules of statutory construction dictate that lien statutes must be strictly construed. For example, Oregon courts will not extend lien…

Under Oregon law, construction lien claimants have a “direct” lien. Although the lien arises through the statutory agency of the contractor, for lien claimants other than the contractor, it is independent of the contractor and secures payment to the claimant regardless of whether the owner paid the contractor or whether the contractor waived or released…

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday practice for contractors and design professionals, and the legal implications are evolving. Two issues have emerged as particularly important: who owns AI-assisted design work, and what happens when data is shared with AI tools.

Design documents have long been protected by copyright, and design and construction contracts have…

A construction lien is a statutory interest in privately owned real property.  It is granted to individuals and entities who provide labor, materials, or services that improve the property.  Because the construction lien is an interest in real property, it has the potential to affect other competing interests in the same property. Oregon’s construction lien…

Like many modern American legal principles, the concept of the lien originated in England, where those who performed physical labor—so-called “mechanics”—were given a “charge” on the items upon which they worked. Shortly after the American Revolution, states and territories in the United States began enacting statutes giving builders lien rights to secure payment for their…

Getting construction underway before a contract is signed can feel like a practical necessity in fast-paced projects. But what seems like progress can create unintended legal and operational risks. Modern construction agreements are detailed documents that define scope, risk allocation, insurance, compensation, and dispute resolution. When work begins without those terms firmly in place, parties…

Insurance is meant to serve as a safety net for any construction project. But too often, that net has holes—some visible, many not. From ambiguous endorsements to missing documentation, small oversights can lead to major coverage gaps when a claim hits.

After decades of reviewing policies, litigating claims, and helping clients manage project risk, one…