Indemnity and additional insurance provisions in commercial construction contracts may no longer be an “arm’s-length” negotiation in California. Dramatic changes are proposed in sb 474 (2011). We most recently saw this type of legislative intrusion directing contract language in the residential construction context with the significant modifications of Civil Code section 2728 a few years
Indemnity
Why Does the Proposed Indemnity Provision Look Different?
Have you noticed unusual language in a client’s contract pertaining to broad waivers of subrogation and acceptance of risks that you never thought your client would have? A brief trend in contract negotiations for many industrial projects has been the appearance of the so-called “knock-for-knock” indemnity provision. The term “knock-for-knock” is typically used for a…
The Risk of Builders Risk
Contractors and owners obtain builders risk policies to protect themselves from risks associated with construction. But a lack of care in understanding and negotiating the provision of the construction agreement governing the builders-risk policy and the policy itself may lead the parties to expose themselves to needless and significant liability.
What owners and general contractors…
New WA Supreme Court Opinion has several Construction law implications
On June 18, 2009 the Washington Supreme Court issued its decision in Cambridge Townhomes, et al. v. Pacific Star Roofing, Inc., et al., 81003-6. The decision touches on several issues of interest to the construction industry in Washington. In particular, the Court clarified the law about when a corporation may be held liable as…