In my latest Daily Journal of Commerce Construction column, I discuss the construction lien rights for architects and engineers in Washington and Oregon. In these states, once construction lien rights have arisen the law requires further acts (such as sending notices to the project owner or recording formal notices within specific time frames) to keep
Heavy Fines for All: Working Without a Contractor’s License in California is Costly
I am surprised, and yet not surprised, to read about yet another subcontractor and general contractor that were cited for the subcontractor’s lack of a California contractor’s license. See "Another Subcontractor on Large Southern California Project Told To Halt Work, Fined for Not Having Contractors License" (May 13, 2014 notification by CSLB —
Do You Understand all that Insurance Jargon in Contract?
In my latest Daily Journal of Commerce Construction column, I discuss insurance jargon in contracts and use Commercial General Liability or “CGL” policies as an example. The terms “bodily injury,” “personal or advertising injury,” and “property damage” all have specific meanings in CGL policies. Since this language is not always intuitive, it is best to
Oregon’s New 5% Retention Rule May Force Unintended Consequences
In my latest Daily Journal of Commerce Construction column, I discuss Oregon’s new 5% retention rule. Parties negotiating construction contracts should stay mindful of how the new retention provisions may force changes to other contract and how such changes may affect all parties throughout construction of the project.
Read the full article at the Daily Journal
The Latest DIRT in California: Additional Mandatory Reporting for Excavators, Operators and Contractors?
Those that “dig in the dirt” are very familiar with the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT), which was launched in 2003 by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). Over the years California has enacted several statutes requiring anyone moving dirt to notify a regional notification center of the area of planned disturbance that may impact a subsurface
Contractors Still Have Time: Certain CA Energy-Related Regulations Delayed to July 1, 2014
Residential and non-residential contractors in California have been waiting for the new California energy-related regulations to be issued for the January 1, 2014 compliance deadline. Although many became effective on January 1, delays in the software performance compliance programs by the California Energy Commission required that additional time be provided for contractors to obtain and
Announcing a New Washington Lien Law Treatise
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new Stoel Rives Washington state lien law treatise. Written by construction law attorneys Karl Oles and Bart Reed, the treatise builds on two earlier works: Professor Brian A. Blum’s Mechanics’ and Construction Liens in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, and Michael F. Keyes Construction Lien
Oregon Court of Appeals’ Decision: Contractor Cannot Terminate Its Subcontractor To Offset Costs
In my recent article, "Contractor Not Entitled to Setoff Costs of Repairing Subcontractor’s Defective Work," I discuss the Oregon Court of Appeals’ decision that a contractor cannot terminate its subcontractor for convenience and setoff costs incurred in repairing the subcontractor’s defective work (affirming the trial court’s decision).
Read the full article, here.
"Contractor Not
Surety Has “Sole and Absolute Discretion” to Settle Bond Claim in California
While surety bonds have always been required for most public projects, they are being used extensively in many large private construction projects by project owners to secure faithful performance (or payment via settlement) of the contract if the contractor defaults. But does the contractor have the same standing and rights against the Surety as an
Take Time With Four ‘Standard’ Contract Terms
In my latest Daily Journal of Commerce Construction column, I discuss the potentially serious risks associated with overlooking four “standard” terms in construction contracts. With proper advance consideration of the scope of project, insurance terms, indemnity provisions and lien waivers, constructions projects are more likely to be successful.
Read the full article at the Daily Journal