The year 2021 was an interesting and unsettled one in the construction industry — bids and projects grew in numbers in some market sectors and regions yet slowed or halted in others. An aftereffect of this activity was a variety of claims and disputes, which, coupled with the ongoing pandemic and increasing market uncertainty, particularly … Continue Reading
The construction industry has proved adaptable over the course of the pandemic — owners and general and trade contractors have worked closely to ensure that work continued, while keeping workers safe and complying with the various government-ordered and -recommended practices intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. By now, most owners and contractors are well … Continue Reading
In too many cases, the developers, builders and designers of a construction project focus on starting work and pay inadequate attention to making sure important details of their insurance coverage are fully in place. Coverage denials can result from deferring to “standard” insurance forms, relying on informal broker assurances and not taking the time to … Continue Reading
If you incur property damage on your construction project site and want to know if insurance will help you compensate for it, several challenges arise. First, you need to determine if you have an insurance policy that could provide coverage. Second, you must determine the extent to which the policy covers property damage and related … Continue Reading
When owners engage architects and accessibility consultants to design their projects, they naturally expect good design, but they must also be sure the design provides all users with the practical ability to use and enjoy the end result. Civil rights acts such as the ADA and Fair Housing Act were enacted to provide certain protected … Continue Reading
When a dispute arises over payment between a contractor and the agency overseeing a Federal government project, the contractor typically submits a request for a reasonable adjustment to the contract price. If the agency disagrees with the adjustment, the contractor may file a formal claim under the Contract Disputes Act (“CDA”), which requires the contractor … Continue Reading
Over the duration of a construction project, changes to its scope are inevitable, and the easiest way to address such changes, and their potential impacts on scheduling and contract price, is for the project owner and the contractor to mutually execute a change order prior to implementing a change. However, for a variety of reasons, … Continue Reading
A statute of repose provides an outside limit as to when construction claims can be brought and is intended to give contractors and design professionals a degree of certainty as to when the risk associated with claims on a particular project diminishes. In my latest article for the Daily Journal of Commerce, I give you … Continue Reading
As they say, timing is everything, and the success of a development project often hinges on when it will be complete. Whether it’s a new business, a new school, or some other project, delay can be disastrous for an owner. Here are five tips to reduce the risks of project delay. Avoid terms that shift … Continue Reading
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, the Oregon Court of Appeals strikes again with another iteration of the “economic loss doctrine” which defines when parties can sue each other in negligence for construction defects. In Abraham v. Henry (September 2, 2009) the Court held that parties to a … Continue Reading
