The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created a lucrative new tax incentive for certain business owners: the ability to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income. Thus, a business owner who qualified for the deduction could earn a taxable income of $500,000 but pay tax on as little as $400,000, resulting in tax savings of nearly $40,000. Like nearly all provisions of the tax code, however, the deduction is subject to…

The Seventh District Court of Appeals’ decision in Union Local School District v. Grae-Con Construction is another important victory for the Ohio construction industry in the ongoing debate over the proper application of Ohio’s construction statute of repose, R.C. 2305.131.  The Seventh District Court of Appeals, applying the Supreme Court of Ohio’s July 2019 decision in New Riegel Local School District v. Buehrer Group Architecture & Engineering, Inc., et al., reaffirmed dismissal of stale breach-of-contract…

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP has been named among the “Best Law Firms” nationally by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® in 2020 in 11 practice areas, including Construction Litigation. In addition, four Hahn Loeser offices have been named “Best Law Firms” in their respective markets in 40 regional rankings, including Construction Law (Cleveland) and Construction Litigation (Cleveland and Columbus). The 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection…

On October 23, 2019, the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a bill (H.B. No. 380) that would amend Ohio’s Prompt Pay Act (ORC Section 4113.61) to provide general contractors with payment protection similar to that currently enjoyed by subcontractors under the Act. Specifically, the proposal would require project owners to pay contractors within 35 days of receiving the contractor’s invoice. Owners would be permitted to withhold amounts only for retention or for disputed liens or…

At the CEA’s 98th Annual Clambake on October 24, Hahn Loeser’s Andy Natale was honored by the Construction Employers’ Association (CEA) with its Distinguished Service Award, elevating him to the ranks of the CEA’s Hall of Fame. Andy has devoted his entire career to working in the construction industry, representing general contractors, design/builders, surety companies, subcontractors, specialty trades, suppliers, manufacturers, developers, lenders, owners and design professionals in all aspects of construction law.  You can read more about Andy and this…

Hahn Loeser partners Rob Remington, Sherry Rollo, Andy Natale and Aaron Evenchik, along with Senior Project Manager Chad Van Arnam, presented back-to-back training sessions for sold out crowds at the Construction Employers Association on Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25.  They covered Trade Secrets – Effective Project Documentation and Safe Document Retention Strategies and Management of Project Schedule Impacts and Delay Claims – Critical Documentation and Proactive Practices to Protect Project Profitability. If you…

On September 24, 2019, the Ohio Supreme Court announced the General Assembly has broad authority to regulate public-works contracts that subject Ohio’s workers to residency preferences or restrictions. In The City of Cleveland v. The State of Ohio, the Court concluded the General Assembly properly enacted R.C. 9.75, which prohibits municipalities and other political subdivisions from requiring a contractor on a public-improvement project to employ a certain number or percentage of local residents. The statute…