Construction Industry Counselor

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By: Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr

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Latest from Construction Industry Counselor

Language in Performance Bond Critical in Determining Surety’s Rights to Complete If an owner terminates a contractor due to a contractor default on a bonded project, can the surety hire the same contractor to complete the work under the bond?  Depending on the language of the bond, it may be permissible in Florida. Recently, in Seawatch at Marathon Condominium Association, Inc. v. The Guarantee Company of North America, No. 3D18-1337, 2019 WL 4850194 (Fla. 3d…
Effective August 20, 2019, Illinois law provides that a maximum of 10 percent retainage may be withheld from payments under private construction contracts and, after the contract is one-half complete, retainage must be reduced to 5 percent and kept at 5 percent for the remainder of the contract.  With this new law, Illinois joins the vast majority of states that have enacted laws pertaining to retainage on construction contracts.  Like almost every other state, Illinois’ retainage restrictions are…
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District Florida settled its allegations against a Central Florida contractor accused of violating the Small Business Administration’s regulations by allegedly creating a sham joint venture to be awarded a project. Click here for more information about the settlement. NASA sought bids for a demolition project that was funded by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”).  A requirement of the project was that it be awarded to a business that…
Developer is Not Indemnified for its Own Conduct Without an Express Agreement in the Indemnification Clause In a case where the jury found both the Architect and the Developer separately responsible for Plaintiff’s damages, an Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently held that the Developer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Architect.  See Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condo. Ass’n, Inc. v. K. Hovnanian at Port Imperial Urban Renewal II,…
Developer is Not Indemnified for its Own Conduct Without an Express Agreement in the Indemnification Clause In a case where the jury found both the Architect and the Developer separately responsible for Plaintiff’s damages, an Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently held that the Developer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Architect.  See Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condo. Ass’n, Inc. v. K. Hovnanian at Port Imperial Urban Renewal II,…
Utah Appellate Court: Homeowners’ Claim for Defective Construction Against Geotechnical Engineer Dismissed Due to Lack of Contract and the Economic Loss Rule A recent Utah Appellate Court upheld the dismissal of a homeowners’ claims against a geotechnical engineer because the homeowners did not have a contract with the geotechnical engineer and therefore their claims were barred by the economic loss rule. See Hayes v. Intermountain Geoenvironmental Services, Inc., 2019 UT App 112, 2019 WL 2621931. …
Each year, hurricane season presents a challenge to contractors and developers along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts as they face the risk of impacts from significant weather.  Hurricanes Michael, Irma, Harvey and Florence are only the most recent reminders of how devastating one of these storms can be.  With the construction industry being as active as it is, projects in storm-prone areas should be prepared to deal with and minimize the physical and financial risks…
Owners of a Massachusetts waste collection, recycling and removal company recently were held personally liable for their failure to pay their employees at prevailing wages.  See Donis v. American Waste Services, LLC, 95 Mass.App.Ct. 317 (2019).  Under Massachusetts law, wage violations are subject to triple damages and payment of attorney’s fees.     The waste services company entered into contracts with several Massachusetts towns that required compliance with prevailing wage laws at hourly rates of $20…
Owners of a Massachusetts waste collection, recycling and removal company recently were held personally liable for their failure to pay their employees at prevailing wages.  See Donis v. American Waste Services, LLC, 95 Mass.App.Ct. 317 (2019).  Under Massachusetts law, wage violations are subject to triple damages and payment of attorney’s fees.     The waste services company entered into contracts with several Massachusetts towns that required compliance with prevailing wage laws at hourly rates of $20…
New Sustainability Ordinances for Construction Enacted in Florida and Colorado Cities  The City of St. Petersburg, Florida is one of the latest municipalities to incorporate the concepts of sustainable construction, sometimes referred to as “green building”, into the requirements of their municipal code.  On April 26, 2019, the City adopted Ordinance No. 359-H; which requires City-owned buildings over 5,000 square feet, which are either existing and being substantially modified or are being newly constructed, to…