Force Majeure, Commercial Impracticability, and Frustration of Purpose The outbreak of COVID-19 has been one of the most disruptive events to the global economy in recent memory. Businesses across every sector of the economy are scrambling to determine the legal repercussions of government travel restrictions, labor shortages, supply chain interruptions, financing impacts, and market price fluctuations triggered by the pandemic. How can I possibly be expected to perform my maintenance contract if the government orders…

While the global economy grinds to a halt over spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and people disband amidst calls for “social distancing,” these are uncertain times to say the least. Stay safe out there, we will get through this. While the health and welfare of our loved ones and the general public becomes the primary focus, federal contractors and subcontractors face a secondary and yet critical concern—how to address the impacts from COVID-19, which…

On Wednesday, June 3, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, Seyfarth partners David Blake, James Newland, and Leah Rochwarg are presenting “Construction Challenges During COVID-19: Suspensions, Delays, Workforce Depletion, and Other Considerations,” a 90-minute CLE webinar for Strafford. The webinar will address the impact of COVID-19 on private and federal construction projects and the legal implications that may arise from business interruptions due to restricted supply chains and a depleted workforce. The panel will further address how…

Seyfarth partner James Newland moderated “COVID-19’s Impact on Construction Projects,” a webinar in the Airport Construction Strategy Webinar Series. Airports Council International North America, Airport Consultants Council, and the Associated General Contractors of America teamed up to transform the Airport Construction Strategy Summit into a webinar series to help airport owners, design and engineering professionals, and the contractor community discuss how to deliver better projects together, even in the COVID-19 era. The next webinars in…

For projects that involve excavation or foundation work, even the most diligent pre-bid site survey may not fully inform the contractor of what conditions to expect below the surface. The risks of encountering unforeseen subsurface conditions are so high that, rather than encouraging bidders to include large contingencies in their proposals, construction lawyers have drafted a special clause—the Differing Site Conditions clause. The purpose of the Differing Site Conditions clause is to allocate the risk…

The 2019 novel coronavirus and the disease it causes (“COVID-19”) is changing the landscape of construction projects across the country. COVID-19 orders from governors and other public officials are impacting projects by requiring new health initiatives, such as social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment, requiring residents to stay at home and self-quarantine if they cross state lines, and in some regions shutting down projects completely. The pandemic is squeezing supply chains, creating…

To help airport owners, design and engineering professionals, and the contractor community, ACI-NA, ACC, and AGC have teamed up to transform our Airport Construction Strategy Summit into a webinar series that is taking place April 14, April 28, May 12, and May 26. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a range of critical elements of project and program management, including project justification and scope, project schedules, and the very ways design and construction work gets done.…