The construction industry is one of the most complex and challenging sectors. Projects can be highly demanding and require a significant amount of planning and coordination to complete successfully. However, with advancements in technology, specifically the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and chat GBT, the construction industry can experience a transformation in how it operates.
Best Practices
It’s a Jolly Time of the Year: 5 Tips for Dealing with Construction Labor Issues During the Holidays
It’s that time of year again – the holiday season is upon us, and for those in the construction industry, that can mean a few extra challenges when it comes to maintaining efficiency on the job site.
Here are five best practices for dealing with labor during the holiday season:
- Communicate early and often: Make
Tornadoes and Other Catastrophic Events Can Cripple a Construction Project—And How to Respond
Last month, a construction worker died as a storm swept through a construction site in Lebanon, Indiana. The preliminary investigation determined that the contractor was on an elevated platform while working on an industrial warehouse that was under construction. The man and other workers were in the process of stopping due to approaching thunderstorms.…
COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Federal Contractors
On September 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force released guidance detailing COVID-19 vaccination and other pandemic-related workplace safety requirements for federal contractors in accordance with the Executive Order issued by President Biden on September 9, 2021. The Executive Order broadly outlined which contractors were covered by the mandate, but contained few specific details…
Pre-Bid Documents and Estimates Can’t Be Hidden Behind the Curtain in Disputed Delay Claims
With the kids off for spring break this week, we nestled around the big screen for a family favorite. “The Great Oz has spoken! . . . Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” My littlest chuckled.
Just like the old man who couldn’t hide behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz…
That’s A Goocher: SD Court Finds Enforceable Construction Contract Despite Lack of Time Component
What’s a goocher? If you saw the movie, Stand By Me, then you know exactly what I mean. And there are times when parties to a construction contract face a goocher. Here’s what I mean…
In J. Clancy, Inc. v. Khan Comfort, LLC, the Supreme Court of South Dakota held that a missing…
Not Just An Old Wives’ Tale: Negotiating “Paid In Full” Check Binds Contractor
Long before I was an attorney, I heard this tale that if you endorsed a check that had the words “PAID IN FULL” written on the check, then you were accepting the check as full payment of whatever was owed. But I have never really thought about that legal principle because, “People don’t really do
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Court Recognizes Day-to-Day Changes Are Compensable Despite Contractual Waivers
It happens all the time! The owner-contractor agreement contains a “no damages for delay” clause; a clause requiring that all changes be in writing before work is performed; and a clause requiring partial lien waivers and releases with each periodic payment. And yet we see a claim for delays and extras filed at the end…
What Should You Do When There is an Accident at Your Construction Site?
You probably saw last month’s report about a major accident at a construction site in downtown Miami, Florida. Investigation is still underway as to the root cause.
This is a good reminder of the lessons to learn when investigating or handling an accident on a construction site. These include:
- Prepare before the accident. It
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Lessons from a Post-COVID19 Construction Lawyer
The last six months have been a whirlwind, especially for this single dad of six school children (who are no longer in school) while I work from home/office/car/jobsite/court.
During the first week of the pandemic, I wrote an ebook for contractors on how to deal with COVID-19. Over the next month, I answered countless…