As we enter the holiday season, some people have strict guidelines about when the Christmas tree or other holiday decorations are allowed to takeover our daily lives, offices, and homes. The red and white ribbons and the colored lights of Christmas cannot be hung until after the orange pumpkins, brown leaves and turkey carcasses are
Claims and Disputes
The Broccoli Incident: Making Sure You Ask for What You Want In Construction Claims
You may have met my 22 year old Princess when she was 11. A few years ago, I was teaching her about grace … undeserved merit or favor.
Well, my daughter was stalling and delaying on eating her meal … by almost an hour. So, naturally, I saw this as a teachable moment.
“Honey,
…
Design-Build Contractor Held to the Same Standard On Differing Site Conditions Clause
Each and every kid in my house is held to the same standard—a very tough one I might add. You see, I recognize they are different ages, difference sexes, and have different strengths and weaknesses, but that does not change how I choose to parent as a single dad. In the same way, a court…
When Is A Contractor’s Termination for Default Proper? When It Does Bad Things.
Sometimes you “do” bad things. Sometimes you “look like” you do bad things. Just look at the difference between Bad-boy Jack and my youngest daughter, Haven, who just “looks like” she’s up to no good. In the world of construction contracting, both can get in you in trouble, including a termination for default of performance.…
Contracting Officer’s Belief That Contractor Could Not Meet Schedule Requirements Insufficient to Support Default Termination
There is objective evidence. There is subjective evidence. And sometimes, it is a combination of both A case cannot go much worse when a court’s opinion starts with the following: “This case concerns a contract in which a number of disputes, poor practices, and conflicting personalities created a climate of dishonesty, distrust, and lack of…
Slow as a Turtle? “No Damages For Delay” Clause Inapplicable to Contractor’s Claim Against Architect
On Saturday, I took the kids to the zoo for a day-long adventure. Faith’s favorite attraction was the turtle compound that was filled with about 20 slowpokes walking a circle. Like watching paint dry, we sat on the sidelines as these mini-dinosaurs trekked the park at a whopping .25 mph.
When we think of delays…
Active Interference Wins Skee Ball Points and Precludes Enforcement of A “No Damages for Delay” Clause
Last week during family skate night, my daughter asked me for two quarters to play some Skee-Ball. I loved playing that game as a kid. But imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and witnessed her active interference with the rules of the game! (… Truly, you can’t script this stuff…)
In construction…
How Important Is That Little Green Card? Pretty Darn Important Says One Court.
We live in a world of e-mails, IMs, texts, Snapchats, Instagrams and the occasional fax. Although information is transmitted instantaneously in today’s environment, proof of receipt of that information (often called “Notice”) remains subject to some very strict rules imposed by contract, case law or statute.
Notice of Claims. In a recent transportation case involving…
“Paid in Full” Wives’ Tale True? When Endorsing A Check, Yes Ma’am!
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 what was owed. But I had never really thought about that legal principle because, “People don’t really do…
How To Track Increased Construction Costs For Proving Claims
I previously blogged about the importance of using daily reports to prove construction claims.
In addition to daily reports, the following records should be prepared and maintained in the normal course of business to help prove claims and effectively manage the project:
- Correspondence file containing all correspondence relating to a specific claim, including letters
…