My commute home last night took longer than usual. It was not excessive traffic, an accident, or a stalled car. Rather, the cause of my delayed commute was a turtle: one single turtle crossing the road, holding up about 30 cars for what seemed like an eternity. (Never mind the fact that no one got
delay damages
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…
No Longer in the Dark: A Primer on the Distinction between Delay and Disruption Damages in a Construction Dispute
If you are left in the dark about something, you don’t have the information you should have to make an informed decision. Delay claims on a construction can be confusing, especially when you think about the delay to the work being performed and the disruption to other activities. A few years ago, I found a…
Email Sent After Final Payment Held Insufficient to Preserve Timeliness of Claim Against Government
They say that hindsight is 20/20. Who is they, anyway? The old proverb means that it is easy to understand something after it has already happened. In the world of construction contracts, preservation of claims made in hindsight does not always get you what you want.
In Appeal of Matcon Diamond, Inc., ASBCA No.…
What About Changes? A Lesson from the Side of the Interstate on Christmas Morning
You know that I have a lot of kids. But what you may not know is that our family went through a major change last year—their mom and I got a divorce. And so … like a construction project sometimes riddled with uncertainty … we each have a choice about how we are going to…
Contractor Learns You Need an Expert to Join “Battle of the Experts”
It kind of goes without saying, but you should probably bring your expert to a dispute if there is going to be a battle of the experts. One contractor recently learned this lesson to the tune of $65,000.
In Appeal of BES Construction, LLC, ASBCA 60608 (Oct. 23, 2019), the contracting officer awarded the…
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,
…
What I Learned from My Kids About Delay Claims
This past week, I came home to a complete mess in our backyard—it was littered with debris, trash, plates and utensils, and overturn patio furniture. My instruction to the kids yesterday morning was stern: “Clean up this mess by the time I get home…or else!”
One kid fixed the furniture in 15 minutes. One kid…
One Awesome Case Discussing The Difference Between Delay and Disruption Damages!
Rarely do you find a case that succinctly addresses a construction law issue. Today, one of my legal alerts pointed me to one such case dealing with delay damages and disruption damages. This is a must read!
In County of Galveston v. Triple B Services, LLP, decided on May 26, 2016, the Court of…
Proceed Wisely, Ninja Contractor, Because Suing Your DOT May Have Limitations
No self-respecting Ninja goes into battle without a plan, right? You need to know your environment, your opponent and the rules of the battle. For you Ninja contractors, it’s a good thing to fully understand your potential recovery before you spend countless months and thousands of dollars pursuing a claim against your state DOT for…