In the weeks leading up to the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry’s annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, a number of construction attorneys and I were feverishly reviewing submissions for this year’s Construction Law Update. The document is a compilation of cases and legislation affecting the construction industry. The updates are provided throughout the
Legislation
Heads Up Public Contractors! Nashville to Pass Non-Discrimination Bill Including Gender and Sexual Orientation
As reported in the Nashville Business Journal and News Channel 5 (video), a non-discrimination bill passed on a second reading at Metro Council last week. The council voted 21 to 16 in favor of the bill that would add two new classes to the procurement code Metro contractors already follow. These companies would not be…
Why Contractors Should be Involved in Politics
Last week, Jim Gray (chief executive of Gray Construction) flew to New York for a round of meetings. As reported in the New York Times, it was Gray’s newly acquired title as Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky that prompted his visit to New York to chat with Mayor Bloomberg. Contractors and politics … what…
How Do the New Health Care Laws Affect Your Construction Company?
Not only does construction affect the health care industry, but health care affects the construction industry. Today’s post reviews some major provisions that may affect your construction company.
Continue Reading How Do the New Health Care Laws Affect Your Construction Company?
Medicinal Marijuana and the Job Site: The Conflict Between Federal and State Laws
Depending on where you live, owners of construction companies may have a new dilemma to address with their employees: medicinal marijuana. The conflict puts the company’s safety and employment policies often dictated by federal law directly up against what may be an individual’s rights under state law.
Stephanie Simon reports in this morning’s Wall Street…
Muchos Problemas: Music City Center Highlights TN’s “Immigrant Labor” Construction Laws
Last night, the evening news reported that Tennessee House Democrat Leader Mike Turner planned to file a complaint with the Department of Labor, alleging that "one of the contractors working on the Music City Center project is hiring illegal immigrants." Turner stated that he received the information from an inside source.
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Cost v. LEED Certification Debate Continues: One County Finds Middle Ground
It really is impossible to put your arms around the number of green building and energy performance policies and codes that are sprouting up all across the nation. When a project involves private commercial development or public investment, one of the most discussed issues is whether the cost of obtaining LEED certification from the U.S. …
AGC “Rocks” Tennessee Capitol Hill on Construction-Related Bills
I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is? Do you know? Oh, yeah, he’s just a bill … he’s just a bill on capitol hill.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=H-eYBZFEzf8%26hl%3Den_US%26fs%3D1%26rel%3D0%26color1%3D0xe1600f%26color2%3D0xfebd01%26border%3D1
You knew that Nashville was the Music City, right? Reminiscent of the "Schoolhouse Rocks" days, last night I attended the kick off dinner for the AGC of …
Nashville Convention Center Approved | One Legal Hurdle Left
My wife thinks I am nerd. She’s right. I rushed the kids to bed early one night last week so that I could sit in the kitchen to watch . . . okay . . . I will say it . . . the Metro Nashville Council vote on the fanancing package of the new convention center…
Reading Between the Lines: Construction Industry Targeted in Congressional Health Care Reform Package
On December 24, 2009, the United States Senate voted to pass its own version of the health care package. You have probably heard cries about the length of the bill (1,990 pages). You have probably heard the cries about the costs. But have you heard about an amendment that may significantly affect the construction industry?
According…