Category Archives: Construction Law
The Basics of Arbitration and Mediation in the Construction Industry
When a dispute arises from a construction contract, litigation is often not the first option to resolve the matter. Many Florida construction contracts contain arbitration or mediation agreements. These are types of private dispute resolution that, if successful, address a dispute in a quicker and more effective manner than a traditional civil lawsuit. How… Read More »
What Is an Owner’s Liability for Injuries Sustained by a Subcontractor’s Employees?
A construction project typically involves a property owner who hires a general contractor. The general contractor, in turn, hires various subcontractors to perform specific tasks. The contractor and sub-contractors then hire and supervise their own employees on the project. As a general rule, if an individual employee is injured they cannot seek damages against… Read More »
How Florida Law Protects Builders from “Stale” Defective Construction Claims
It is not uncommon for Florida builders to receive complaints from dissatisfied customers over an alleged defect in their new home. But Florida law does impose certain time limits on defective construction claims. Specifically, there is a 10-year statute of repose on any lawsuit based on the “design, planning, or construction of an improvement… Read More »
PBC Reminder On Contractor Responsibility For Hurricane Preparedness & Florida Building Code Cited Language
Please click here to read the recent notice from the Department of Planning, Zoning & Building in Palm Beach County.
Bonds Used in Construction Projects
Property owners who seek either construction of or an improvement to a structure are, obviously, required to pay for the construction project. Conversely, construction companies are entitled to receive payment for their services. To protect this relationship, many property owners require the contractors to obtain a bond for their work. Doing so acts effectively… Read More »
Important Issues to Know about Bids
Most construction projects begin with a request for a bid, in which contractors submit a detailed summary of the services they can provide, complete with an estimate on cost and time to completion. Bid solicitors take each submitted bid under advisement, and then award the contract to the winning bid. While, in many cases,… Read More »
Construction Defect Detection
Moving into a newly-constructed house is a very exciting and almost every aspect about the move-in process is typically an enjoyable experience. Further, it is usually expected that, since the house is new construction, there should be very few, if any, defects. However, in reality, this is not always the case, and construction defects… Read More »
When Are Contractors Entitled to Disruption Damages?
For a contractor, commencing a construction project provides multiple rewards. In addition to collecting payment for the project, upon completion, the contractor will also have something that it can point to and say “That’s something we did” should another property owner ask. In essence, each construction project becomes a contractor’s calling card. As a… Read More »
Proving Delay Claims
One of the most important, but difficult, tasks of a general contractor is to ensure that every aspect of a construction project runs on schedule. An experienced general contractor understands that the more efficient a construction project progresses, the less chance there will be for complaints by the property owner, and the greater chance… Read More »
Building Code Violations and Contractor Liability
Florida, like many states, maintains a Building Code. Generally, the Florida Building Code is intended to make construction across the State as uniform as possible, while also ensuring that the resulting structures are safe and usable for whatever purpose they are intended. Unfortunately, in some cases, failing to follow the Code may cause problems… Read More »
