Boston Implements New COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Construction Sites
5/13/20
By: Catherine Bednar
On May 5, 2020, the City of Boston activated new COVID-19 safety procedures for active construction sites, which are currently limited to projects meeting the City’s definition of emergency or essential work. The City also targeted dates …
Georgia Governor Passes Order Altering Inspection Regulations for Construction of Hospitals and Other Projects During COVID-19 Emergency
4/8/20
By: Tom Ward
On March 30, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order that applies to the plan review and inspection requirements for the construction of hospitals, ambulatory health care centers, nursing homes, jails, penal institutions, airports, buildings or …
Georgia Governor Passes Order Altering Inspection Regulations for Residential Builders During COVID-19 Emergency
4/8/20
By: Tom Ward
Governor Brian
Kemp recently passed an executive order allowing residential builders to
immediately employ private inspectors to perform required plan reviews or
inspections without having to wait out the time frames required by O.C.G.A. 8-2-26(g)(4).
The relevant
…
Georgia Supreme Court Overrules Precedent on Attorney’s Fees for Counterclaimants
4/8/20
By: Jake Carroll
Georgia
law permits the award of attorney’s fees to a claimant where the party
defending the claim has “acted in bad faith” in making the contract, has been
stubbornly litigious, or has caused the plaintiff unnecessary trouble …
Ready Camera One: Remote Litigation in the Era of Social Distancing
4/7/20
By: Jennifer Adair, Jennifer Markowski and Andy Treese
Evaluating claims to move them towards resolution or trial is the lifeblood of a defense practice. This typically requires direct interaction with a plaintiff and key witnesses, either at deposition (to hear …
Pennsylvania Orders Halt to Construction Projects Other than Emergency Repairs and the Construction of Health Care Facilities
4/2/20
By: Sean Riley
Governor Tom Wolf has issued an executive order closing all businesses in Pennsylvania that are not deemed to be “life-sustaining.” Residential and non-residential building construction, as well as utility subsystem, road and bridge construction are all specifically …
Massachusetts Sees Tensions Between Municipal Construction Bans and Governor's "Essential Services" Order
4/1/20
By: Catherine A. Bednar, Esq.
On March 17, 2020, Boston became the first city to issue a moratorium on construction projects as an emergency measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. Boston’s order includes exceptions for emergency and essential work, …
City of Atlanta’s COVID-19 Shut-Down Order Impacts Certain Construction Projects
3/24/20
By: Jake Carroll
![](https://www.fmglaw.com/FMGBlogLine/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Greg-Fayard_June-17-2019-1-300x200.jpg)
Executive Order Number 2020-21 (“Shut-Down Order”) was issued by Kiesha Lance Bottoms, the Mayor of Atlanta, on March 23, 2020 at 8:49PM. Atlanta’s Shut-Down Order is more restrictive than similar orders seen in Florida (with broader exceptions …
COVID-19: Common Issues in Construction Contracts.
3/23/20
By: Catherine Bednar, Jake Carroll and Ben Dunlap
![](https://www.fmglaw.com/FMGBlogLine/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/iStock-1152517548-300x200.jpg)
On March 17, 2020, Boston became the first U.S city to order a halt to work on all construction sites due to the coronavirus, shutting down work two weeks. Since then, …
New Jersey Court Finds Defendants Not Liable for Plaintiff’s Fall in the Parking Lot During Ongoing Snowstorm
2/28/20
By: Michelle Yee and Josh Ferguson
![](https://www.fmglaw.com/FMGBlogLine/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Josh-Ferguson-June-13-2018-Blog-300x200.jpg)
The Superior Court of New Jersey recently affirmed the trial court’s summary decision in favor of the defendants and ruled that defendants were not obligated to remove snow and ice between parked cars until …
Federal Tax Spotlight: Energy Incentives for the Construction Industry in 2020
2/27/20
By: Catherine Bednar
![](https://www.fmglaw.com/FMGBlogLine/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Greg-Fayard_June-17-2019-1-300x200.jpg)
While many individuals and businesses are currently focused on the upcoming deadlines for filing their 2019 tax returns, it is also an ideal time to consider potential tax benefits for 2020 construction projects. Those in the construction …
OSHA Issues Guidance on the Usage of Headphones on Construction Sites
2/13/20
By: Erin Lamb
![](https://www.fmglaw.com/FMGBlogLine/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/iStock-1152517548-300x200.jpg)
In late 2019, OSHA released a letter of interpretation in response to employers’ questions regarding the rapidly increasing use of headphones on construction sites. The convenience, simplicity, and decrease in price of wireless headphones have made them …