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
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
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
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
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
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 …
Statute of Repose Does Not Bar Claims Resulting from Improper Maintenance
1/9/20
By: Tom McCraw
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently held that the six-year statute of repose (G.L. c. 260, § 2B) did not bar a homeowner’s insurer’s subrogation claim against a gas company for damages caused by the company’s failure to …
Pennsylvania Taking Steps to Help the Small Contractor
11/21/19
By: Josh Ferguson
There are currently two bills in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives intended to limit the ability of property owners, managers and general contractors from pushing their liability onto the sub-contractors.
Pennsylvania State Representatives introduced House Bill 1887, …
Georgia’s Statute of Repose Bars Contractual Claims Involving Deficient Construction
11/21/19
By: Jake Carroll
Georgia’s statute of repose provides an eight (8) year deadline for actions seeking to recover damages for deficiencies in construction.[1] The period runs from the substantial completion of the work, and was enacted with the intent …
How Technology is Changing the Construction World
10/8/19
By: Aaron Miller
The construction industry is growing at an enormous rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the industry to add over 800,000 jobs between 2016 and 2026, finishing top amongst goods-producing industries. Part of the reason for …