Construction Law Now Blog

Recent Pennsylvania court decisions have virtually eliminated any insurance coverage under commercial general liability policies for claims brought against general contractors arising from the faulty workmanship of their subcontractors. Jonathan A. ...

On December 15, 2010, Allentown’s City Council passed a bill that requires contractors to sign project labor agreements (PLAs), as a condition to receiving contracts for work on construction projects sponsored by the City of Allentown. This ...

The developer of 10 Rittenhouse, the luxury Philadelphia condominium building with 33 floors and units priced from $600,000 to $15 million, recently filed for bankruptcy protection under the court’s Chapter 11 procedures. In doing so, the ...

On February 16, 2010, Cohen Seglias partner Lane F. Kelman will present a program to The Environmental Information Association’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter on the interrelationship between the current trends in Green Building, the environmental ...

On September 6, 2010, President Barack Obama proposed a six-year, $50 billion plan to rebuild the nation’s highways, railways and airport runways. Obama’s plan includes rebuilding 150,000 miles of roads, construction and maintenance of ...

Smart contractors now more than ever must be vigilant about preserving their rights to mechanics’ liens. Lien rights provide another avenue of protection if and when payment is not made for work performed. Contractors should beware however, ...

The luxury hotel chain, the Four Seasons, has been building an 18-story, 256-room hotel in Harbor East, Baltimore for over a year now. Until now, they have not been able to fully finance the $197 million project. On Thursday, January 6, 2011, ...

Building owners in the City of Philadelphia had better start paying closer attention to what’s on the outside. Earlier this year, Mayor Michael Nutter signed an ordinance — Periodic Inspection of Exterior Walls and Appurtenances of ...

In terms of solar power, New Jersey is very progressive. New Jersey is a frontrunner in renewable energy production, and currently has the second highest capacity of solar power in the country – California is first. The Garden State’s ...

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has decided to reconsider its own recent ruling that made information considered by an expert fair ground for full discovery by other parties in the lawsuit. Barrick v. Holy Spirit Hospital On September 16, 2010, in ...

The Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, HICPA, went into effect on July 1, 2009. HICPA was designed to protect purchasers of home improvement services from contractors engaging in deceitful business practices or doing shoddy ...

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell announced Monday that new state investments for Warren and Erie counties have been approved. The new projects will receive $45 million in state funding and $68 million in private funding and will create more than 400 ...

Contractors and subcontractors must be particularly vigilant in protecting their lien rights in these uncertain economic times. Despite an investment of time and labor into a project, contractors and subcontractors may be faced with a defaulting ...

A new trend in sports stadiums becoming environmentally friendly has begun to take off. The new Meadowlands Stadium, home to the New York Jets and New York Giants, was built “green” using 40,000 tons of recycled steel and features solar ...

The Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is proposing a $5.3 billion expansion, which would create 45,000 construction jobs over 12 years and 2,880 permanent jobs. PHL is said to be the 6th most delayed U.S. airport. The expansion plan includes ...

Jonathan A. Cass, senior counsel with Cohen Seglias contributed to this post. Your company is sued as a result of an alleged constructive defect. You tender the claim to your insurance company and they hire and pay for a lawyer to defend your ...

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the comprehensive health care reform law (Reform) to expand health care coverage in the United States. Impact of Comprehensive Health Care Reform Law on Employers It is an understatement to say that ...

The federal government recently denied the state of Delaware’s application for a $22 million grant for a wind turbine manufacturing facility in the Port of Wilmington (The Port). The Port, along with NRG Bluewater Wind (NRG), sought the grant ...

Owners and contractors should be aware of a significant October 2009 Pennsylvania Superior Court decision, Zimmerman v. Harrisburg Fudd I, L.P., which clarifies the standard for the award of post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees under the ...

On November 18, 2010, Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) unanimously approved new standards that will make natural gas wells safer. The new standards were approved just days before a 13,000 gallon fracking fluid spill ...