Simply including a requirement in a contract to add certain parties as additional insureds under a commercial general liability insurance (CGL) policy may not be enough to ensure such coverage is provided in New York. In New York City Hous. Auth. v. Harleysville Worcester Ins. Co., 226 A.D.3d 804 (2024), the New York Supreme Court
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USDOT’S DBE Program Blocked in Kentucky and Indiana
The end of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is getting closer. The DBE program presumes women and minority-owned firms are disadvantaged and sets goals for them to be awarded at least 10% of the value in federal contracts. In a well-reasoned and compelling decision, the U.S. District Court for…
New Mexico Holds One-Sided Dispute Resolution Provisions Are Unenforceable
Dispute resolution provisions that grant one party the unilateral right to choose either litigation or arbitration to resolve disputes are common in the construction industry. The main difference between the two forums is that courts are more likely to strictly enforce contract terms as written as well as the applicable law, while arbitrators make decisions…
Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act Provides New Opportunities for Owners, Developers, and Contractors
On August 6, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act (the Act) into law. The Act aims to counter the rising cost of housing in the commonwealth by implementing new policies and providing funding for the construction of affordable housing. New policies include:
- A requirement that municipalities permit the construction of accessory
…
Rhode Island Closes One Bridge and May Have Burned Others with Ensuing Lawsuit
The state of Rhode Island recently filed a lawsuit against 13 companies that provided design, construction, and inspection services over the past ten years (the extent allowed by the applicable statute of limitations) to the Washington Bridge, which carries I-195 between East Providence and Providence. The bridge was abruptly closed in December 2023 following the…
New York’s Highest Court Weighs in on N.Y. Labor Law
N.Y. Labor Law § 241(6) requires owners and contractors to provide reasonable and adequate protection and safety to persons employed at or lawfully frequenting a construction site. If a worker is injured on a construction site and establishes a violation of a specific and applicable Industrial Code regulation, both the owner and contractor will be…
Lawsuit Gives Teeth to Massachusetts Pay Law
Below is an excerpt of an article published in ENR (Engineering News-Record) on August 7, 2024.
“The Massachusetts Legislature passed the state’s Prompt Pay Act 14 years ago to improve the downstream flow of money on most large-scale private construction projects. While the act established detailed protocols for administering applications for payment and other important…
Attorneys’ Fees and the American Arbitration Association Rule
A common question from clients, when a dispute arises on a construction project, is whether they can recover their attorney’s fees from the other side if they pursue a case and win. More often than not, such fees are not recoverable. As a general rule (commonly known as the “American Rule”), each party to a…
Second Circuit Affirms Win for General Contractor on No Damages for Delay Provision
In NASDI, LLC v. Skanska Koch Inc. Kiewit Infrastructure Co. (JV), 2024 WL 1270188 (2d Cir. Mar. 26, 2024), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment dismissing a subcontractor’s delay claim against a general contractor on a public project in New York state. The Court…
EEOC Builds on Best Practice Guidance Regarding Harassment Within the Construction Industry
This post was co-authored by Abby M. Warren and Christohper A. Costain who are members of Robinson+Cole’s Labor, Employment, Benefits + Immigration Group.
In June 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance tailored to the construction industry concerning harassment in the workplace or at the jobsite. The guidance is important for construction…