NLRB Finalizes Rule for Construction Industry Unions to Obtain Majority Support Representational Status
September 23, 2024 —
Aaron C. Schlesinger - Peckar & Abramson, P.C.On July 26, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued its Fair Choice – Employee Voice Final Rule (“Final Rule”), which takes effect September 30, 2024. The Final Rule eases the process for unions in the construction industry to convert their status as collective bargaining representative of bargaining unit employees from Section 8(f) to 9(a) of the National Labor Relations Act (“Act”) simply by placing certain recognitional acceptance language in their collective bargaining agreements. As a result, construction industry employers should review their collective bargaining agreements prior to signing to determine if such language exists.
Section 9(a) Non-Construction Industry Employers
In most industries, not including construction, union recognitional status as collective bargaining representative of the employer’s employees is governed by Section 9(a) of the Act. In order for a Union to obtain recognitional status under Section 9(a), the union must either: (1) file a petition with the NLRB showing support of 30% of the proposed bargaining unit via employee executed authorization cards and win an election of 51% of the employees in the proposed bargaining unit who actually vote; or (2) by reaching an agreement with the employer that the union possesses employee executed authorization cards from 51% of the proposed bargaining unit, which has been confirmed by a neutral arbitrator pursuant to a card count. Once such status is achieved, the union and employer are required to meet and bargain towards reaching a collective bargaining agreement covering the terms and conditions of employment of the union represented employees. A Section 9(a) union cannot have its recognitional status revoked absent the loss of majority support of the employees it represents.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Aaron C. Schlesinger, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.Mr. Schlesinger may be contacted at
aschlesinger@pecklaw.com
Colorado Nearly Triples Damages Caps for Cases Filed in 2025, Allows Siblings to File Wrongful Death Claims
July 22, 2024 —
Amy Johnson - Lewis BrisboisDenver, Colo. (June 13, 2024) - On June 3, 2024, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB24-1472 to increase the damages caps for personal injury and wrongful death claims. The law nearly triples the amounts available to plaintiffs, which will continue to increase for inflationary adjustments beginning in 2028 and every two years thereafter. These new damages caps affect not only claims that accrue in 2025 and beyond, but they also change the caps for any civil cases filed on or after January 1, 2025. This law was enacted as a compromise to a ballot measure that would have removed any cap on damages. The new caps are as follows:
- The cap on noneconomic damages for personal injuries will be $1.5 million.
- The cap on noneconomic damages for wrongful death will be $2.125 million.
Plaintiffs are likely to delay filing new actions through the rest of 2024 as long as they are not up against a statute of limitations deadline.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Amy Johnson, Lewis BrisboisMs. Johnson may be contacted at
Amy.Johnson@lewisbrisbois.com
Federal Court Holds that Demolition Exclusion Does Not Apply and Carrier Has Duty to Defend Additional Insureds
September 02, 2024 —
Craig Rokuson - Traub LiebermanIn the recent case of
Travelers Indem. Co. v. Trisura Specialty Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101953 (S.D.N.Y. June 7, 2024), the court had occasion to consider the classic additional insured fact pattern of a construction accident. Travelers insured the general contractor and provided a defense to the general contractor as well as its wholly owned subsidiary. Trisura insured the subcontractor, who employed the injured worker. Travelers brought suit, alleging that Trisura is obligated to defend and indemnify the general contractor, its subsidiary, the owner of the building (The City of New York), and the tenant.
Trisura denied any obligation to provide coverage due to the application of the “Demolition Exclusion” to the Trisura policy, which provides, in part, that there is no coverage for injury or damage arising out of the demolition of any building or structure which has original ground height in excess of three stories. The accident occurred during the interior demolition of the fifth floor of the building. The court held that the Demolition Exclusion applies only when there is a complete tearing down, razing, or destruction of an entire building. As the accident occurred during interior demolition, the exclusion did not apply.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Craig Rokuson, Traub LiebermanMr. Rokuson may be contacted at
crokuson@tlsslaw.com
Celebrating Excellence: Lisa Bondy Dunn named by Law Week Colorado as the 2024 Barrister’s Best Construction Defects Lawyer for Defendants
October 28, 2024 —
David M. McLain – Colorado Construction LitigationWe are thrilled to announce that our very own Lisa Bondy Dunn has been recognized by Law Week Colorado as the 2024 Barrister’s Best Construction Defects Lawyer for Defendants. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Lisa’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for our clients.
Lisa, a Partner at Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell (“HHMR”), has long been a leader in construction defect litigation, defending builders, contractors, developers, and design professionals in Colorado’s complex legal landscape. Her deep understanding of the industry and her relentless pursuit of practical, cost-effective solutions have earned her the respect of peers, clients, insurers, mediators, arbitrators, and courts alike.
As noted by Law Week Colorado: “For over two decades, Lisa Dunn has represented developers, contractors and subcontractors in construction-related disputes. Dunn has spoken across the country on construction and insurance matters, and she’s worked on several appellate cases during her career. She’s admitted in four states, and has consulted and represented some of the nation’s largest builders.”
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David McLain, Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLCMr. McLain may be contacted at
mclain@hhmrlaw.com
Unlocking the Hidden Power of Zoning, for Good or Bad
October 21, 2024 —
David Zipper - BloombergNo longer dismissed as an insomnia-curing corner of local governance, zoning is having a moment. It’s at the heart of the pro-housing Yes In My Backyard — or YIMBY — movement, which seeks to reform the rules that mandate the construction of single-family homes across much of the US, and the arcane details of land use policy are being debated in national outlets and city councils across the US. In much of this discourse, zoning is the clear villain, blamed for feeding societal ills ranging from housing costs to racial discrimination to greenhouse gas emissions.
In her new book Key to the City, Sara Bronin examines zoning with a critical but sympathetic eye. Bronin brings deep experience to the topic, having studied zoning as an architect and lawyer before overhauling the land use regulations of Hartford, Connecticut. A professor of architecture and planning at Cornell University (and an occasional Bloomberg CityLab contributor), she is currently on leave to chair the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Zipper, Bloomberg
The Importance of a Notice of Completion to Contractors, Subcontractors and Suppliers
August 12, 2024 —
William L. Porter - Porter Law GroupThe recording of a valid “Notice of Completion” with the County Recorder is an event of significance to owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers alike. The recording of a Notice of Completion is one of several methods used to trigger the time period for the recording of mechanics liens and service of stop payment notices. Although the recording of a Notice of Completion is not absolutely required on any given project, all those working in the construction industry should understand its significance.
When a valid Notice of Completion has not been recorded in relation to a construction project, a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier might from ninety to one hundred fifty days after completion of the project to record a mechanics lien or serve a stop payment notice to secure payment for their services on the project, depending on the facts. However, if a valid Notice of Completion is recorded, then the deadline under most circumstances accelerates and subcontractors and suppliers must record a mechanics lien or serve a stop payment notice within only thirty days thereafter. Under the same circumstances, a prime contractor has only sixty days after the recording of a valid Notice of Completion to record a mechanics’ lien. Failure to meet these deadlines often results in loss of the right to a mechanics lien or stop payment notice. There are limited exceptions to these general deadlines, depending on the facts. If you believe you may have missed an important deadline to seek collection of a construction debt, you should consult with a construction attorney immediately to secure your avenues of collection, including the mechanics lien and stop payment notice remedies, if still available.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
William L. Porter, Porter Law GroupMr. Porter may be contacted at
bporter@porterlaw.com
Newport Beach Partners Jeremy Johnson, Courtney Serrato, and Associate Joseph Real Prevailed on a Demurrer in a Highly Publicized Shooting Case!
November 11, 2024 —
Dolores Montoya - Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLPBremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara’s Partners Jeremy Johnson, Courtney Serrato, and Associate Joseph Real prevailed on a Demurrer in a highly publicized shooting case.
Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging negligence, negligent hiring, supervision and retention, and public nuisance against BWB&O’s clients, a highly recognized hospitality and lifestyle company with nightlife and restaurant venues, in addition to other celebrity defendants. Plaintiffs were the victims of a shooting that occurred by an unknown individual(s) outside and near the restaurant/venue owned by BWB&O’s clients.
Plaintiffs alleged it was BWB&O’s clients that were responsible for the third parties’ criminal acts because BWB&O’s clients attracted more people than the venue’s capacity, causing people to occupy the street, sidewalk, and property nearby. Plaintiffs further alleged that BWB&O’s client should have anticipated or known that criminal conduct, including gun violence, would take place.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Dolores Montoya, Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLP
Insurer's Motion for Summary Judgment to Dispose of Hail Damage Claim Fails
November 25, 2024 —
Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance L
Pinterest Nixes Big San Francisco Lease Deal in Covid Scaleback
Faulty Workmanship may be an Occurrence in Indiana CGL Policies
Insurer Waives Objection to Appraiser's Partiality by Waiting Until Appraisal Issued
Why Is California Rebuilding in Fire Country? Because You’re Paying for It
There is No Claims File Privilege in Florida, Despite What Insurers Want You to Think
Texas Jury Finds Presence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Causes “Physical Loss or Damage” to Property, Awards Over $48 Million to Baylor College of Medicine
Mediation in the Zero Sum World of Construction
Duty to Defend Affirmed in Connecticut Construction Defect Case
Housing Bill Threaten
Florida Adopts Less Stringent Summary Judgment Standard
When Can Customers Sue for Delays?
Illinois Appellate Court Finds Insurer Estopped From Denying Coverage Where Declaratory Judgment Suit Filed Too Late
I’m Sorry, So Sorry: Legal Implications of Apologies and Admissions of Fault for Delaware Healthcare Professionals
Named Insured’s Liability Found Irrelevant to Additional Insured’s Coverage Under a Landlords and Lessors Additional Insured Endorsement
Privileged Communications With a Testifying Client/Expert
Consumer Protection Act Whacks Seattle Roofing Contractor
Mich. AG Says Straits of Mackinac Tunnel Deal Unconstitutional
Nevada Supreme Court Rejects Class Action Status, Reducing Homes from 1000 to 71
Proposed Law Protecting Tenants Amended: AB 828 Updated
Implied Warranties for Infrastructure in Florida Construction Defect Claims
Hydrogen Powers Its Way from Proof of Concept to Reality in Real Estate
Las Vegas Sphere Lawsuits Roll On in Nevada Courtrooms
Construction Spending Had Strongest Increase in Four Years
California Enacts New Claims Resolution Process for Public Works Projects
Southern California Lost $8 Billion in Construction Wages
Lewis Brisbois Successfully Concludes Privacy Dispute for Comedian Kathy Griffin Following Calif. Supreme Court Denial of Review
Navigating Construction Contracts in the Energy Sector – Insights from Sheppard Mullin’s Webinar Series
Insurer in Bad Faith Due to Adjuster's Failure to Keep Abreast of Case Law
Regional US Airports Are Back After Years of Decay
KONE is Shaking Up the Industry with BIM
New York Court of Appeals Takes Narrow View of Labor Law Provisions in Recent Cases
BP Is Not an Additional Insured Under Transocean's Policy
Hunton Insurance Head Interviewed Concerning the Benefits and Hidden Dangers of Cyber Insurance
Quick Note: Third-Party Can Bring Common Law Bad Faith Claim
A Court-Side Seat: Permit Shields, Hurricane Harvey and the Decriminalization of “Incidental Taking”
Cuomo Proposes $1.7 Billion Property-Tax Break for New York
He's the Top U.S. Mortgage Salesman. His Daughter Isn't Buying It
New Jersey Rules that Forensic Lab Analysts Can’t be Forced to Testify
Persimmon Offers to Fix Risky Homes as Cladding Crisis Grows
Courthouse Reporter Series: Louisiana Supreme Court Holds Architect Has No Duty to Safeguard Third Parties Against Injury, Regardless of Knowledge of Dangerous Conditions on the Project
Roni Most, Esq., Reappointed as a City of Houston Associate Judge
New York Court Holds Insurer Can Rely on Exclusions After Incorrectly Denying Defense
Blockbuster Breakwater: Alternative Construction Method Put to the Test in Tampa Bay
Construction Wall Falls, Hurts Three
AFL-CIO Joins in $10 Billion Infrastructure Plan
Professional Services Exclusion in CGL Policies
Gone Fishing: Tenant’s Insurer Casts A Line Seeking To Subrogate Against The Landlord
Be Careful How You Terminate: Terminating for Convenience May Limit Your Future Rights
The EPA and the Corps of Engineers Propose Another Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
Construction Spending Highest Since April 2009
Key Legal Issues to Consider Before and After Natural Disasters
Property Insurance Exclusion: Leakage of Water Over 14 Days or More
Homebuilder Predictions for Tallahassee
Dispute between City and Construction Company Over Unsightly Arches
OPINION: Stop Requiring Exhibit Lists!
Top 10 Construction Contract Provisions – Changes and Claims
Senate Committee Approves Military Construction Funds
US Appeals Court Halts OSHA Vaccine Mandate, Unclear How Long
Granting of Lodestar Multiplier in Coverage Case Affirmed