Construction Archives

Pennsylvania may not have felt the truly disastrous effects of the Chinese drywall debacle as badly as other states. Our state had reported just more than a dozen incidents as of March 2014, while more than 2,000 Florida property owners had reported issues with the product by then. Still, we noted an appellate decision — in Florida — that illustrates a point about insurance and construction material defects that could easily hold true in any zip code.

One of the types of contracts a construction company will sometimes try to secure is a government contract. There are a wide range of different building projects that federal and local governments award contracts for.

You may have heard that Pope Francis will be visiting Philadelphia toward the end of September. He will not be in town long, but he will make a few stops in Center City and say Mass for a crowd that some say could top 2 million.

Part of the reason why many people hire the contractors they do is because they believe that the individual will complete the construction project at hand in accordance with the law. This means abiding by all state and federal construction and zoning laws as well as building safety codes.

Run-down and unsafe properties have been the focus of our recent discussions. Several buildings have collapsed across the metro area, posing a real danger to the residents of Philadelphia. Although no people were hurt in these collapses, they could have been. The truth is that accidents happen in new buildings, especially at construction sites.

Philadelphia may be shedding its nickname to become, instead, the City of Brotherly Irony. In 2014, the city spent time and money trying to oust artist James Dupree from his property, a building he had renovated into a landmark. Critics pointed out that the city was not wanting for vacant or abandoned property — why concentrate on one building that has been brought back from the dead?

The commercial construction industry is no different from any other business-related universe regarding the foremost goals of its many and varied participants.

From the planning phase to contract disputes to employment issues, costly obstacles can arise at any point in the construction process. No matter what your role is in the project, it is crucial that you have sound legal counsel to help keep costs down, protect against liability and resolve disputes.

When it comes to the construction industry, there are a lot of state and federal laws that must be followed in order to avoid potential litigation. But did you know that even if you think you have followed the law to the “T,” you may still face litigation, even for someone else’s irresponsible behavior?

On one level, the beautiful thing about construction is the heavy lifting — the re-shaping and placement of materials and the careful planning of a new or refurbished structure. Another beautiful aspect of the business is the potential for profit. Making money is exciting, and a successful construction project can be extremely fulfilling. On yet another level — the not-so-positive level — there are the risks, the potential liabilities at every turn. So who protects you, as a businessperson in construction, from liabilities?