In Cell-Crete Corp. v. Fed. Ins. Co., a California court awarded a surety attorneys’ fees and costs that its principal incurred defending the surety against a claim on a public-works payment bond. This is good news for...more
« Réforme du droit des sûretés : des outils rénovés et modernisés au service du financement de l’économie » La ratio legis de la réforme du droit des sûretés – La réforme du droit des sûretés a été adoptée par l’ordonnance...more
The statute of frauds is an affirmative defense in a breach of contract suit that, where applicable, renders a contract unenforceable. It exists to “prevent fraud and perjury in certain kinds of transactions by requiring...more
As 2020 comes to a much anticipated close and we approach the one-year anniversary of the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth reflecting on the impacts the health crisis has had on the construction marketplace...more
In the course of managing a construction company, its projects and people, contractors, subcontractors, and owners, are likely to run into legal issues beyond simple claims. In this webinar, Michael McKenna will identify some...more
Texas surety law contains obscure procedural rules that can have outsized consequences. Chapter 43 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code is an important example....more
A construction project can be a breeding ground for general contractor versus subcontractor payment disputes. Whether it is payment for extra work subject to the project owner’s approval, slow pay or no pay by the project...more
This decision is a major victory for Ohio contractors and their sureties. The Fifth District Court of Appeals of Ohio issued a recent decision confirming that Ohio’s construction statute of repose, R.C. 2305.131, applies to...more
King Cnty. v. Vinci Constr. Grands Projets/Parsons RCI/ Frontier-Kemper, JV, No. 92744-8, 2017 Wash. LEXIS 743 (July 6, 2017) - King County contracted with three construction firms (collectively, “VPFK”) to construct a...more
In order to be arbitrable, a dispute must fall within the scope of the parties’ operative arbitration agreement. Here, a non-signatory to the relevant agreement was seeking to “invoke an arbitration provision that was not...more
A hefty body of law declares that “suretyship is not insurance,” and so that sureties are not subject to claims for the tort of insurance bad faith. E.g., Upper Pottsgrove Township v. Internat’l Fidelity Ins. Co., 976...more
You might wonder whether lenders can enforce a guaranty of a loan from an individual or entity that has no formal connection with the borrower, i.e. someone who is not an owner or affiliated company. Generally, the answer is...more
As of January 1, 2016, an amendment to the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act, 770 ILCS. 60/38.1, allows parties with an interest in real estate to substitute an eligible surety bond for a claim for mechanics lien as security for...more