Many trade contracts contain a clause that may protect trade contractors from catastrophic events like pandemics. These clauses are known as force-majeure clauses (covering acts of God). They basically say if these unavoidable events happen, the contractor is relieved of …
Claims
AHC Partner to Speak at the Construction Law & Government Contracting Seminar
David Cook will be speaking at the upcoming 8th Annual Construction Law & Government Contracting Seminar. The Seminar will be held on October 8 – 9 in Atlanta and will focus on important topics in construction law and government …
Georgia Supreme Court Addresses Anti-Indemnity Statute
In prior blog posts, we addressed Georgia’s anti-indemnity statute. One of the posts addressed the statute in the context of an electric utility easement near an airport. That case made its way to the Supreme Court Georgia, which provided …
City Potentially Liable for Cost Overrun on Not-to-Exceed Public Works Contract
On a public works construction project, a contractor incurred additional costs and asserted a claim against the city. The city denied the claim because the contract had a not-to-exceed price, and the city council and mayor did not approve contract …
The Problem Project
Even the best subcontractors will find themselves involved in a “problem project.” Attorney David Cook recently wrote in the American Subcontractors Association’s educational journal — The Contractor’s Compass — about the “problem project” and tips for handling them. Importantly, …
Reaffirming the Importance of Appeal Deadlines Under the Contract Disputes Act
The following article was first published by Chadd L. Reynolds in the Division of Government Construction’s September 2016 Newsletter for the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law.
A recent United States Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”) decision emphasizes the …
Court of Appeals Invalidates Lien under Dormancy Clause
On October 27, 2016, the Georgia Court of Appeals determined whether the Dormancy Statute, which bars the enforcement of judgments after seven years, applied to a lienholder’s action to foreclose its lien.
A property owner (“Owner”), contracted with a contractor …
Lien Actions Versus Lien Foreclosure Actions
The lawsuits required to perfect and foreclose upon a lien have confused lien claimants and their attorneys for years. This confusion was recently demonstrated in a recent case entitled Founders Kitchen and Bath, Inc. v. Alexander, No. A15A1262, 2015 …
New AAA Fixed Time and Cost Arbitration: Affordable Claims Resolution?
New AAA Fixed Time and Cost Arbitration: Affordable Dispute Resolution?
A prior post discussed the advantages of the AAA’s Fast Track Arbitration Procedure. More recently, the American Arbitration Association has created a new set of rules that also seek …
The Importance of Construction Document Management in Claims Resolution
The Importance of Construction Document Management in Claims Resolution
Construction projects typically involve many, many documents. They can include volumes of specifications, supplemental specifications, and standards. Even the contracts themselves can fill an oversized binder. Outside of contract documents, the …