On October 17th, John Caravella was invited to speak at the AIA Contract Document Workshop where he was able to share his knowledge about Construction Contract Interpretation and Fundamentals. In this specific article, we share the Roles and Relationships of Construction Project Participants. This way, we can fully understand who really does what on a construction job site.
Category: Construction litigation
Your Contractor Abandoned Your Project – Now What?
Have you ever hired a contractor who disappeared on you? Were you left with a half-completed home improvement project, with feelings of despair and frustration and not a clue as to what your next steps should be? You’re left with unused materials, shortage of capital, and a literal construction site in your home. Unfortunately, this happens to homeowners who hire both licensed and unlicensed contractors more often than you would think. However, there is recourse available. Below we discuss the steps that you can take and actions that you can pursue when your contractor abandoned your project before the construction is completed.
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Contractor Scaffold Law Liability
Much construction litigation arises from disputes over Scaffold Law liability. Simply, the Scaffold Law makes certain contractors and project owners liable for injuries to workers on construction sites. The Scaffold Law has been criticized for the burdens it imposes on contractors and owners and for allowing workers to collect even if they have ignored safety rules.
Construction Plans and Architectural Designs
It’s one thing to say what you want in your construction project, but it is another thing to properly document your dream design on paper in the form of legitimate construction plans. Within this article, you will have a better understanding of what is included in detailed construction plans, as well as the understanding of common symbols used in the architectural industry. Whether you are a project owner or contractor, always remember your construction drawings take precedence over performance specifications in the state of New York.
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Why Homeowners are Vulnerable When Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor
Managing a budget is generally a high priority on a homeowner’s list when beginning a home improvement project. Unfortunately, many homeowners make the mistake of saving money by hiring an unlicensed contractor. Although it may seem to be the more attractive, less expensive option, hiring an unlicensed contractor to save some money could be very problematic, leading to long-term negative financial effects or legal consequences. This is due to the fact that there is no guarantee that an unlicensed contractor will have the necessary insurance policies in place to protect your property, themselves, their workers, and any other damages that may arise from their construction work.
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Protecting Yourself from Usury and Racketeering in Construction
Whenever we hear the terms Usury and Racketeering, we think of two things, organized crime, and the RICO Act. But did you know that these two terms are very common within the New York Construction industry? Whether you are a homeowner, a contractor or a commercial business owner, usury and racketeering come in many different shapes and sizes. What are the types of Construction Usury, and how can we protect ourselves?
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Architectural Hierarchy 101
When you are working on a renovation project or building a home from the ground up, it is not just one person pulling the strings and leading the operation, learn the architectural hierarchy. Behind every architectural firm is a small army of individuals with specific roles and responsibilities to make your dream a reality. Within this article, we will share the chain of command within an architectural firm. To learn what you should be looking for when hiring such architects, please review our blog posting titled “Considerations When Hiring an Architect” below.
Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners; Part 4 of 4 – Conclusion
This is a continuing article series regarding Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners. These include four different topics, Pre-Construction (Part 1), During Construction (Part 2), Post-Construction (Part 3) and Construction Conclusion (Part 4). Each series of topics discuss informative summaries of what happens within each construction phase.
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Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners; Part 3 of 4 – Post-Construction
This is a continuing article series regarding Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners. These include four different topics, Pre-Construction (Part 1), During Construction (Part 2), Post-Construction (Part 3) and Construction Conclusion (Part 4). Each series of topics discuss informative summaries of what happens within each construction phase.
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Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners; Part 2 of 4 – During Construction
This is a continuing article series regarding Construction Law: An Overview for Homeowners. These include four different topics, Pre-Construction (Part 1), During Construction (Part 2), Post-Construction (Part 3) and Construction Conclusion (Part 4). Each series of topics discuss informative summaries of what happens within each construction phase.
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