Recent New York Litigation Highlights Increasing Risks to Contractors

Construction contracts require contractors and subcontractors to carry commercial general liability, or CGL, insurance and to name not only the contracting parties but additional third parties, such as project owners, as additional insured. Recent commercial general liability litigation, however, suggests that contractors and subcontractors should review the language of their CGL policies carefully because third parties to the contract, even if they are contractually required to be additionally insured, may actually be excluded by the insurance policies.

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Construction Industry Challenges in Wage and Labor Violations

The minimum wage and overtime provisions under federal and New York law affect all employers, but contractors are further subject to an additional, unique wage scheme in the form of prevailing wages. To learn more, please download our complimentary article regarding New York Employment and Wage Law. Continue reading “Construction Industry Challenges in Wage and Labor Violations”

When is Lawyer Representation Truly Necessary?

Are you about to start a construction project and wondering whether hiring a Construction Lawyer is a necessary expense to add to your budget?  Wondering whether lawyers are recommended on large projects from start to finish or should lawyers be on the back burner until called upon?  Hiring a Construction Lawyer prior to beginning a construction project may become essential to protecting your rights, assets, and property, if (or when) faced with a defective construction project, an absent construction crew, or even a non-paying property owner.

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Building Deconstruction, Reuse Would Benefit NYS Jobs and Climate – Cornell Chronicle

The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was created by the Cornell Chronicle (James Dean), and was published on October 3rd, 2024. To view the full article, please click here. 

Shifting from wasteful demolition practices to a circular construction economy in New York state could unlock unrealized economic activity, create thousands of green jobs and advance ambitious climate goals – while reducing pressure on landfills, Cornell experts report in a new white paper that aims to inform proposed state legislation.

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Construction Law 101

Law has an impact on almost all aspects of life, from personal injury, family disputes, and real estate.  Construction Law in particular has a far-reaching effect on many people’s lives without them even realizing.  To begin with, Construction Law is made up of a broad subset of legal fields, including areas such as contract law, real estate law, administrative law, environmental law, regulatory, and insurance.  Construction Law is a segment of law that works with specific industries such as construction, architecture, engineering, and more.  Under the construction law umbrella, many construction issues consist of contract creation and negotiation, sureties and bonds, construction claims and defects, employment laws, and even business tune-ups.  Within this article, we will specify the areas that are most common in the construction law segment, along with special areas you might not have thought of.

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Homeowner Court Ruling Serves as a Reminder to New York Contractors

A recent ruling issued by the Supreme Court, County of Nassau, serves as a reminder to New York contractors performing residential work of the importance and necessity in having a home improvement license if you need legal action to pursue payment on the project.

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The Evolution of Head Protection: Safety Helmets vs. Hard Hats

The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was created by the Malta Dynamics, and was published to ConstructionDive.

In the fast-paced world of construction and industrial work, the importance of head protection cannot be overstated. Over the last five years, the demand for safety helmets and hard hats has escalated. With contractors now mandating the use of these protective gears, the safety landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. Malta Dynamics, a reputable manufacturer of safety products since 2015, is committed to creating a product that not only enhances protection but also meets budget constraints reflects the growing emphasis on worker safety.

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Pitfalls in Extending a Mechanic’s Lien on Residential Properties

 A Lien (or ‘Mechanic’s Lien’) is a potentially powerful tool for contractors, architects, engineers, or suppliers of materials to secure payment for work performed ‘improving’ a property[1]. To properly ‘perfect’ a lien claim, however, strict compliance with the nuances of the New York lien law is required, and often times there are details in the process commonly overlooked.

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Handling Next Summer’s Heat: Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments – OSHA

The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was created by OSHA, and was published to their website. To view the full article, please click here. 

Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat in their workplaces. Although illness from exposure to heat is preventable, every year, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some cases are fatal. Most outdoor fatalities, 50% to 70%, occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time. The process of building tolerance is called heat acclimatization. Lack of acclimatization represents a major risk factor for fatal outcomes.

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Five Key Principles in Designing Regenerative Buildings – USGBC+ Magazine

The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. does not own this content. This content was created by USGBC+ Magazine. To view the full article, please click here. 

LEED Fellow Eddy Santosa shares the elements designers should keep in mind to achieve regenerative design goals.

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