Construction Law Blog

Challenging Construction Arbitration Awards in New York

Arbitration is an established alternative to court litigation in construction disputes. Challenging an unfavorable construction arbitration award is so difficult that homeowners may wish to give serious thought before submitting their disputes with contractors to arbitration. Courts give great deference to the decisions of arbitrators, refusing to review arbitration awards even for errors of law or fact.[1] There are few exceptions to this rule, and courts only invoke them in rare circumstances.

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5 Reason to Consider Arbitration for your Construction Disputes

In a recent client conference, I was asked, “So what is arbitration, anyhow?” In the context of a construction claim or in seeking to prevent a construction claim, there are several significant advantages that arbitration can provide in lieu of litigation. In today’s challenging business environment being aware of the various options available could make a significant impact on your business.

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Homeowner Challenges to New York Mechanic’s Liens

 

When a private improvement lien is filed in New York, the entire body of the New York Lien Law is imported which establishes the rules for filing, enforcing (or foreclosing the lien) and for challenging or discharging the lien. There may often be defenses to the lien for the property owner as outlined below.  For those seeking to file a valid lien, the below serves as a reminder of common issues to avoid.

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Long Island Construction Employment is Still Rising

Long Island Construction Law did not create this content. This article was written by David Winzelberg, and was published to the Long Island Business News on March 15th, 2019. 

The number of construction jobs on Long Island continued to climb in January as compared with the previous year, according to the latest report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

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Architects Will See Greater Demand in Services as More Construction Projects Get Underway

John Caravella, a Construction Attorney at The Law Offices of John Caravella, P.C. and a former architect, says a recent report showing a lower demand for architects’ services last month is part of the business cycle and that, in some parts of Long Island, demand has been steady, especially for the construction of high-end and luxury homes. He adds that the improving economy will mean architects will be in greater demand as more money will be spent on construction projects.

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Are We On The Same Page? How Construction Document Conflicts Are Resolved

Given the large number and variety of documents required to administer a construction project today (plans, specifications, contracts, etc.), the likelihood of discrepancies arising between these different sources is almost unavoidable. Do you know how these documents rate in terms of their authority?

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The Implied Warranty on the Sale of New Homes: What Homeowners & Contractors Need to Know

The traditional maxim of “let the buyer beware” is softened in the context of Article 36-B of the New York General Business Law, which imposes a warranty in favor of the buyers of new homes and holds construction contractors to a standard of skilled workmanship.

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Networking Opportunities in New York Construction

Construction, in particular, adapts and responds to changes as a regular course of business. From changes in codes, regulations, and client preferences, staying abreast of the trends influencing the industry is essential for those who hope to earn their living from it.

Networking has always been an important function for anyone running a business.

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Construction Defects in New York; Part 6 of 6 – Time Limits

This is a continuing article series on Construction Defects in New York, These include an introduction (part 1), design defects (part 2), defective construction (part 3), improper materials (part 4), improper installations (part 5) and finally important time limitations which apply to seeking legal action for defective construction in New York (part 6).

Although construction litigation can be complex and often requires expert testimony, one of the most complicated areas is simply determining the timeframe a party has to bring forth an action in New York.

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Construction Defects in New York; Part 5 of 6 – Improper Installation

This is a continuing article series on Construction Defects in New York, These include an introduction (part 1), design defects (part 2), defective construction (part 3), improper materials (part 4), improper installations (part 5) and finally important time limitations which apply to seeking legal action for defective construction in New York (part 6).

Construction defects relating to materials can also be based on their installation. If products are installed incorrectly this can result in an unacceptable condition to the project owner.

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