Fairfield Connecticut Building Expert Directory

Change #7- Contractor’s Means & Methods (law note)

March 28, 2018 — Melissa Dewey Brumback - Construction Law in North Carolina
First, a little history: as you know, means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures are all part of the Contractor’s responsibility on a construction site. However, when the AIA A201 was last revised, in 2007, there was a provision put in for that rare time when the Contract Documents gave specific instructions concerning a particular construction method. If the Contractor viewed such instructions as unsafe, he was to give notice to the Owner and Architect, and was not to proceed with that portion of the Work without further written instructions from the Architect. If the Architect directed him to proceed, the Contractor was absolved from any risks with following that instruction. Instead, the Owner assumed the responsibility for any loss or damage. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Melissa Dewey Brumback, Construction Law in North Carolina

Discovery Requests in Bad Faith Litigation Considered by Court

June 10, 2015 — Tred R. Eyerly – Insurance Law Hawaii
The federal district court considered a variety of discovery requests by the insured in a bad faith case against State Farm. Stephens v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 2015 WL 1638516 (M.D. Pa. April 13, 2015). The insured plaintiff was a quadriplegic. His complaint alleged that he notified State Farm, through its agent, that he would have to leave his residence for medical treatment and intended to rent the home while he received care for his disabling condition. The complaint further alleged that the insured was told by State Farm's agent that his insurance would remain unaffected by his departure while he sought medical care. Nevertheless, when the insured reported loss due to vandalism and water damage at his home, State Farm relied upon his departure from the residence to cancel his insurance. In discovery, the insured requested three categories of documents from State Farm. First, he requested State Farm's claims manuals, guidelines and instructions materials relating to insurance claims like those made by this insured. Second, the plaintiff requested performance reviews and performance incentive programs for all of State Farm's employees who played a role in decisions in this case from 2009 to the present. Finally, the plaintiff demanded that State Farm compile information relating to other insurance lawsuits brought against State Farm involving theft, vandalism and water damage claims, as well as all lawsuits or complaints regarding the conduct of this particular claims adjuster. When the materials were not produced, plaintiff filed a motion to compel. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Insurance Law Hawaii
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

Haight’s Sacramento Office Has Moved

April 17, 2019 — Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP has moved its Sacramento office to a new location. Effective March 18, 2019, Haight’s new Sacramento office address is: 500 Capitol Mall Suite 2150 Sacramento, CA 95814 916.702.3200 F: 916.570.1947 Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

He's the Top U.S. Mortgage Salesman. His Daughter Isn't Buying It

July 16, 2014 — Lorraine Woellert – Bloomberg
David Stevens, chief executive officer of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has spent his career lauding the merits of homeownership. One person still isn’t buying it: his daughter. Sara Stevens, 27, knows interest rates are low, rents are high and owning a home can build wealth. She also had a front-row seat to the worst real-estate slump since the Great Depression. “The world has changed,” she said. Six years since the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a financial meltdown, some young adults are more risk averse and view the potential upsides of status and wealth more skeptically than before the crisis, altering the homeownership calculation. It’s more than the weight of student loans, an iffy job market and tight credit -- even those who can buy are hesitant. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Lorraine Woellert, Bloomberg
Ms. Woellert may be contacted at lwoellert@bloomberg.net

Construction Defect Specialist Joins Kansas City Firm

January 13, 2014 — CDJ STAFF
David Schatz, whose practice specializes in construction disputes and defects, has joined the Kansas City, Missouri firm Spencer Fane Britt & Brown LLP in their litigation practice group. Mr. Schatz’s expertise also includes banking and finance, banking litigation, commercial disputes, insurance, surety, employment, contract claims, and personal injury. Pat Whalen, Chairman of Spencer Fane Britt & Brown, said that Schatz “brings great experience across a range of industries, but many of us in Kansas City are particularly pleased by his construction and general litigation credentials, which will fit will with the resources we’re building in those areas.” Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of

The Future for Tall Buildings Could Be Greener

October 01, 2013 — CDJ STAFF
Skidmore, Owens and Merrill made its reputation by creating iconic structures of steel, concrete, and glass, but in a new report, the firm puts forth ways in which the first item would be wood. Building codes in many cities stipulate that buildings taller than four stories be built of steel and concrete, but the firm says that it has come up with a way of building structures of 30 stories or more using wood. The tallest wood-framed building currently is only ten stories tall. In order to calculate a comparison, Skidmore, Owens and Merrill designed a forty-two story building based on the design of an existing apartment building. Actually building it would require almost 4 million board-feet of wood. Unlike a typical single-family home (and its 20,000 board-feet of wood), these building would use glue-laminated timber and slabs. The study found that the building would weigh less than half as much, allowing a less massive foundation. If the wood came from sustainable sources, its environmental impact would be drastically reduced. They calculated that instead of 9,500 tons of CO2 emissions for the conventional tower, the wood structure would be responsible for only 2,100 tons of emissions. Skyscrapers will continue to be a feature of large cities. But instead of urban canyons of steel and concrete, in the future those towering buildings might be made of wood. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of

National Lobbying Firm Opens Colorado Office, Strengthening Construction Defect Efforts

January 05, 2017 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
Michael Best Strategies, a national law and lobbying firm, has recently opened an office in Colorado. According to the Denver Business Journal, the firm “has recruited several big-name associates — a move that could give business leaders even more clout with the Legislature on issues such as construction-defects reform.” One of the firm’s recruits, Jeff Thormodsgaard, the lead lobbyist in the recent movement to make it harder to sue condominium builders, told the Denver Business Journal, “The only change [in the construction-defects reform effort] is that we’re going to be adding more feet and more boots on the ground and more gravitas.” Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of

No Duty to Defend Construction Defect Claims

May 16, 2022 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The court determined the insurer had no duty to defend construction defect claims asserted against the insured. Pa. Nat'l Mut. Cas. Ins. Co. v. River City Roofing, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38226 (E.D. Va. March 3, 2022). Branch Builds, Inc, was the general contractor for Shock Valley View Genesis, LLC ("Genesis") in charge of constructing apartments. River City Roofing was a subcontractor for all roofing, aluminum and composition siding at the project. River City contracted and warranted its materials and work, agreed to indemnify Branch, and agreed to make Branch an additional insured under its CGL policy. After completion of the project, Genesis reported defects in the construction. The roof, aluminum and composition siding allowed water intrusion and property damage to the apartments. Branch repaired and compensated Genesis for all damage done to the apartments. Branch then sued River City and another subcontractor and demanded judgment of $3,000,000. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT BUILDING EXPERT DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES