Fairfield Connecticut Building Expert Directory

Home Buyer Disclosures, What’s Required and What Isn’t

February 05, 2015 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
According to Sandy Gadow of the Washington Post, while all states require a property disclosure statement, “the extent of what must be revealed can vary from state to state, county to county and even city to city.” Gadow stated that while, “Federal law requires certain disclosures, such as the existence of asbestos or lead-based paint in the home or other known health or safety risks. But the enforcement of other disclosures (such as reporting certain environmental conditions pertinent to the area, or the existence of Megan’s Law offenders) will be determined by local ordinance or law.” Gadow recommends home buyers go to their state’s Department of Real Estate to discover the Seller Disclosure requirements. Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

Construction Resumes after Defects

June 28, 2013 — CDJ STAFF
When inspectors found defective bolts in the construction of the Media Arts Center at L. A. Mission College, the contractor walked off the job. The project had been underway for about eighteen months. After problems were found with welds and bolts, the contractor informed the school that it could not complete the job. The California Division of the State Architect then required inspection of every weld and joint, leading to a dispute as to who was going to pay for it. At this point, only the first story has been inspected. Although the other two stories must be inspected, the new contractor is about to begin work on the building. James O’Reilly, the executive director for facilities, planning and development, said that “the main focus is on fixing the defective issues and getting construction completed so we can serve the Mission campus.” Still at question is how much SMC Construction received before they walked off the job. Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

Law Firm Fails to Survive Insurer's and Agent's Motions to Dismiss

May 08, 2023 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
Interpreting New Jersey law, the federal district court dismissed without prejudice the law firm's complaint against its insurer and agent. Law Office of Drew J. Bauman v. Hanover Ins. Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31844 (D. N. J. Feb. 27, 2023). The law firm had a professional liability policy issued by Hanover. The law firm was sued in the underlying case involving a real estate transaction. The law firm tendered the defense and indemnity of the underlying complaint, but coverage was denied. The law firm sued, contending Hanover breached the policy by refusing to abide by its obligations under the policy. In the alternative, the law firm alleged that its agent, USI Insurance Services, LLC, was liable if the policy did not require Hanover to defend and indemnify in the underlying case. It was further alleged that USI was responsible for procuring coverage for the law firm and knew of its insurance needs. USI was negligent in securing a policy with inadequate coverage. Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

Skanska Will Work With Florida on Barge-Caused Damage to Pensacola Bay Bridge

October 19, 2020 — Jim Parsons - Engineering News-Record
Florida Dept. of Transportation investigators continue to assess damage to the Pensacola Bay Bridge, which sustained multiple impacts from two construction barges unmoored by Hurricane Sally’s storm-driven waves on Sept. 15. Reprinted courtesy of Jim Parsons, Engineering News-Record ENR may be contacted at ENR.com@bnpmedia.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

The Power of Team Bonding: Transforming Workplaces for the Better

June 10, 2024 — Alexa Stephenson & Brittney Aquino - Kahana Feld
The number of civil Complaints filed in California has been steadily rising over the last few years. When employees struggle daily to make a dent in what seems as an insurmountable to-do list, taking time away from work to chat with coworkers about their weekends or the latest Netflix drop seems counterintuitive. Yet recent studies suggest that taking even 30 minutes away from your workday to engage in team bonding has lasting benefits. Investing in team bonding activities is not just about having fun; it is about creating a cohesive, motivated, and high-performing team that can drive organizational success. As the evidence suggests, the return on investment for team bonding activities is substantial, making it a vital component of any successful workplace strategy. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration One of the primary benefits of team bonding is improved communication among team members. Effective communication is the bedrock of any successful team, and activities designed to foster relationships can significantly enhance this aspect. A study conducted by MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory found that teams with higher levels of social interaction outside of formal meetings performed better than those with limited interaction. These teams were more cohesive, coordinated, and ultimately more productive. Bonding activities, as simple as group lunches or intensive as a weekend retreat, create opportunities for employees to interact in a relaxed setting. This helps break down barriers and encourages open communication, which translates into a more collaborative work environment. When employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback, it leads to better problem-solving and innovation. Reprinted courtesy of Alexa Stephenson, Kahana Feld and Brittney Aquino, Kahana Feld Ms. Stephenson may be contacted at astephenson@kahanafeld.com Ms. Aquino may be contacted at baquino@kahanafeld.com Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

Risk Transfer: The Souffle of Construction Litigation

December 13, 2022 — Alexa Stephenson & Ivette Kincaid - Kahana Feld
Who does not love a good souffle?! Enthusiasts will know that a great souffle is not something you can obtain quickly. Rather, it is common in restaurants to order the souffle as dessert at the beginning of the meal because it takes an hour to bake. Risk transfer – like a good souffle – also requires planning, preparation, and the right ingredients. In construction litigation, attorneys are often not retained until after the project has been completed for several years as the dispute between the homeowner and the general contractor or developer took time to escalate to formal litigation. A significant part of defense counsel’s legal analysis involves assessing and evaluating risk transfer opportunities. For example, in the case of a general contractor or developer who did not self-perform the construction work but instead retained subcontractors to do so, counsel will assess if risk can be transferred from the general contractor or developer to the subcontractors who performed the work which the homeowners allege is defective. In other words, a developer or general contractor can reduce their risk (i.e. liability and money owed) by transferring said risk (i.e. pointing the finger at) to a third party. Sounds easy, right? Unfortunately, just like the souffle making process, it is easier said than done. This task can be exceedingly difficult in the absence of contracts that contain strong indemnity and insurance provisions – the essential ingredients to effect risk transfer. Worry not! We have provided “baking” instructions for you below to help you get a great risk transfer souffle time and again. Reprinted courtesy of Alexa Stephenson, Kahana Feld and Ivette Kincaid, Kahana Feld Ms. Stephenson may be contacted at astephenson@kahanafeld.com Ms. Kincaid may be contacted at ikincaid@kahanafeld.com Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

Buy Clean California Act Takes Effect on July 1, 2022

July 25, 2022 — Garret Murai - California Construction Law Blog
The Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) – Public Contract Code section 3500 et seq. – requires state agencies to consider the carbon content of the following products when awarding contracts:

Structural steel;
Concrete reinforcing steel;
Flat glass; and
Mineral wool board insulation.

It is anticipated that additional products may be added through future legislation. Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

Pa. Contractor Pleads No Contest to Prevailing-Wage Charges, Pays Workers $20.7M

September 20, 2021 — Tom Ichniowski - Engineering News-Record
Pennsylvania construction contractor Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. has pleaded no contest to counts of theft of worker pay—in alleged violation of state prevailing-wage laws—and will pay 1,267 workers restitution of $20.7 million in unpaid wages, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. The company entered its plea to four felony counts of “theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received” on Aug. 3 before President Judge Pamela A. Ruest of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas in Bellefonte, Pa. Reprinted courtesy of Tom Ichniowski, Engineering News-Record Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT BUILDING EXPERT DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES