Fairfield Connecticut Building Expert Directory

Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Increase 0.8% in November

January 07, 2015 — Michelle Jamrisko – Bloomberg
Contracts to purchase previously owned homes rose in November as employment gains and low borrowing costs helped bring potential buyers into the market. The pending home sales index advanced 0.8 percent after a revised 1.2 percent decrease in October, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. The median projection in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for the index to rise 0.5 percent, with estimates ranging from a decline of 1.5 percent to an advance of 3.5 percent. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Michelle Jamrisko, Bloomberg
Ms. Jamrisko may be contacted at mjamrisko@bloomberg.net

Idaho Business Review Names VF Law Attorney Brittaney Bones Women of the Year Honoree

July 31, 2023 — VF Law
Meridian, Idaho: June 23, 2023 – VF Law, a full-service law firm with offices across the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest, is pleased to announce that associate Brittaney Bones has been recognized as an honoree for the 2023 Idaho Business Review Women of the Year Awards. The distinguished recognition celebrates 50 female leaders across Idaho who have made their mark while continuing to pave the path of leaders for the future. When reviewing the applications, the judges considered excellence in leadership and a willingness to advance mentorship opportunities among the other considerations. In her work with the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Idaho, Bones currently serves as Vice Chair for the Legislative Action Committee. She monitors state legislation coming out of Boise. Accordingly, Bones seeks to educate lawmakers specifically on how pending legislation will affect the lives of people living and working throughout the Gem State. She also mentors students at the College of Idaho and has donated her time to the Rock Bottom Foundation, which provides meals to the unhoused. Bones’s other accolades include an International Law Writing Award from Davis Wright Tremaine (DWT) for her 2020 article “Potential Solutions to Concerns over the Treatment of U.S. Investment in China: The Need for a U.S.-China Bilateral Investment Treaty.” She frequently speaks at CAI events, helping to prepare her fellow legal professionals for challenges in the field—and those yet to come. About VF Law VF Law is a full-service, multi-state law firm. At VF, we believe that experience and knowledge are crucial; that’s why every attorney on our staff maintains a high level of expertise to ensure client success. VF possesses unmatched experience in providing HOA guidance, planning for healthy buildings from the ground up, helping small businesses and corporations run smoothly, handling real estate transactions and disputes, creating wills and trusts, and more. Visit www.vf-law.com. Read the court decision
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Oregon to Add 258,000 Jobs by 2022, State Data Shows

March 26, 2014 — Alison Vekshin – Bloomberg
Oregon expects to add 258,000 jobs by 2022, a 15 percent increase driven by the economic recovery in the construction industry and growth in health care, according to the Oregon Employment Department. Construction industry employment is projected to rise 29 percent, the fastest of any industry, though short of pre-recessionary growth, the agency said March 12 in a statement. The predictions “reflect several ongoing trends: continuing recovery from the Great Recession, particularly for the construction industry; a growing health-care sector, due in part to an aging population; continuing population growth; and the need for replacement workers due to baby-boomer retirements,” the agency said. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Alison Vekshin, Bloomberg
Ms. Vekshin may be contacted at avekshin@bloomberg.net

Court Finds Matching of Damaged Materials is Required by Policy

April 02, 2024 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The court granted, in part, the insured's motion for summary judgment by finding that matching roof tiles were required under the policy. Bertisen v. Travelers Home and Marine Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3907 (D. Colo. Jan. 8, 2024). The insureds sued Travelers for breach of contract, common law bad faith, and unreasonable delay or denial of benefits. They alleged that their residence was damaged by a hailstorm and that Travelers breached their policy and acted in bad faith in the handling of the claim. The insureds demanded an appraisal to determine the "amount of loss" under the policy and an appraisal award was issued. Travelers then denied payment for all roof tiles that were contemplated by the appraisal award. 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

As the Term Winds Down, Several Important Regulatory Cases Await the U.S. Supreme Court

September 03, 2019 — Anthony B. Cavender - Gravel2Gavel
The Supreme Court will be deciding some very important regulatory law cases in the new few weeks as the term winds down. CERCLA Circled Last week, the Court granted a petition to review a significant CERCLA case, Atlantic Richfield Company v. Christian, et al., decided by the Supreme Court of Montana on state law grounds. This case involves state litigation which could result in a cleanup whose scope is allegedly inconsistent with an ongoing and expensive federal CERCLA cleanup at the Anaconda Smelter site. CERCLA basically provides that no one may challenge an ongoing Superfund cleanup, yet this state common law proceeding seeking a cleanup of the plaintiff’s homes and properties arguably threatens the EPA-approved cleanup remedy. ARCO filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court, which the Court has now granted despite the Solicitor General’s brief which argued that the Court should wait to see the results of the Montana trial. (It is unusual for the Court to reject the advice of the Solicitor General.) Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Anthony B. Cavender, Pillsbury
Mr. Cavender may be contacted at anthony.cavender@pillsburylaw.com

After Elections, Infrastructure Talk Stirs Again

December 04, 2018 — Tom Ichniowski - Engineering News-Record
In the wake of Democrats’ House takeover and Republicans widening their Senate majority in the midterm elections, talk has quickly revived about taking on infrastructure legislation in the new Congress. Construction industry officials welcome the pro-infrastructure rhetoric from congressional leaders and President Trump. But it remains to be seen whether the words will spark a bill that can make it through a divided 116th Congress. Funding the package remains the high hurdle. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Tom Ichniowski, ENR
Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com

Serial ADA Lawsuits Targeting Small Business Owners

February 04, 2014 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
Jennifer Wadsworth reports in the San Jose Inside that small business owners in the South Bay area of California have been targeted for ADA Compliance lawsuits. Specifically, John Ho, “a wheelchair-bound paraplegic from the Southern California town of Rosemead” has hit close to “80 businesses in San Jose and more throughout South Bay” with ADA complaints. Another resident, Cecil Shaw has also “filed hundreds of lawsuits in federal court through a San Jose-based law firm alleging similar violations.” According to Wadsworth, these lawsuits have “become a multimillion-dollar industry.” Communities are often hit with “a hundred or more” lawsuits at a time: “Law firms team up with disabled clients to inspect businesses for compliance issues, and then sue in droves, expecting half or more defendants to settle out of court.” Niccandro Barrita, owner of one of four La Victoria Mexican Restaurants in South Bay, lost an ADA lawsuit. “I thought because when the building was remodeled in 1996 and the city waived the lift requirement that I was in the clear. But that wasn’t the case,” he told San Jose Inside. Barrita claims to have paid $900,000 in attorney fees. His advice to other owners is to be proactive: “Don’t rely on someone to point out a deficiency to you. Find out for yourself if you’re compliant.” Read the court decision
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Unfinished Building Projects Litter Miami

November 18, 2011 — CDJ STAFF

Buildings born in ambitious development plans that were never brought to completion form a grim reminder of the building bust in Miami, according to an article in the Miami Herald. One project started in 2007 as a residential project, later there were hopes to develop it as a hotel. These plans are ten months old with no work done.

Another project was projected as a 30-story office and commercial tower. Four were built before the project was abandoned. The article describes the site as “squalid.” Another project completed the planned 17 stories, but no work has been done beyond constructing the shell. Once planned as luxury condos, the owner owes more than $30,000 in property taxes.

Each of the three sites profiled in the Miami Herald have become dumping grounds for trash. The building skeletons have also become damaged by the elements. Some abandoned projects have been taken over by homeless people. Businesses near the abandoned properties have been hurt. The buildings also represent failed obligations to subcontractors who have put liens on the properties for work they performed but were never paid for.

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FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT BUILDING EXPERT DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES