Fairfield Connecticut Building Expert Directory

Ex-Turner Exec Gets 46 Months for Bloomberg Construction Bribes

July 11, 2021 — Eydie Cubarrubia - Engineering News-Record
A third New York City-based construction executive was sentenced to federal prison June 15, receiving 46 months, as part of the $15-million bribery scheme involving interiors work for financial giant Bloomberg LLP at its Manhattan headquarters. Reprinted courtesy of Eydie Cubarrubia, Engineering News-Record Ms. Cubarrubia may be contacted at cubarrubiae@enr.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
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Contractors: Beware the Subordination Clause

October 15, 2014 — Garret Murai – California Construction Law Blog
A bit of mechanics lien trivia. What is the only state in the United States in which mechanics liens are a constitutional right? If you answered California, ding, ding. Article XIV of the California Constitution states:

Mechanics, persons furnishing materials, artisans, and laborers of every class, shall have a lien upon the property upon which they have bestowed labor or furnished material for the value of such labor done and materials furnished; and the Legislature shall provide, by law, for the speedy and efficient enforcement of such liens.

But how does that constitutional right stand up against contractual rights? Not so well it seems. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@kmtg.com

Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

February 21, 2022 — Traub Lieberman
Traub Lieberman is pleased to announce that two Partners from the Chicago, IL office have been selected to the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list. In addition, three Partners have been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers

Brian Bassett – Insurance Coverage
Dana Rice – Insurance Coverage

2022 Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Brandt Allen – Insurance Coverage
Jessica Kull – Civil Litigation: Defense
Jeremy Macklin – Insurance Coverage

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Former NJ Army Base $2B Makeover is 'Buzzsaw' of Activity

June 14, 2021 — Tom Stabile - Engineering News-Record
Take a developed property the size of New York City’s Central Park with 5 million sq ft of building area, program in new construction or renovation over 20 years and across three dozen parcels for 1,600 housing units, 300,000 sq ft of civic or government space, 500,000 sq ft for retail and 2 million sq ft of offices, and you have a pretty ambitious undertaking. The $2-billion effort to redevelop Fort Monmouth, a decommissioned former U.S. Army base in the thick of New Jersey’s suburban sprawl, is all kinds of ambitious. Reprinted courtesy of Tom Stabile, Engineering News-Record ENR may be contacted at ENR.com@bnpmedia.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
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In Florida, Component Parts of an Improvement to Real Property are Subject to the Statute of Repose for Products Liability Claims

December 02, 2015 — Michael L. DeBona – White and Williams LLP
In Dominguez v. Hayward Industries, Inc., Certified Gunite Company d/b/a Custom Pools, and John M. Pieklo, — So.3d —-, 2015 WL 5438782 (3d DCA Sept. 16, 2015), the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District, discussed whether products liability claims related to a pool filter, a component part of a pool system, were subject to Florida’s twelve-year products liability statute of repose, section 95.031, Florida Statutes. The court held that a pool filter does not constitute an improvement to real property and, thus, the plaintiffs’ claims were subject to the statute of repose. Background Facts Ryan and Jessica Dominguez had a pool installed at their house; the delivery and installation of the pool and its filter were completed on December 20, 1999. Over twelve years later – on November 17, 2012 – the pool filter exploded, causing Mr. Dominguez a severe head injury. Mr. Dominguez and his wife brought a products liability action against, among others, the pool filter manufacturer and distributor, Hayward Industries, Inc., and the installer of the pool and intermediate distributor of the pool filter, Certified Gunite Company. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Michael L. DeBona, White and Williams LLP
Mr. DeBona may be contacted at debonam@whiteandwilliams.com

As Fracture Questions Remain, Team Raced to Save Mississippi River Bridge

September 06, 2021 — Jim Parsons - Engineering News-Record
"How is this bridge still standing?” That was the initial reaction of Aaron Stover, Michael Baker International’s vice president and regional bridge practice lead, as he first studied images of a fractured tie beam that forced the May 11 emergency shutdown of the I-40/Hernando de Soto Bridge between Tennessee and Arkansas. Discovered by chance earlier in the day during MBI’s routine above-deck inspection, the fracture on the bridge’s eastbound span affected nearly half the cross-section of a 26-in. by 33-in. welded girder supporting one of the 50-year-old structure’s 900-ft-long, 100-ft-high arched navigation spans across the Mississippi River. 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
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Montana Theater Threatened by Closure due to Building Safety

January 14, 2015 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
Phil Henderson, owner of Stevensville Hardware which is adjacent to the theater, has sued the Stevensville Playhouse, alleging that one of the theater building’s walls leans over into his property, according to the Bitterroot Star. Henderson stated that the leaning wall is interfering with construction plan, and he also alleges that the building is not safe and should be condemned. A building inspector hired by Henderson declared that “…it seems necessary to notify the Stevensville Playhouse that their structure is to be immediately considered unsafe for entry, occupancy, etc.” However, another engineering firm presented a different view on the situation: “The playhouse has withstood many snow storms and earthquakes during its life and will likely continue to function well into the future. We do not mean to downplay the need to perform the recommended repairs, but we do not feel that the building needs to be condemned at this point.” Read the court decision
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Contractor Manslaughter? Safety Shortcuts Are Not Worth It

August 11, 2011 — Douglas Reiser, Builders Council Blog

It’s been a while since I discussed the importance of safety. But,Â a recent article on ENR.comÂ compelled this brief article. Don’t shortcut safety — you could be facing serious criminalÂ repercussions.

A New York crane company owner and one of his employees are each facing a second-degreeÂ manslaughterÂ charge for the death of two construction workers. Â The charges stem from the collapse of aÂ craneÂ in New York City. The district attorney determined that the crane owner cut a few corners to reduce its operation costs, significantlyÂ sacrificingÂ safety.

Another example was the 2010 trial of another New York crane operator who was charged with manslaughter. In that case, the criminal charges failed to stick, but an administrative judge found that the contractor used a damaged sling to support the steel collar binding the tower-crane mast to the 18th floor of a high-rise building being constructed. The company also used four slings instead of the eight, as specified by the crane manufacturer; improperly attached the slings and failed to pad or soften them.

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Reprinted courtesy of Douglas Reiser of Reiser Legal LLC. Mr. Reiser can be contacted at info@reiserlegal.com

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FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT BUILDING EXPERT DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES