Seattle Washington Building Expert Directory

Chicago Criticized for Not Maintaining Elevator Inspections

October 29, 2014 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, “as few as a fifth of elevators get the required annual checkup,” Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson claimed. Ferguson audited the roughly 5,100 buildings that city inspectors were assigned to inspect elevators, and found that only 965 were actually inspected, reported Crain’s Chicago Business. Furthermore, “when problems were found in inspections conducted by city personnel, they often were not fixed in a timely manner, again according to city records.” Read the court decision
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Not Pandemic-Proof: The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 on the Commercial Construction Industry

December 06, 2021 — George B. Green Jr. - Construction Executive
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt in nearly every industry and arena across the country, with the exception of construction—or so that is the general perception. Perceptions are often wrong though, and this one is no different. The truth is that the construction industry has been hit just as hard, if not harder, than every other industry. As the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the spring of 2020, construction projects plowed forward full steam ahead. Roadwork seemed to increase and developers continued to systematically acquire property and initiate large-scale projects. Perhaps it was these observations that led many to the conclusion that construction was pandemic-proof as the rest of society attempted to cobble together something that vaguely resembled a normal business year. But the construction industry has endured many challenges over the last 18 months, and unfortunately, the challenges do not appear to be evaporating anytime soon. The industry has been primarily affected in the areas of scheduling, manpower and permitting, which has ultimately affected pricing. The entire way jobs are scheduled has been turned upside down. The supply chain issues that many have experienced for everyday household items have hit the construction industry as well. Reprinted courtesy of George B. Green Jr., Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the court decision
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Mr. Green may be contacted at ggreen@wwhgd.com

SNC-Lavalin’s Former Head of Construction Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Money Laundering

October 01, 2014 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
Riadh Ben Aissa, a former SNC-Lavalin executive, “pleaded guilty to charges including bribery and money laundering in Switzerland, according to a court filing released on Wednesday,” reported the Wall Street Journal. SNC-Lavalin “issued a separate statement acknowledging the court's acceptance of Mr. Ben Aissa's guilty pleas, adding it was recognized as ‘an injured party’ in the case and would recover an unspecified amount of money from him.” Chief Executive Robert Card stated, “SNC-Lavalin's goal is nothing less than to set a new standard for clean business in the engineering and construction industry,” as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. “We've adopted a zero-tolerance policy for ethics violations of any kind. We have the right people in place and systems and procedures which are designed to protect the company and its stakeholders from future fraudulent actions." Read the court decision
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CDJ’s #3 Topic of the Year: Burch v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 223 Cal.App.4th 1411 (2014)

December 31, 2014 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
In 2013, the case Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. Brookfield Crystal Cove, LLC received a great deal of attention for its possible ramifications to how California’s Right to Repair Act (also known as SB 800) could be applied. However, 2014 had its share of SB 800 policy trends, most notably caused by the ruling in Burch. In their article, “Construction Law Client Alert: California’s Right to Repair Act (SB 800) Takes Another Hit, Then Fights Back,” authors Steven M. Cvitanovic and Whitney L. Stefco, of Haight Brown & Bonesteel, analyzed Burch as well as KB Home Greater Los Angeles v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, et al., both cases that had ramifications on how California’s Right to Repair Act is applied. Read the full story... Karen L. Moore of Low, Ball & Lynch discussed the Liberty Mutual and Burch cases in her article, “California’s Right to Repair Act is Not a Homeowner’s Exclusive Remedy when Construction Defects cause Actual Property Damage.” Read the full story... Read the court decision
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Federal Government Partial Shutdown – Picking Up the Pieces

February 27, 2019 — Jacob W. Scott -
Now that the partial shutdown has ended (though with the specter of another just around the corner), contractors are asking, “What now?” and “What did that cost me?” Although every case is fact-specific, following are some guidelines for moving forward after the shutdown. Following up on our previous guidance, contractors should make sure that any court, board, or agency filings made during the shutdown were received and properly docketed. If there is any question whether a filing was received, file it again as soon as possible with proof of the earlier attempt to file. The busiest tribunals, such as the federal courts, the Court of Federal Claims, the Boards of Contract Appeals, and the Government Accountability Office, remained open, or at least open to accept filings, and all indications are that filings made during the shutdown were received and acknowledged. But for some of the other tribunals or agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Office of Hearings and Appeals and the SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, prudence dictates double-checking that all filings were received. In many cases, non-statutory deadlines have been or will be adjusted by the court, board, or agency. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Jacob W. Scott, Smith Currie
Mr. Scott may be contacted at jwscott@smithcurrie.com

Updated: Happenings in and around the West Coast Casualty Seminar

May 13, 2014 — Beverley BevenFlorez-CDJ STAFF
For those who are attending the West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar this week, the Construction Defect Journal has updated its list of concerts, sporting events, and museum exhibitions taking place in and around Anaheim. Whether you like to spend your personal time checking out a new band, or watching your favorite Angel slide into home, or perusing the local art museum, there is something to spark your interest. ***CONCERT VENUES*** THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN ANAHEIM Live Band Karaoke Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 Doors Open at 10pm / Show Begins at 11pm Every Wednesday experience the excitement of singing your favorite song with a live band. Over 200 songs to choose from our massive collection of classics and current hits. Get down here and let your vocals roar. No Cover! Rockin’ The Blues Thursday, May 15th, 2014 Doors Open at 10pm / Show Begins at 11pm Every Thursday night head down to The Voodoo Lounge and listen to the best local live blues band. This is the music that shaped American music and influences every genre we listen to today. No cover! Alice in Cooperland with Sons of Cream and Iron Plaid Friday, May 16th, 2014 Doors Open at 7pm / Show Begins at 8pm Friday Night Live Friday, May 16th, 2014 Doors Open at 10pm / Show Begins at 11pm Every Friday night features live music in The Voodoo Lounge. One stage, weekly mind blowing performances. No cover! Stephen "Ragga" Marley Saturday, May 17th, 2014 Doors Open at 8pm / Show Begins at 9pm Dance, Pop and Hip-Hop Saturday, May 17th, 2014 Doors Open at 10pm / Show Begins at 11pm Every Saturday night The Voodoo Lounge heats up with the sounds of DJ Matt Hill spinning across genres and getting the party started. No Cover! For More Information on Events at THE HOUSE OF BLUES OF ANAHEIM... THE GROVE OF ANAHEIM Lindsey Stirling plus special guest Dia Frampton Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Doors Open at 7pm / Show Begins at 8pm Primal Fear Thursday, May 15, 2014 Doors Open at 6:30pm / Show Begins at 7pm Jillian Michaels 'Maximize Your Life' Tour Friday, May 16, 2014 Doors Open at 6pm / Show begins at 8pm For More Information on Events at THE GROVE OF ANAHEIM... THE HONDA CENTER 2014 Powerhouse Saturday, May 17, 2014 – Parking lot Festival 3pm – Show Begins 7pm Power 106 presents Powerhouse with Performances by Nicki Minaj, TDE’s Schoolboy Q, Wiz Khalifa, Trey Songz, YG, Jennifer Lopez, Childish Gambino, Juicy J, Sage The Gemini, Isaiah Rashad, plus Special Surprise Guests and More! For More Information and to Purchase Tickets for THE HONDA CENTER... ***SPORTING EVENTS*** ANGEL’S STADIUM - BASEBALL The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v. Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, May 15th at 7:05pm Friday, May 16th at 7:05pm Saturday, May 17th at 6:05pm Sunday, May 18th at 12:35pm For More Information and to Purchase Tickets for ANGEL'S BASEBALL... THE HONDA CENTER – HOCKEY Ducks v. Kings – Game 7 (If Necessary) Friday, May 16th at TBA For More Information and to Purchase Tickets for DUCKS' HOCKEY... ***MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS*** MUZEO Transcending Trash: The Art of Upcycling Apr 26 –Aug 31, 2014 Transcending Trash: The Art of Upcycling celebrates the transformation of throwaway objects into complex and colorful works of art. African Exhibit On The Move (free) May 7 –May 1, 2014 Photographer Dawn Harman has captured the spirit and energy of Africa through a series of limited edition images- each and every photo tells an extraordinary story. Museum Days/Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (Closed Mondays) / 10 am to 5 pm For More Information on Events at MUZEO... BOWERS MUSEUM (Santa Ana) Beethoven: The Late Great Feb 8 - May 18, 2014 In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and its 21st and final season of Dean Corey’s leadership, the Philharmonic Society will present a multi-season celebration of the major late works of Ludwig van Beethoven, including a celebratory exhibition at the Bowers Museum. Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies In Ancient Egypt Mar 22 – June 15, 2014 Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt is the first major exhibition to focus on one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Egyptian culture and religion—the mummification of animals. Chuck Jones: Doodles of a Genius Apr 26 - August 3, 2014 This exhibition contains original drawings, most never publicly displayed, including a section of 50 so‐called "Doodles," perhaps best described as coming from one artist's very far side. The Lure Of Chinatown: Painting California's Chinese Communities Apr 12 - August 31, 2014 The unique cultural customs, fascinating architecture, and rich aesthetic of the Chinese communities in San Francisco and Los Angeles inspired many 19th and 20th century artists. Museum Days/Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (Closed Mondays) / 10 am to 4 pm For More Information on Events at BOWERS MUSEUM... Read the court decision
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How Finns Cut Construction Lead Times in Half

December 17, 2024 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
Rakennustieto organized a Q&A on December 5, 2024, titled “Halving Construction Lead Times—Responsible or Irresponsible?” The discussion focused on speeding up residential construction and renovations. The experts answering questions were representatives from two Finnish contractors (COfLOW and Fira), a client organization (HOAS), a building materials retailer (STARK), and a research institute. Can you halve construction lead time without sacrificing quality? Jaana Matilainen of Rakennustieto asked the panelists whether halving construction time is a realistic goal today, whether they can provide any examples, and if the speed-up has increased or decreased quality. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

Contractors Pay Heed: The Federal Circuit Clarifies Two Important Issues For Bid Protestors

September 13, 2021 — Andrew Balland - ConsensusDocs
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) recently decided two cases that are relevant to many disappointed offerors considering a bid protest. One decision rendered in March 2021 confirmed the authority of the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC) to hear a protest based on an agency’s breach of an implied-in-fact contract. A second decision issued in February 2021 reversed a COFC decision from last year regarding the timeliness requirements to obtain a CICA stay and their interplay with Department of Defense (DoD) enhanced debriefing regulations. Federal Circuit Confirms The Court Of Federal Claims’ Jurisdiction Over Procurement-Related Implied Contract Claims When a contractor’s bid protest is denied by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the unsuccessful protestor may challenge the GAO’s decision as arbitrary and capricious in an action before the COFC. While 28 U.S.C. § 1491(b)(1) authorizes the COFC to hear such procurement-related challenges, § 1491(a) also permits the court to adjudicate claims against the United States based on any express or implied contracts. Read the court decision
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Reprinted courtesy of Andrew Balland, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP

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