In the words of one anonymous British humorist, "Oral agreements aren't worth the paper they're not written on." Those tongue-in-cheek words could come back to haunt you if you are not careful.Suppose you and a homeowner are having a dispute about some facet of the...
Board-Certified In Construction Law By The Florida Bar
Construction Law
3 firms bidding on Tampa Bay bridge project
According to the state Department of Transportation (FDOT), there are three construction firms on their short list to design and construct the $814 million bridge over Old Tampa Bay. The span will be adjacent to the present I-275 Howard Frankland Bridge linking St....
How can a contractor keep drugs out of the workforce?
If you're a South Florida contractor, you can't afford to let a drugged-out construction crew jeopardize your company's reputation and results. Employee drug use puts the entire crew at risk of injury (or worse) and can increase the possibility of legal action being...
Warning signs of difficult construction clients
The construction industry has seen its fair share of criticism throughout Florida and the rest of the country. Contractors tend to get a bad rap because of one or two bad eggs.But, what about the clients who cause problems for contractors? If you are a contractor you...
Will a noncompete construction clause hold up in court?
Almost every industry uses some version of a noncompete contract to protect its customer databases and proprietary information from being siphoned off by competitors. The problem arises when those contracts are deemed to be too broad or otherwise unenforceable by the...
4-year bridge project began this week
If you are a South Florida contractor, chances are good that you didn't need to read it in the Miami Herald to know that a large bridge reconstruction project was about to get underway.This week began the complex redesign of Interstate 395. The first part of the...
Developers, permits and regulations: Oh my!
If you are a developer in South Florida, it is possible to run afoul of regulations put in place to protect the vulnerable wetlands that make up so much of the region. As any homebuilder knows, that's a quick ticket to many legal problems that are far easier avoided...
Toxic mold a nightmare for contractors
Contractors can face liability claims for toxic mold in the structures they build. These claims can be expensive to remedy, but the homes and businesses may not be able to be occupied unless the mold is eradicated.As with most construction law disputes, it is far...
How can I prevent a construction dispute?
A nasty construction dispute can imperil the reputation of your business. A common theme in many of these matters is that the disputes could have been easily avoided with proper planning and oversight.Any construction project is going to have many moving parts. From...
New changes released in construction contracts
Late last month, the American Institute of Architects released more than a dozen revised and new contracts they claim will better represent "trends and nuances" in the construction industry. An AIA executive announced that these changes will "ensure the design and...
