The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has thrown a wrench into the country’s longest stretch of economic growth, threatening the performance and profitability of construction projects in states with restrictive governmental regulations.

Can a general contractor, who has suffered only economic harm, recover in negligence against an architect, with whom the contractor has no contractual relationship?

Payment bonds are an important means for subcontractors and subconsultants to obtain payments on public works projects.

Prompt payment statutes come in a variety of “flavors,” depending on the type of project (public or private), the location of the project (i.e., which state) and the nature of the project (state or federal).

May Contractor A sue Contractor B for breach of the developer’s contract — that is, the contract between Contractor B and the developer? In Arco In ge nieros, S.A. de C.V. v. CDM Int’l Inc., 368 F. Supp. 3d 256 (D. Mass. 2019), a Massachusetts federal district court said no.

Now and then, courts decide unexciting, predictable cases that illustrate fundamental concepts of black-letter, “hornbook” law. These cases are not novel, earthshattering or groundbreaking.

While many states exempt architects, engineers and other licensed professionals from liability under such statutes, others do not.

A direct, contractual relationship between a landlord business owner and a third-party contractor may not be needed for a contractor to file a lien action against the landlord.

Every now and then a case with national implications pops up right here in my own backyard (New Jersey). No, we are not talking about a case affecting immigration policy, gun control or the midterm elections. Instead, we are talking about the less glitzy subject of arbitration agreements.

The waiver of consequential damages clause in a contract, be it for construction or professional services, is a risk-shifting provision that has value to both parties to the contract and it should be negotiated.