Legal/Regulation
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California advances bill tightening definition of independent contractors
If enacted, employers would be required to use a strict method called the ABC test to determine if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.
By Kim Slowey • June 19, 2019 -
Material suppliers sued in US over deadly London building fire
Whirlpool, Celotex and Arconic Inc. are defendants in a product liability suit relating to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people.
By Kim Slowey • June 17, 2019 -
Privately funded group reaches deal with water agency to only lock its border wall at night
The gate for We Build the Wall's border fence segment in New Mexico was constructed on federal land and blocks a government levee road.
By Kim Slowey • June 13, 2019 -
OSHA places blame for FIU bridge collapse on engineer, contractors
Cracks in the Miami bridge were large enough to warrant closing the street below, where six people were killed in March 2018, according to the agency.
By Kim Slowey • June 13, 2019 -
World Trade Center sub indicted on bribery charges
The New York attorney general has charged two former managers of Delaware-based electrical contractor Hatzel & Buehler in a pay-to-play scheme with the project's construction manager.
By Kim Slowey • June 10, 2019 -
Man defrauds feds $346M through sham construction firms
Kansas contractor Matthew McPherson pleaded guilty to setting up false companies to bid on contracts set aside for disabled veterans and minorities.
By Kim Slowey • June 06, 2019 -
Experts to AEC firms: stop ignoring cybercrime vulnerabilities
Although the industry is at high risk for hacking and the average data breach costs $3.8 million, most contractors aren’t prepared, say presenters at this week's ENR FutureTech conference.
By Jenn Goodman • June 05, 2019 -
New York MTA calls for 10% design, engineering fee reduction
The transit authority, which faces a $1 billion budget overrun, said it will adjust future payments to contractors that do not respond to its request.
By Kim Slowey • June 05, 2019 -
With no tax abatements, Las Vegas-SoCal rail delayed 2 years
Virgin Trains USA said the tax incentives are a key part of the $4 billion high-speed rail system's financing package.
By Kim Slowey • June 04, 2019 -
Ciminelli, other Buffalo Billion players appeal convictions
The head of general contractor LP Ciminelli is appealing his sentence of 28 months in federal prison, a $500,000 fine and the release of $7.6 million in profit, primarily by claiming the state was not harmed by his actions.
By Kim Slowey • June 03, 2019 -
California labor officials cite sub for $598K of unpaid wages, hold GC responsible for $69K
The state's department of industrial relations has fined a general contractor for a portion of one of its subcontractors' unpaid wages under a new state law.
By Kim Slowey • May 31, 2019 -
Nevada governor signs prevailing wage, union bills
Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak said the new laws will "right anti-worker wrongs" imposed by the state's 2015 Republican-controlled legislature.
By Kim Slowey • May 30, 2019 -
Man behind shell companies sentenced in $3M fraud scheme
Charles Williams and five others submitted false invoices to The Beck Group during a Houston hotel project with help from a construction manager.
By Kim Slowey • May 30, 2019 -
USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao sells stock in Vulcan Materials after conflict of interest questioned
The divestment reportedly should have brought the secretary between $250,000 and $500,000.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: June 18, 2019 at 8:24 a.m. -
Federal judge blocks construction of 2 border wall projects worth $1B
The preliminary injunction in California pertains only to the projects set to use diverted military funds, in Arizona and New Mexico.
By Kim Slowey • May 28, 2019 -
Florida bill could help deregulate hospital construction
The measure would eliminate the requirement that general hospitals undergo a certificate of need review before being issued a state license.
By Kim Slowey • May 28, 2019 -
Bridge maintenance contractor sentenced to 18 months for defrauding NYSDOT
Acme Powerwashing of Holley, New York, saved about $500,000 by submitting fake invoices and not buying the material required to execute its contract.
By Kim Slowey • May 22, 2019 -
California sues feds over $1B canceled bullet train funds
The Federal Railroad Administration's decision to revoke the grant for the under-construction project was "arbitrary and capricious," the lawsuit alleges.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: May 23, 2019 at 9:21 a.m. -
Construction takeaways from OSHA's July 2019 updates
Revisions announced last week will not be applicable to every contractor, but all fall under the rules by which every contractor must abide.
By Kim Slowey • May 20, 2019 -
Trump lifts US tariffs on North American steel and aluminum
The lifting of tariffs on industrial metals from Mexico and Canada is good news for the construction industry, says AGC's chief economist.
By Jenn Goodman • May 17, 2019 -
Illinois contractor convicted of bribing mayor to win work
In several instances, Michael Jarigese passed his bribes to the former mayor of Markham, Illinois, in coffee cups.
By Kim Slowey • May 16, 2019 -
PLA set for $800M Essentia Health Minnesota project
The Vision Northland project in Duluth should require 5,600 unionized craft construction jobs.
By Kim Slowey • May 15, 2019 -
$187M border wall contract canceled in wake of bid protest
The Army Corps of Engineers rescinded its award to Barnard Construction after admitting that it had improperly excluded other contractors from bidding.
By Kim Slowey • May 14, 2019 -
Former manager of $3.3B school construction bond in California files whistleblower complaint
David Salazar said he was fired in retaliation for exposing mismanagement and other problems with the Los Angeles Community College District's program.
By Kim Slowey • May 14, 2019 -
OSHA fines Montana highway contractor $225K for burns, fall
Nelcon received more than two dozen violations after three workers were burned by hot oil and one fell 15 feet at an asphalt mixing plant.
By Kim Slowey • May 13, 2019
