Legal/Regulation

Builders face security, privacy risks as BIM takes off

As state and federal agencies tighten cybersecurity regulations on their projects, here’s how contractors and subs can comply.

By Julie Strupp • Sept. 29, 2022

EEOC sues California contractor for national origin, sexual harassment

Supervisors used derisive language against Latino workers and threatened to sexually assault them, the lawsuit claims.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 29, 2022

The Dotted Line: Cost escalations lead to more disputes

Construction attorneys say price increases for labor and materials are causing friction between GCs, subs and owners.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 27, 2022

Collecting personal data improves safety, but increases contractor liability

Companies could face legal consequences for failing to secure employee data.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 21, 2022

XL Construction’s Chris Bailey talks inflation, supply chain and the need for immigration reform

After correctly predicting that higher costs and supply chain impacts weren’t temporary in early 2021, the California-based contractor gives his views on the biggest challenges facing the sector now.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 19, 2022

Feds won’t enforce contractor COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Updated guidance indicates the government won't implement an executive order requiring the shot, but confusion remains.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 8, 2022

NYC’s construction site inspections, enforcement ‘inadequate’

The tracking of jobsite injuries and deaths by the city's Department of Buildings needs improvement, according to a new audit.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 8, 2022

Court partially reinstates federal contractor vaccine mandate

An appeals court ruled the mandate is still stayed for members of the Associated Builders and Contractors and contracting agencies in seven states. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 30, 2022

The Dotted Line: Recession fears spur uptick in terminations for convenience

Attorneys say there's been a slight increase in the number of owners pulling out of projects. Here's what you can do to protect your firm. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 30, 2022

SEC charges Granite with fraud, firm pays $12M

The California-based contractor said it fully cooperated with the investigation, while the attorney for a former executive at the firm said he would fight the charges in court. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 26, 2022

FERC gives builders 4 more years to finish $6.6B Mountain Valley gas pipeline

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday said the long-delayed project remains in the public interest.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 25, 2022

The ‘bonus’ tax deduction in the Inflation Reduction Act for construction firms

Contractors can earn up to a $5-per-square-foot energy-efficient tax deduction when they meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements on nonprofit projects. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 24, 2022

Massachusetts establishes health, safety agency for public workers

The state's plan will provide protections for 430,000 public employees.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 24, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act includes $3B to improve roads

The law funds a new grant program to build connections across highways and railroads and to redesign streets that are dangerous to cross.

By Julie Strupp • Aug. 23, 2022

Noose found at $295M Oregon high school construction site

Andersen Construction, which is overseeing the renovation at Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon, offered a $10,000 reward for information in the case. 

By Joe Bousquin • Aug. 17, 2022

Report details what went wrong at Denver Airport’s Great Hall project

The build had several high-profile issues, including cost overruns and management fights, and is years behind its original schedule.

By Matthew Thibault • Aug. 16, 2022

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act, boosting low-carbon materials in civil projects

The bill contains approximately $5 billion for programs to accelerate the construction industry’s shift toward green building materials.

By Julie Strupp • Updated Aug. 17, 2022

$52B CHIPS Act a boon for construction, but challenges remain

Labor shortages, security clearances and the funding timeline still need to be addressed, experts say.

By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 3, 2022

7 tips for complying with New York's wage theft law

General contractors need to take care in order to avoid liability, according to accountant Phil Ross.

By Jennifer Goodman • July 27, 2022

BNBuilders fires 3 workers connected to noose incident at Meta site

More than 20 noose incidents have been reported on construction jobsites since George Floyd’s murder in 2020, but rarely do perpetrators get caught.

By Sebastian Obando • July 27, 2022

The Dotted Line: 'Carrot and stick' provisions help architects and GCs get along

A new report explores the clashes between designers and builders. Construction attorneys say it doesn’t have to be that way.

By Joe Bousquin • July 26, 2022

Bill mandates breaks every 4 hours for construction workers

The legislation aims to help address heat-related illness and death on jobsites nationwide.

By Julie Strupp • Updated July 26, 2022

$200K reward leads to worker's termination for noose at federal project

North America’s Building Trades Unions, which offered the reward, said it was in the process of paying it out after tips to its hotline resulted in the alleged perpetrator’s identification.  

By Joe Bousquin • July 20, 2022

Texas contractor settles EEOC racial discrimination suit for $50K

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged Lone Wolf Resources called a Black truck driver the N-word, among other slurs, and told a supervisor not to hire more Black people because “they are lazy.”

By Joe Bousquin • July 14, 2022

How much is a construction worker's life worth? NY bill says at least $300,000.

Passed through the state’s legislature, “Carlos' Law” could increase the severity of fines contractors face in criminal penalties.

By Zachary Phillips • July 12, 2022