Legal/Regulation

Widow sues construction equipment supplier 3M for wrongful death

Plantiffs claim that the 3M lifeline failed to protect the Kiewit-Hoffman East Link Constructors worker from a 35-foot fall at the $3.7 billion East Link rail project in Seattle.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 11, 2020
10 biggest OSHA fines of 2019

Fall protection violations are by far the most common among the heaviest fines, which reached as high as $1.8 million in 2019.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 05, 2020
Construction issues linger at $1.1B US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is in mediation with multiple parties involved in the design and construction of the venue.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 03, 2020
Miami Beach city manager calls Clark's convention center allegations 'unfounded'

In a lawsuit filed last week, Clark Construction Group said it is seeking approximately $90 million for extra work and retainage on the $600 million project.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: Feb. 3, 2020 at 9:43 a.m.
Hard Rock Hotel project collapse sparks new investigation

In addition to OSHA and other investigations, the New Orleans City Council will hold hearings on the October hotel project collapse that killed three workers and injured several others.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 30, 2020
Connecticut construction exec sentenced to prison for defrauding employees out of $3.4M

The owner of Ferguson Mechanical and Ferguson Electric deducted sham pension administrative fees from his 300 employees' paychecks and diverted the cash for his own use.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 29, 2020
San Francisco's Treasure Island residents sue Lennar, others for $2B, claim failed toxic cleanup

The plaintiffs are asking to halt construction on the $6 billion redevelopment on a San Francisco Bay island until independent verification is provided.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 28, 2020
Lendlease sues NYC building department over death citation

Lendlease maintains that the security guard killed on the $3 billion Central Park Tower project in 2018 was an employee and not a member of the public.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 27, 2020
Manhattan DA charges former Metro-North Railroad employee, 2 others in bid-rigging scheme

WRS Environmental Services, according to the district attorney, won Metro-North contracts worth $10 million by using inside information and is also charged.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 23, 2020
Construction's costliest OSHA fines of Q4 2019

One incident cited by the agency involved a 15-year-old roofer, who died after he fell through an unsupported roof section.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 23, 2020
Austin, Texas, program requires contractors, developers to pay for employee parking

A new pilot program designed to curb parking shortages caused by construction workers in downtown Austin follows similar efforts by cities in Florida, California, Utah and Colorado.
By Jenn Goodman • Jan. 23, 2020
With ex-exec imprisoned for fraud, several SNC-Lavalin subsidiaries banned from public bidding in Quebec, Canada

Six subsidiaries of the Canadian construction giant are now reportedly prohibited for five years in the province after its construction arm and former executive pleaded guilty to fraud last month.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: Feb. 10, 2020 at 10:07 a.m.
Lawsuits follow last year's Google Seattle site crane collapse

Families of two of the four deceased are suing crane owner Morrow Equipment, general contractor GLY Construction, Northwest Tower Crane Service, Omega Morgan and Seaburg Construction.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 13, 2020
Arizona lawmakers introduce bill that would clear way for border wall projects on private land

State House Majority Leader Warren Petersen and 15 other Republicans want to amend regulations to exempt border wall projects built on private property from having to secure a building permit.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 08, 2020
Contractors sue NYC's MTA over new debarment rules

A coalition of New York City contractors' groups finds fault with the transit authority's controversial debarment regulations designed to keep projects on time and on budget.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 07, 2020
Texas construction company owners fined $3M in undocumented worker case

Two of those involved in the concrete firm's scheme also face up to five years in federal prison and three others up to six months.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: Jan. 30, 2020 at 9:10 a.m.
NY approves $51B MTA capital plan, its largest ever

Kicking off the massive program, the transit agency announced that it is seeking qualified design-build firms for work on 23 subway and rail stations.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 02, 2020
Gov. Cuomo signs NYC design-build legislation

City officials have long claimed that using design-build for public works and other projects could save the city time and money.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 02, 2020
Union accuses Amazon contractors of wage-related violations in Virginia

An Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters' report focuses on drywall subcontractors and the lower-tier subcontractors they reportedly hired to perform work on six projects involving four owners at sites near HQ2.
By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2019
Takeaways from the year's construction calamities

This year, and this fall in particular, saw a number of high-profile accidents on U.S. jobsites. Here is a look back at some of the construction calamities from 2091 and the fallout that followed.
Levelset draws $30M of investment, including funds from Darren Bechtel of Brick & Mortar

The New Orleans-based tech firm that helps smooth out the contractor payment process has now collected $47 million of outside funding.
By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2019
Tutor Perini will take $119M charge, still appeal breach of contract verdict in $2B Washington DOT project litigation

Tutor Perini said it would take the charge in the fourth quarter after a state court jury awarded the Washington State DOT $57.2 million in a lawsuit centered on the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement project on which the GC worked with Dragados USA.
By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: Dec. 20, 2019 at 2:51 p.m.
Atlanta transit authority approves $27B regional plan

The plan includes 192 projects, with $21 billion earmarked for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
By Kim Slowey • Dec. 17, 2019
Federal judge blocks Trump from using $3.6B of military funds for border wall

Though the Texas judge has issued a permanent injunction, the Supreme Court overturned a similar move issued by a federal judge in California earlier this year.
By Kim Slowey • Dec. 12, 2019
Contractor gets jail sentence for worker trench deaths

A judge in Boston found that Kevin Otto and Atlantic Drain Services "knowingly and willfully" put the victims of the 2016 incident in extreme danger by not using required cave-in protection methods.
By Kim Slowey • Dec. 11, 2019