Legal/Regulation
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Deep DiveDeal or no deal: PLAs in the construction industry
The project labor agreement fight has reached the federal level as unions and private associations plead the case for and against.
By Kim Slowey • April 25, 2019 -
University of Akron sues HNTB, others for $1M 'catastrophic' stadium defects
The lawsuit alleges design-build contractor HNTB Ohio, construction manager Welty Building Co. and several subcontractors and sureties are to blame for a "failing" railing system.
By Kim Slowey • April 24, 2019 -
Little Caesars Arena construction worker suicide case goes to state AG
Some have accused state safety inspectors of showing favoritism toward the Detroit project's stakeholders in determining that the death wasn't accidental.
By Kim Slowey • April 22, 2019 -
Construction runoff at Legoland New York spurs 22 violations
Officials for the $500 million destination said above-average rainfall and a town plan prohibiting the removal of soil from the site resulted in $228,050 of fines.
By Kim Slowey • April 21, 2019 -
NYC lawmaker stresses safety training after month's 3rd death
There has been no indication from the city's Department of Buildings that these deadly accidents will speed up implementation of new safety training laws.
By Kim Slowey • April 17, 2019 -
Deep DiveThe top OSHA fines of Q1 2019
Leading violations show that once again, inspections focused heavily on fall protection.
By Kim Slowey • April 16, 2019 -
Pentagon to identify projects sidelined for border wall
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he has "not yet decided" whether to authorize military funds for this purpose, but told the department to make the money available.
By Kim Slowey • April 16, 2019 -
Bipartisan bill shoots for $125B infrastructure investment
By eliminating capital gains taxes on certain foreign investments, supporters of the Invest in America Act hope to draw in more federal funds for state and local construction projects.
By Kim Slowey • April 15, 2019 -
Chicago council approves $6B Lincoln Yards, $7B The 78
As a condition of city subsidies, Sterling Bay and Related must use 30% minority- and 10% woman-owned contractors on their respective mixed-use megaprojects.
By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2019 -
Fall hazards get Florida roofer $133K of proposed fines
OSHA investigated the roofing contractor's jobsite as part of a regional emphasis program meant to reduce workplace hazards.
By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2019 -
Lawyers: FIU bridge engineers dismissed cracks hours before collapse
Lawyers in civil proceedings are hashing out who gave the all-clear before the deadly incident at Florida International University last March.
By Kim Slowey • April 12, 2019 -
$4.6B construction bill heads to Washington state's Senate
Public schools and colleges receive record funding and the largest share under the plan, which is part of a national push for infrastructure investment.
By Kim Slowey • April 10, 2019 -
NABTU: Union, wage protections must underlie $1T infrastructure plan
Union leaders and lawmakers at a conference this week called for prevailing wages, project labor agreements and other standards to be included.
By Kathleen Brown • April 10, 2019 -
OpinionWhy contractors should nix 'casual use' of jobsite drones
As use of the technology expands, contractors, subs and other stakeholders should heed the safety and liability risks involved, an aviation attorney writes.
By By Mark A. Dombroff • April 10, 2019 -
In Illinois, GCs could be on the hook for subs' unpaid wages
As is the case in California and Maryland, the proposed law would subject prime contractors to potentially paying workers twice.
By Kim Slowey • April 10, 2019 -
Labor secretary: OSHA jobsite inspections likely to increase
The agency's visits to construction sites will ramp up once new inspectors are fully trained, labor department head Alexander Acosta told a House committee.
By Kim Slowey • April 09, 2019 -
Colorado bill set to make wage theft a felony
The proposed measure would increase the penalties for underpaying employees — including migratory and foreign laborers — by $2,000 or more.
By Kim Slowey • April 08, 2019 -
San Diego airport officials vote to use PLA on $3B airport project
San Diego International Airport staff said agreements with local unions are key to keeping the design-build redevelopment on pace with its five-year schedule.
By Kim Slowey • April 08, 2019 -
Contractor sues developer over 'leaning' Manhattan high-rise
Former construction manager Pizzarotti LLC stopped work, claiming the 58-story structure should have been anchored into bedrock with piles but that Fortis went with a cheaper, less-safe alternative, which the developer denies.
By Kim Slowey • April 03, 2019 -
Bill aims to better classify California construction workers
State legislators are considering a new test for contractors to use when deciding if laborers and tradesmen qualify as independent contractors.
By Kim Slowey • April 02, 2019 -
OSHA slaps $106K on Georgia contractor's trenching hazards
The citation and proposed fines resulted from investigators witnessing Corley Contractors expose employees to unsafe conditions at an Acworth jobsite.
By Kim Slowey • April 02, 2019 -
Immigration reform could relieve pressure on Houston's construction labor market
Allowing some type of legal status for the undocumented workers who make up almost one-third of the city's labor pool could reduce project costs and improve quality of work, local industry leaders say.
By Kim Slowey • March 28, 2019 -
Chicago's building code overhauled after 70 years
The modernization brings the city in line with international standards and gives contractors more options for building materials and technologies.
By Kim Slowey • March 26, 2019 -
Contractor faces 20 years in prison for forced labor
The owner of several construction companies in northern California held undocumented workers in captivity, refused them pay and forced 24-hour shifts.
By Kim Slowey • March 25, 2019 -
LA's Oceanwide Plaza restarts, owing subs almost $100M
The largest recorded mechanic's lien so far reportedly has been for almost $53 million from subcontractor Webcor.
By Kim Slowey • March 25, 2019
