Iraq contract scheme lands U.S. engineer in jail

After a guilty plea to three of 54 counts of a federal indictment, former Corps of Engineers employee John Alfy Salama Markus will go to prison for rigging Corps contract awards in Iraq.

By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Sequestration and algae power

Construction news catch you sleeping this week? Take a minute and find out what everyone else was reading.

By Brian Warmoth • March 8, 2013

Explore the Trendline➔

Legal Issues

Contracts, disputes, change orders and delays can keep builders up at night. Construction Dive covers some of the top issues facing the industry.

By Construction Dive staff

CH2M Hill agrees to $18.5M settlement amid federal fraud allegations

The company said it should have caught the problem sooner when the government was being charged for more hours than workers put in at the Hanford, Wash., nuclear facility.

By Ron Gallagher • March 7, 2013

How many states aren't living up to US energy-code commitments?

One string attached to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act state funds was an agreement to put building energy codes in place – but some states haven't followed through. 

By Ron Gallagher • March 4, 2013

EPA seeks to avoid dissent on looming stormwater rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is due out in June with rules for incorporating stormwater control in low-impact development, and it's lobbying local governments to see the rules favorably.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 28, 2013

Mayors' group tackles greenhouse emissions where they can – buildings

The group called C40 Cities – which actually has 58 members – is an alliance of mayors who want to reduce the global-warming effect of emissions from large urban buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 27, 2013

OSHA imposes fine in roof worker's heat-related death; contractor is contesting fine

A temporary employee of Dayton, Ohio,-based A.H. Sturgill Roofing Inc. was on a roof on an 82-degree day last summer when he suffered heat stroke.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 26, 2013

Rule reduces review of some emergency road, bridge repairs

A new ruling by federal highway officials aims to speed up environmental reviews of road and bridge projects when the president or a governor has declared an emergency.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 26, 2013

Be ready if/when a construction accident happens

Nobody wants it but everybody should expect it and be ready with a plan and procedures to follow before an accident happens.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 20, 2013

ASCE group is developing building codes to cope with tsunamis

A group of engineers from the West Coast of the U.S. are working on codes to encourage designs that can better withstand the punishment of pounding water.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 19, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Labor, Obama and Lumber

Feel like you fell behind on the construction news this week? Get up to date with our recent popular reads.

By Brian Warmoth • Feb. 15, 2013

OSHA fines Ariz. contractor in death of worker struck by shovel bucket

The agency said Ellison-Mills Contracting of Casa Grande, Ariz., didn't take proper precautions that may have averted the accident during a waterline installation.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 14, 2013

Mandatory energy-reporting for large buildings reaches Minneapolis

Beginning in 2015, the city will require operators of buildings over 50,000 square feet to report energy and water use.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 14, 2013

Tilt-Up Concrete Assn. touts products' ability to help meet energy code

The trade group says it can be a resource for design professionals and others looking for ways to comply with the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 12, 2013

Joint venture LLC template now offered by ConsensusDocs

The industry-backed project to ease the legal aspects of construction and decrease litigation has a product for firms putting together LLCs for joint ventures.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 11, 2013

January crane collapse in New York brings fines for two firms, two individuals

New York City ruled that a Jan. 9 collapse of a crane at an apartment project on the East River shore in Queens happened because the weight was too much.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 5, 2013

Court-based foreclosure states slow the market-clearing process

States in which foreclosures have to go through a judicial process cannot process the homes as quickly as others, keeping a logjam from breaking loose.

By Ron Gallagher • Feb. 4, 2013

Russian billionaire sues contractor over renovation blackmail

Vitaly Malkin, a Russian senator and billionaire, is suing a Manhattan-based contractor for attempting to extort a lucrative renovations contract from him.

By Davide Savenije • Jan. 31, 2013

Most Read Construction News of the Week: Fleet management, concrete and N.Y.

Miss out on the week's biggest stories on Construction Dive? Have a look at these links and get caught up.

By Brian Warmoth • Jan. 31, 2013

VA fires another round at Brassfield in Orlando hospital dispute

The government clearly is covering its legal bases in its dispute with Brassfield & Gorrie, filing its second "cure" notice saying it wants to cut off the contractor.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 30, 2013

Immigration-reform outline gets business backing

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, no friend of previous immigration-reform efforts, says it believes a new plan can work for employers as well as immigrants.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 28, 2013

U.S. court knocks out Michigan's second try at anti-PLA statute

A district judge said a state cannot bar project labor agreements when it is also a market participant.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 24, 2013

Investigators seek cause of London chopper crash, crane taken down

Much of the tower crane next to the 180-meter luxury residential building under construction was undamaged by the helicopter that collided with it Jan. 16 in heavy fog.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 23, 2013

ANSI amends A10.9 standard for concrete and masonry work

The changes focus on reinforcing steel and post-tensioning operations to enhance safety.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 16, 2013

Domino effect of project problems turns clients from New England contractor

Baybutt Construction Co. has been declared to be in default by two public clients, and one state official speculated it is the result of trying hard to survive the recession on slim margins.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 15, 2013