Contractor in deadly South Dakota building collapse may need to liquidate

Hultgren Construction filed for a Chapter 11, but an observer said that Chapter 7 liquidation is a more likely alternative. 

By Kim Slowey • Updated Aug. 17, 2018

New York construction execs charged with minority fraud

Two heads of the now-defunct, Albany-based Eastern Building & Restoration were charged with stealing identities of minority-owned businesses to obtain millions in public works contracts.

By Kim Slowey • July 24, 2018

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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

Experts say Trump's job training plan addresses only the tip of the iceberg

In response to an executive order that created two entities — the President's National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board — an expert told HR Dive that a lot more must be done.

By Ryan Golden • July 23, 2018

Missouri amends prevailing wage law

As part of the revised law, workers on public projects less than $75,000 would not receive a prevailing wage rate.

By Kim Slowey • July 19, 2018

State, federal lawsuits pin defective DC Metro concrete on contractor

Both the U.S. Department of Justice and Virginia allege that Universal Concrete Products Corp. knew Silver Line concrete panels were defective but falsified documents to make it appear they met specifications.

By Kim Slowey • July 13, 2018

Herc Solutions CEO gets 18-month sentence for government fraud

Gary Duff was charged in co-conspiring to defraud the U.S. out of more than $1.3 million through State Department-related projects. 

By Kim Slowey • July 11, 2018

Report: Design-build to deliver almost half of US projects by 2021

The project delivery method considered the "alternative" to design-bid-build is expected to represent 44% of construction spending.

By Kathleen Brown • July 9, 2018

What contractors need to know about the tax act

Last year's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will bring both potential benefits and drawbacks for contractors this year.

By Kim Slowey • July 9, 2018

Swinerton strikes back at Sacramento Kings in court

The NBA team alleges Swinerton Builders' mismanagement pushed a hotel project $50 million over budget. Now, Swinerton has filed a cross-complaint against the team's development partnership, claiming it's owed $27.5 million.

By Kim Slowey • Updated Aug. 6, 2018

Denver attaches hiring goals to part of $1B project

City officials could impose permanent local, low-income or veteran hiring requirements if the Hensel Phelps pilot program is successful.

By Kim Slowey • July 2, 2018

OSHA cites Ohio contractor for fatal trench collapse

Contractor JK Excavation & Utilities is now in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program and faces a potential $200,000 fine.

By Kim Slowey • July 2, 2018

Many DC projects don't comply with local hiring mandate

Despite an audit revealing that Washington, D.C.'s First Source mandate is often not adhered to, the district's Department of Employment Services has issued only one fine during the history of the program. 

By Kim Slowey • July 2, 2018

NYC alliance: Janus decision not 'death knell' for unions

A director of a construction group said the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that public-sector employees who are not union members cannot be forced to foot the bill for collective bargaining will not end organized labor in the city.

By Kim Slowey • June 29, 2018

Global cement giant Lafarge charged with financing terror

French firm Lafarge allegedly endangered employees and paid terror groups to be able to keep its operations in Syria running.

By Kim Slowey • June 29, 2018

BREAKING: Supreme Court strikes major blow to unions

The decision in Janus will change how public-sector unions work, but it also will have implications for private-sector labor issues, experts say.

By Kate Tornone • June 27, 2018

Plaintiffs in Zachry, Odebrecht wage lawsuit file for class action status

Six individuals who worked for the companies on the Houston-area SH 99 Grand Parkway project alleged that Zachry and Odebrecht intentionally did not pay them overtime wage rates.

By Kim Slowey • June 27, 2018

North Dakota senator's bill would advance cross-border work

Proponents of the bill say it will help speed up the permitting process for critical energy-related projects than span the U.S.-Canada border.

By Kim Slowey • June 26, 2018

New York state tax loophole put millions in builders' pockets

In one of the most extreme cases, a Syracuse apartment owner shaved $527,000 off property taxes by installing three vending machines.

By Kim Slowey • June 22, 2018

Brooklyn contractor pays more than $300K to settle worker wage theft claims

The Urban Group, which pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny against 21 employees, made full restitution, but has been debarred from public work in the state for five years.

By Kim Slowey • June 21, 2018

Sentencing set for New York's 'Buffalo Billion' fraud convicts

A federal jury convicted LPCiminelli CEO Louis Ciminelli Jr. and Alain Kaloyeros of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy. COR Development execs Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi were charged in the case as well. All face October sentencing dates.

By Kim Slowey • Updated July 19, 2018

Litigation looms in MGT Construction's $28M debt, $50K assets bankruptcy

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee asked the court for a special litigation council to try to uncover any of the defunct firm's "undisclosed assets" to help it pay the more than 500 companies and individuals it owes.

By Kim Slowey • June 20, 2018

Utility company fights damaging Bechtel report

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. wants to collect $3.8 billion from ratepayers in the next 20 years to partially recoup costs for the failed, $9 billion construction of a nuclear power plant, though Bechtel's assessment puts blame on SCE&G.

By Kim Slowey • June 19, 2018

Forensic BIM: Using modeling to resolve disputes and claims

The ability to use BIM to retrospectively verify that the scope of work completed matches what the contract required could save millions in some lawsuits.

By Kim Slowey • June 18, 2018

Kiewit awarded $45M in Los Angeles utility project dispute

The federal jury also awarded the Department of Water and Power $1 million on a counterclaim against the contractor.

By Kim Slowey • June 13, 2018

Philadelphia's 1% construction tax narrowly passes council

Revenue from the Construction Impact Tax will go toward the Pennsylvania city's Philly 1st homebuyers assistance program, but opponents say it's not enough to make a dent in the affordable housing problem.

By Kim Slowey • Updated June 27, 2018