Do contract types determine a project's fate?

Some critics chalk up Boston's $1 billion Green Line debacle to the guaranteed maximum price contract used for the project. But is the contract to blame?

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 29, 2015

Contractor in Dallas parking garage collapse admits 'unacceptable error'

The Colorado-based contractor, which was working on a pool remodel, admitted it had not yet secured a permit for the job.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 29, 2015

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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

Los Angeles officials approve $100M annual investment in affordable housing

Proponents hope the new fund will significantly reduce the city's homeless population.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 29, 2015

Prosecutors: NY contractor offered bribes for faster payments

The owner of AMA Construction/NY, Inc., faces six counts of third-degree bribery and a potential sentence of seven years in prison if he is convicted.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 28, 2015

Analyst: Baltimore's contract process 'incentivizes contractors to intentionally bid too low'

Cristie Cole, of the Abell Foundation, also said the city's data about infrastructure projects was incomplete due to a lack of transparency in records.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 28, 2015

CA school district to issue developer 'report cards'

The Fulton Unified School District is over capacity and wants developers to chip in more to accommodate the influx of students that comes with their new housing projects.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 27, 2015

UPDATE: Judge grants temporary injunction in Oklahoma stadium contract dispute

University officials said they will appeal the ruling, as the failure to have the stadium ready for next year's football season could cost them millions of dollars in damages.

By Emily Peiffer , Kim Slowey • Oct. 26, 2015

Court sides with Tappan Zee Bridge contractor in union dispute

A federal appeals court will not force Tappan Zee Constructors to use a more expensive class of union workers on the $4 billion project.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 26, 2015

Los Angeles mayor seeks developer fee to pay for affordable housing

Eric Garcetti said an extra developer's fee will help hit his goal of adding 100,000 more affordable housing units by 2021.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 26, 2015

Vikings US Bank Stadium project surpasses minority hiring goals

Efforts by Mortenson Construction and the Minnesota Stadium Facilities Authority removed "every potential obstacle and excuse from anybody who has created an obstacle for minorities, veterans, women alike to get into the construction industry," one official said.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 26, 2015

NAHB, NAR urge House to pass bill with 'common-sense changes' to housing programs

The major industry groups have said the new legislation will help low-income and rural buyers, as well as encourage homeownership.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 23, 2015

MI contractor fined $265K for asbestos violations

MIOSHA said DMC Consultants put workers at risk of injury or disease by failing to monitor for asbestos exposure during demolition or use proper protective and decontamination measures.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 23, 2015

San Francisco Bay Area bans wood-burning devices in all new home construction

The region is the first in the U.S. to pass this type of ban, which will go into effect in the fall of 2016.

By Emily Peiffer • Oct. 23, 2015

Contractors fined $87K in WA bridge deaths

A Bonney Valley, WA, couple and their infant son were killed instantly when a concrete barrier fell from a bridge undergoing a partial demolition.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2015

How post-Sandy building seeks to 'strike a balance' between safety, development growth

In the three years since Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, local governments have sought to create new building codes that keep their cities safer while still encouraging development.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2015

PA contractor accused of worker misclassification scheme

Prosecutors allege that a metal framing and drywall contractor paid misclassified workers through a shell subcontractor in an effort to avoid paying taxes and workers' compensation insurance premiums.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 21, 2015

PA contractor convicted of involuntary manslaughter for wall collapse deaths

Prosecutors allege that Griffin Campbell’s bid for the demolition project was so low that it led him to cut corners on safety.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 20, 2015

House proposes $325B, 6-year transportation bill with 3 years of funding

Congress' inability to pass long-term funding authorization has led to a significant decline in nonresidential construction starts in recent months and a climate of uncertainty for construction companies.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 20, 2015

The coming crackdown: Why penalties for construction owners are on the rise

Executives "better look out and make sure they have their company and their paperwork in order," a legal expert told Construction Dive.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

CA homebuilders sue school district over unassigned students

Builders say school district trying to squeeze them for extra money in exchange for assigning schools to their development.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

Chicago suburb considering bird-friendly building regulations

Between 100 million and a billion birds a year die after flying into glass structures.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

KBR ordered to pay $108K for taking subcontractor kickbacks

Federal officials said managers of the Houston-based contractor improperly accepted expensive dinners, golf outings and event tickets from two subcontractors that had previously settled claims for kickback violations.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

Houston scaffold collapse injures 6; search for cause continues

The cause of the collapse that trapped six workers is still under investigation.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 19, 2015

Defying de Blasio, NYC officials support union-based housing plan

The proposed AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust partnership is at odds with the foundation of the mayor's own affordable housing plan.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 16, 2015

Former U.S. Navy contractor indicted for $1.2M fraud

Andrew Persaud, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, was charged with defrauding 17 subcontractors after allegedly lying to the Navy that the subs had been paid.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 16, 2015