TBT -- Member Spotlight of Santa (December 2012)

Happy Holidays Division 1 Members!  

Eight years ago I was assigned to do a member feature for The Dispute Resolver.  I had some fun that year with the member feature -- choosing to feature Santa Claus.  I hope you enjoy this blast from the past!  I had fun drafting it :) 

I wish all of you a very healthy, safe, relaxing, and FUN holiday season.  2021 is going to be a great year for Division 1, The Dispute Resolver, and the ABA Forum on Construction Law.  

Thank you to all of our wonderful construction litigators, arbitrators, mediators that make Division 1 such a great group of construction attorneys.  

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!

Tom Dunn

D1 Chair

rtdunn@pierceatwood.com

508-838-9779 (M)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtomdunn/

CDC Releases Specific Guidance for Construction Workers and Their Employers

As COVID cases continue to rise, each state has handled business restrictions differently. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidance for what construction workers need to know about COVID-19, and guidance for what their employers should consider moving forward. I believe these are important considerations to keep in mind while advising or consulting with construction industry clients across the spectrum. The following list is an overview of the CDC’s guidance:

1. Reduce Transmission Among Workers

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay at home.
• Consider placing posters with accurate information about COVID-19 and what criteria is needed to discontinue home isolation.
• Implement specific policies to minimize face-to-face contact for employees with higher risk for severe illness.
• Provide employees with access to soap, clean running water, and materials for drying their hands, or provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol at stations around the establishment for use by workers.

2. Maintain a Healthy Work Environment

• Create measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees such as modifying work schedules to reduce the total number of workers on a job site at any given time.
• Restrict access to reduce the number of workers in enclosed and confined areas at one time.
• Employers are required to determine, select, provide, and train on correct PPE use and application (29 CFR 1926 Subpart E).

3. Maintain Healthy Business Operations

• Designate a safety and health officer to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns at every jobsite. This safety and health officer could be identified as someone who should be contacted if an employee becomes sick so contact tracing can occur. Note: Confidentiality must be maintained in accordance with the ADA and HIPPA. Employers should not require a positive COVID test result or healthcare provider’s not to validate their illness.
• Follow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and public health agency guidelines.
• Consider following additional CDC guidelines for businesses and employers to plan and respond to COVID, and the North America’s Building Trades Unions and The Center for Construction Research and Training’s COVID-19 Standards for U.S. Construction Sites.

While this overview is not an exhaustive list of the CDC’s guidance for construction workers, it does highlight some significant suggestions that should be considered in attempt to reduce the spread of COVID and decrease an employer’s potential liability. Moreover, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey, roughly 40% of U.S. adults would “probably” or “definitely” not get the vaccine.  This begs the question - can employers fire their employees for refusing to take a COVID vaccination.

The short answer is yes, but with a few exceptions. First, if a work force is unionized, then the employer needs to refer to the collective bargaining agreement to determine whether the employer can make inoculation mandatory. Second, anti-discrimination laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, might protect workers who do not want to be vaccinated for medical reasons. Also, employees could be protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 if taking the vaccine is a violation of a “sincerely held” religious belief. Finally, there is an additional exception that may play a significant role in whether an employer can require their employees be vaccinated - has the state taken action to prevent mandatory inoculation.

State lawmakers in Ohio have proposed new legislation that would protect employees who do not want to get vaccinated from losing their jobs. The “Medical Consumer Protection Act” (House Bill 268) was introduced in 2019 and would stop employers from firing an employee for refusing to be vaccinated.  While this proposed legislation has not been passed, employers should refer to their State’s laws.

With COVID cases on the rise, a new administration set to take office in January, and vaccinations nearing distribution, there are many items to be addressed and planned for in the coming months. While we cannot plan for every scenario, it is important to consider both the CDC’s guidance for construction workers and their employers, and any potential issues that might arise from mandatory inoculation.

Author Christopher M. Wise is an attorney and the Managing Member of Wise Law, LLC in Louisville, Kentucky.

Don’t Mess with Texas: 5th Circuit takes Litigators Back to Law School

 In the recent decision of Sayers Construction, L.L.C.v. Timberline Construction, Inc. and High Voltage, Inc., the Fifth Circuit affirmed a federal district court’s determination that it did not have jurisdiction to vacate an arbitration award in Florida. 976 F.3d 570 (5^th Cir. 2020). The court reminded us that jurisdiction really is power, just like lawyers everywhere learned in their very first civil procedure class in law school. After walking us through the trodden legal framework of Pennoyer, International Shoe, World-Wide Volkswagen, and Burger King, and hinting at the liberal policy of promoting arbitration, the court concluded, “this is Florida’s problem. Not Texas’s.” Sayers Construction, 976 F.3d at 574.

The case serves a friendly reminder of the importance of jurisdiction, especially in the context of arbitration. In this case, the Texas-based general contractor sought to vacate a Florida court’s enforcement of a Florida-based arbitration award. See id. at 572. Step one of the court’s analysis highlighted the most well-known limitation of the Due Process Clause when it comes to jurisdiction of out-of-state defendants: that of “minimum contacts.” See id. at 573. The court pressed that we must always ask whether our counterparts “purposefully avail[ed] [themselves] of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws.” See id. (citing World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297-98 (1980)). Here, the general contractor defendant pressed that this was a standard breach of contract dispute where “minimum contacts” existed because (1) subcontractors solicited a business relationship with the general contractor in Texas, (2) the subcontractors contracted with the general contractor, which has an office in Texas, (3) subcontractors mailed invoices to general contractor’s office in Texas, and (4) the parties’ contract has a Texas choice-of-law clause. Id. The court found that none of these facts established “minimum contacts.” Importantly, in response to facts (3) and (4), the Fifth Circuit held that, mailing payments, especially when all of the work is performed outside the state, is insufficient to establish “minimum contacts” and choice-of-law clauses are probative, but not dispositive, of purposeful availment. See id. at 574.

With its terse ‘this is not our problem’ ending, the court emphasized that any doubts as to the legitimacy of arbitration should be put to bed. Case law, in conjunction with the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), makes clear that there exists a liberal policy of promoting arbitration, thus making arbitration agreements “valid, irrevocable, and enforceable.” 9 USC § 2. As we all know, arbitration is favored amongst many construction clients due to its privacy, speed, and finality. But with every decision comes a cost. In agreeing to arbitrate, the cost to parties is the relinquishment of much of their right to a court’s decision. Parties may still seek court review of an arbitrator’s decision, but the courts will set that decision aside only in very unusual circumstances. See First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938 (1995). In fact, grounds for vacating arbitral awards are few and far between[1] – and if you’re still not convinced of just how rigorously courts enforce arbitral awards, consider the fact that the Manifest Disregard of Law Doctrine remains one of the few proper grounds of vacatur of an arbitral award and there exists a circuit split as to whether even that is proper. See Philip D. O’Neill, Jr., International Commercial Arbitration 459 (2012).

In conclusion, the case of Sayers Construction, 976 F.3d at 574, is a reminder to experienced lawyers not to lose sight of either the legal frameworks of personal jurisdiction or the FAA. And, of course, litigators everywhere beware: don’t mess with Texas.

---

[1] Per the New York Convention on the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1958 (the “New York Convention”) and the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), courts are directed to confirm arbitral awards unless it is found that there exist grounds for refusal or deferral of recognition. Those grounds include 1(a): incapacity of a party; invalidity under the law to which the parties subjected their agreement, or invalid under the law of the country where the agreement was made; (b) lack of proper notice; an inability by a party to present their case; (c) exceeding the scope of the arbitral agreement; (d) composition of the arbitral authority or process was not as the parties agreed; (e) set aside by a competent authority or in accordance with the law of the arbitral seat; (2)(a) the subject matter may not be lawfully resolved under the law of the place of enforcement; or (b) contrary to the public policy of that jurisdiction. In short, the legal framework and the New York Convention (Article V) provides that the decision to decline to enforce an award is a matter of stringent discretion, for “recognition and enforcement of the award may be refused,” but only very limited circumstances. See Philip D. O’Neill, Jr., International Commercial Arbitration 405-06 (2012).

Author Lexie R. Pereira is a third year J.D./M.B.A. candidate at Boston College Law School and Carroll School of Management, studying to become a litigator, with a specialty in construction law. Currently, she works as a Law Clerk at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., serves on the Editorial Team of the ABA’s Forum on Construction Law’s Dispute Resolver blog, and acts as the 2020 Student Liaison of the ABA's Forum on Construction Law. At school, Lexie is the President of the Real Estate Law Society and the President of the Eagle-to-Eagle Mentoring Program. Lexie grew up in the construction industry and has spent time working as an estimator, field engineer, laborer, and, of course, in the legal capacity at Consigli and formerly Hinckley Allen as a Summer Associate. 

Contact Lexie: pereirle@bc.edu | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-pereira/

Meet D1's Neutrals - Daya Naef

We are excited to introduce Daya Naef for this month's Meet D1's Neutrals feature! Daya is an experienced arbitrator and mediator, with over 20 years of practice. She attended Loyola University New Orleans School of Law studying Civil Law and International Law. We sat down with her, virtually, of course, and asked for her to tell us more about her mediating style and to share practical tips with our fellow ‘dispute resolvers.’ D1, Meet Daya!

 DAYA'S MEDIATION PRACTICE

When and why did you choose to become a mediator?

As early as law school, I was interested in learning a more direct route to dispute resolution than what seemed like the very tedious and complicated route through litigation.  When I graduated, however, family law was the only mediation certification you could get, so I decided to hold off. I started my law practice in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Having grown up in the construction industry, I already had subject matter expertise in what was an important subject at the time. Since then, construction has been my focus in both the practice of law and now, since 2012, in the practice of alternative dispute resolution.

I had been using dispute resolution in my practice, but it was not until I was taking time off from practice, while recovering from a major car accident, that I did my 40-Hour Certification and joined the Mediatory Registry in Louisiana. Coming back, I knew I wanted to do more ADR and less traditional litigation. Now I have done over 200 hours of certified training, both nationally and internationally, and I can say I'm pretty well-versed in what's new in the world of mediation.

Can you describe your mediating style?

My purpose and my goal is to get the project back on track. So, my practice is more of an extended pre-mediation where we're not usually together in a room, or Zoom room. Instead, it's more facilitative. I strive to work out as much as possible between the parties before we have an actual “sit down.” The way that I approach things is to resolve them with the parties. For instance, contractors and subcontractors have a lot of friction getting jobs completed. I get their information and see where the commonalities are so that we can keep the job moving or, if it is at completion, work it out so that the parties part as professionals who are able to work together again. Or should they choose to not work together again, then I hope that they part from a better position – a position of completeness – not with animosity where it's going to be gnawing on them and making them want to badmouth the other person after the process.

Do you have a standard mediation practice regarding pre-mediation exchange of information/memorandum and joint sessions?  If so, what is it?

Once we all agree we're going forward with the objective of getting the project back on track, I have the parties make individual statements on an audio recording, either on the phone or Zoom recording (or write a written statement if they prefer), and have them send it to me. I then have them upload the contracts, pictures of what's going on, and any other statements that they want to take. I peruse this information and bring myself up to speed on the job with the goal of finding out (1) where they are on the job, (2) what their commonalities are, and (3) where their sticking points are. Then I go back and interview them separately to see where we can make more alliances. Again, my goal is to keep the job going.

If there are still some sticking points after those two conversations, and especially if there's a job-stop pending, then we schedule a time to get on Zoom together. On Zoom, I go over the things that we have accomplished so far and then the things that we haven't accomplished yet. Believe it or not, at this point, it is pretty smooth sailing getting to a resolution between the parties since we all agreed on that objective from the beginning. So, then my work is done until a new dispute arises. 

What is a common mistake you see parties and/or their counsel employ in mediation and what steps do you recommend to avoid it? 

A mistake I see with parties is that they either do not take it seriously or do not understand the value of actually having a dispute resolved in this alternative manner. As a society, we are litigious-minded and we see going to court as a ‘thing.’ As dispute resolvers, we have the ability to remind parties that they have the power to make their own decisions, with someone who is a neutral third-party holding the space from them when making those decisions. Reminding parties that it often is just not practical to go to court and that there are other options is very important. 

I've been doing surveys over the last year or so the find out different construction companies' legal budgets. The data suggests that there is a certain threshold where a company hires a general counsel. I would encourage those that are not yet there to think about the alternative solutions. For example, I have encouraged some of my clients to consider hiring a project neutral or a pre-engaged dispute resolution professional for the duration of the project. I'm also working with D1's Toolbox talks, enlisting some examples from our D1 members who are using Early Dispute Resolution as In-House Counsel. Be looking out for that event January 28, 2021!

What is the most important skill to have as a mediator?

Listening skills, seeing the big picture, and creating an environment for people to pause, be listened to, and be heard. Sometimes in the fast-paced world of construction, you have to get people out of their hamster wheel a little bit and say, “okay, look, I am really here to listen to you, but need you to help me help you.” So, I guess it is like being part mediator, part social worker. Also, cultural sensitivity skills, especially in this virtual era, are important. It is best to avoid culture shock when “Zooming” into different areas of the country by going slowly and adjusting to the norms.

How can ‘dispute resolvers’ better resolve disputes?

Gaining a comfort with working on video and using technology are important skills for 'dispute resolvers.' We've gone from typewriters and dictaphones to fax machines and email to now Zoom conferences. There are great benefits to this new technology, especially in terms of real-time document sharing, that I think everyone should get on board with (if they're not already!). I’ve been on a committee in the DR Section putting together an info-video for attorneys and their clients to get familiarized with what a Zoom mediation looks like and what they can expect. That should be out by the Spring meeting. Stay tuned.

How does the Forum and Division 1 relate to your arbitration practice?

I've had the best time being in the Forum. I've been to the meetings in Nashville, Philadelphia, and Chicago, as well as New Orleans. My first Forum experience was when the meeting was in New Orleans, I think it was 2006 or 2007, right after Hurricane Katrina. I had just started my law practice there and someone actually reached out to me and said that they'd waive my conference fees if I came because I was a young woman professional member who just started practicing. The meeting was just great. I joined Division 8 because I was interested in learning more about construction internationally. Afterwards, we all went to dinner at Delmonico's private room, and just had a ball. I could not believe that I was so young and new to practice, and yet had the opportunity to meet some of the some of the stars of the Forum at the time. Since then, I've gotten more involved with the ABA. I’m serving a second term as co-chair for the Women in Dispute Resolution (WIDR), as well as being one of the liaisons between the Forum on Construction Law and the DR Section.

So, the Forum has clearly served as a resource for my development. There are certain members that if I have a question or somebody needs a referral, I literally just hop on LinkedIn messenger and send them a message. Similarly, , in a matter of minutes, I can find an attorney in San Antonio for something because I've met someone through the Forum. The Forum has built a community, or like a fraternity, of the legal practice that we don't always get anymore. We have such a diversity of practice now, too. The Forum is all over the country and we do all these different things. It's so amazing.

What hobbies, activities, or interests do you do outside of work and the Forum? 

I'm an artist. It's a pretty dedicated hobby. I've gone to art school and studied in Italy, D.C., and New York. I draw with charcoal and pencil, usually figure studies. So, yes, that's nude people. Sometimes people think that's weird, but it does come from the classics – Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci – classical art school, as opposed to modern art school. I love it.

_____________________________________________________________

As the litigation and dispute resolution division of the Forum, our members regularly serve as arbitrators, mediators, and other neutrals who resolve disputes. In an effort to promote and educate our membership about our talented neutrals, D1's Incoming Chair, Tom Dunn, decided to spearhead a series here on The Dispute Resolver blog to feature our Division 1 Neutrals (email him at rtdunn@pierceatwood.com if you'd like to be featured!).

__________________________________________________________

Daya J. Naef, Esq. is a third-generation member of the Construction and Real Estate industries. At an early age she gained experience working with her family’s residential construction company and was in close contact with relatives working as realtors, brokers, interior designers, developers and commercial contractors. When she decided to pursue her legal career, specializing in construction was a natural fit. She has represented general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, developers, condominium associations, property managers, design professionals, agencies, associations and municipalities/non-governmental organizations in Michigan since 1999, and Louisiana since 2005.

Daya has a stellar reputation for seeing a job through from start to finish. She is proficient in drafting and reviewing construction contracts, preparing and filing liens/releases and bond/insurance claims. In addition, Daya can handle business formations, office and site set-ups, real estate transactions, title opinions or reviews, compliance audits, municipal and state taxing issues, board complaints and multi-party mediation or arbitration. Daya can also serve as a project neutral or independent decision-maker.

Because of the depth of Daya’s knowledge of construction law and her excellent communication skills, her clients know what to expect in terms of time, outcome and cost. By choosing Daya Naef, LLC as your consultant, mediator, arbitrator, or legal service provider, you will gain reliable expertise and excellent service.

Contact Daya: daya@dayanaef.com | 504.669.1020

_____________________________________________________________

Editor Lexie R. Pereira is a third year J.D./M.B.A. candidate at Boston College Law School and Carroll School of Management, graduating in Spring 2022 and studying to become a litigator, with a specialty in construction law. Currently, she works as a Law Clerk at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., serves on the Editorial Team of the ABA’s Forum on Construction Law’s Dispute Resolver blog, and acts as the 2020 Student Liaison of the ABA's Forum on Construction Law. At school, Lexie is the President of the Real Estate Law Society and the President of the Eagle-to-Eagle Mentoring Program. Lexie grew up in the construction industry and has spent time working as an estimator, field engineer, laborer, and, of course, in the legal capacity at Consigli and formerly at Hinckley Allen as a Summer Associate. 

Contact Lexie: pereirle@bc.edu | 407.782.2717 | https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-pereira/

Contact Tracing Technology May Lead to Litigation

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing construction attorneys to consider unprecedented legal issues ranging from government restrictions on work and travel, to monitoring the latest epidemiological research. Clients across the construction industry have turned to their legal counsel for advice on issues such as reopening plans, compliance with government regulations, and employee safety.

One concern clients express is the difficulty monitoring which employees have been exposed to COVID-19. Technology assisted contact tracing may seem like a silver bullet solution to this problem, but some experts worry it could lead to litigation.

This article will give a brief background of contact tracing technology and discuss some of the potential pitfalls attorneys should be aware of when advising clients.

Balancing Safety and Privacy

Employers have a duty to ensure a safe workplace. This responsibility has become particularly sensitive during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more construction sites resumed in-person operations this summer, employers we forced to carefully consider the details of their reopening plans.

The focus of reopening plans has, quite understandably, centered around employee and customer safety. However, employee privacy is quickly emerging as another possible cause for concern. Some employers have announced reopening plans involving contact tracing technology to help maintain workplace safety. While this new technology may be valuable, contact tracing technology also presents several potential legal issues.

What is Contact Tracing?

Contact tracing has been used by health officials for at least 100 years to help understand and limit the transmission of infectious diseases. Historically this process has involved a time-consuming process of in-person interviews.

Today, Technology Assisted Contact Tracing (TACT) is being used by some businesses and governments to automate this process. Although TACT is a broad term, much of the attention has focused on the use of mobile phone location data to track the movements of individuals and determine if they have been exposed to the virus. Privacy advocates have raised concerns over the use of TACT by governments. However, for reasons discussed below, employers should also be aware of the risks.

TACT covers a broad range of practices, but the most controversial involves downloading an application to the user’s smartphone. The application uses a combination of health and location data to determine whether the user has encountered a person who has tested positive.

Several important technical distinctions in TACT technology have arisen from the initial experience of governments and employers. The most significant distinction is how the technology tracks a user’s location data. The use of GPS data can lead to a centralized repository of information more likely to give rise to privacy concerns. Alternatively, the use of Bluetooth technology appears to avoid many of these potential problems.

TACT in the Workplace

Employers face the difficult task of balancing employee safety and employee privacy. Employers have a duty to ensure their workplace is safe for employees and customers. As a result, many employers are considering implementing some form of TACT. As employees gradually return to work and stay-at-home orders are lifted, it is difficult to know which employees have been exposed. TACT offers the attractive prospect of assisting employers maintain a safe workplace during the reopening process.

Employers should be mindful of the potential risks arising from utilizing this technology. Under OSHA, employers have a general duty to provide workers with “employment and a place of employment, which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” OSHA and the CDC do not appear to have provided specific guidance on contact tracing technology. Although the EEOC released updated return-to-work guidance regarding workplace discrimination, it does not address contact tracing technology specifically.

Potential Sources of Litigation

Notwithstanding general OSHA and CDC requirements, employers should be aware of the following risks before including TACT in their return to work plan:

    1. Employee Privacy Rights

Many states, most notably California, have some form of data privacy laws which may be implicated. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) contains several exceptions for employee data, but these exceptions are not unlimited. For example, employers with California employees may be required to provide disclosures before implementing TACT. Employers should be aware the CCPA contains a private right of action for violations.

    2. Federal Employment Laws

Like temperature screenings and other COVID-related safety procedures, application of TACT in an uneven manner could give rise to discrimination claims. Employers should make sure to avoid targeting policies towards specific groups, even if these groups have been identified by health experts as being at an elevated risk (older workers, etc.). Any reopening plan should ensure compliance with Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, and other federal laws. Employers considered covered entities under HIPAA will likely face additional restrictions while using contact tracing technology.

    3. State and Local Government Requirements

Many state and local governments have Orders specific to businesses operating during the reopening process. Most states also have their own data breach notification laws. These local requirements vary by jurisdiction and often carry significant penalties.

    4. Malware and Cybersecurity

Recently, twelve contact tracing apps were reported to contain malware. Hackers used these apps to infect devices with viruses and steal user’s data. Although it remains unclear how many users fell victim to the breach, the event underscores the importance of conducting appropriate due diligence on any product before implementation.

    5. Practical Problems

Other practical problems can arise, particularly if employers make the use of TACT mandatory for employees. For example, if downloading a contract tracing app is a mandatory component of an employer’s reopening plan, employees without smartphones may be unable to resume normal operations. Furthermore, the actual effectiveness of TACT remains unresolved. To be effective, both employees and a large majority of other individuals in the community must carry a smartphone with them at all times. Also, the potential for false positives and other technology malfunctions will need to be addressed.

Conclusion

The level of risk created by including TACT in a workplace reopening plan depends on the details of the program and the technology. Important variables include, but are not limited to; the extent to which the program is mandatory, whether the program allows employers access to employee data, the type of geolocation technology involved, and whether apps are installed to an employer-issued versus an employee’s personal device.

It should be noted that competing COVID-19-related data privacy proposals have been introduced in Congress. While the future of these proposals is not clear, their enactment would likely have a direct impact on employers using TACT to maintain a healthy workplace environment.

Employers should ensure the personal health information of employees is kept private and secure. This requires a thorough understanding of any technology prior to implementation in the workplace. Maintaining a balance between employee safety and employee privacy has never been more difficult. Unfortunately, this may be another aspect of the “new normal” for employers to live with for the foreseeable future.

Author Patrick McKnight is an associate in the Litigation Department at Klehr Harrison. He focuses his practice on corporate and complex commercial litigation, employment law, and cybersecurity.

A previous version of this article was published on the Klehr Harrison website.

What's Up At Division 1 (No. 6)

 I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.  We "emptied" out our garage, had a few socially distanced appetizers, and then split up food prepared by all to go home with a small group of our family.  My 9 year old daughter decorated the driveway with spray chalk for the occasion!  For the first time, we bought a turkey from a local farm (24+ pounds!).  Photos of both are below.

Be on the lookout for a new column in Under Construction featuring litigation and dispute resolution articles called Dispute Resolver.  The paper and e-blast should arrive by the second week of December.  This is a great time to potentially get published twice! First, by The Dispute Resolver and second by Under Construction.  Under Construction's editorial staff will work with you to update and modify your article for that publication.  If you are interested, contact me or Catherine Delorey for more information.

We are going to start our first D1 Toolbox Talk Series in late January 2021.  News about that series' rollout and new logo (thanks Jade Davis!) will be published later this month.  

We are streamlining our D1 Neutral Series.  If you are a mediator or arbitrator, and a D1 member, contact me and we will add you to our list.  

Our other initiatives are moving along nicely as well including the CLE working committee and program concepts committee.  Thanks to all of you working on those programs.  

On December 15th, one deliverable from our CLE working committee is occurring.  Please support D1 members, George Fink and Jessica Sabbath, for their webinar.  It is a two part series on construction scheduling.  

Register for Part 1 (12/15 | 1PM ET): https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/407616247/  Program description is below.

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You and Your Client: Scheduling for Construction Attorneys, Part I

The construction schedule is a critical source of information for construction claims attorney and represents key evidence for most delay claims. Construction attorneys need to understand the basic principles involved in the development and maintenance of construction schedules. Concurrent critical paths, fragnets, excusable delay and revised baseline schedules are all terms you need to know.

This first of a two-part series will acquaint you with basic scheduling terms and techniques so that you can understand the scheduling terminology and effectively communicate with your expert. Our distinguished Panel will also address the following important issues common to construction claims: What type of contract scheduling clauses work and what don’t? Should the schedule be resource and cost loaded? Who owns the float? What happens when a contractor submits an early completion schedule? What should you look for in a schedule update? The Panel will also discuss the guidance from American Courts and Boards regarding scheduling on construction projects. The course will be eligible for 1.5 CLE.

Thanks for all you do for Division 1.  Contact me if you want to learn more about Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution) or the ABA Forum on Construction Law.  

Tom Dunn, Chair, Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution), rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com

ADR, Pandemic and ...Robots?

A few years ago I had the chance to read a book titled “The Robots are Coming!: The Future of Jobs in the Age of Automatization”, written by Andrés Oppenheimer. In this book, Mr. Oppenheimer stated what the future of several jobs and professions would look like due to the automatization of several activities.

Through the book, the reader learns that a lot of jobs are being supplemented or replaced by robots and technology. Current examples are: self-checkout cashiers in the supermarket; ordering restaurant food through electronic apps; and translators, because translation apps are getting more precise and specialized day by day.

The examples mentioned above do not seem all that new. Actually, since the pandemic and restaurants being closed or operating in a limited capacity, it has become the most common method for us, for example, to order food electronically if we do not want to go out.

The surprise in the book came when I got to the chapter on the future of lawyers.

Yes. Lawyers may be replaced little by little by robots. Several examples of how this is happening currently are well detailed in the book. However, even though the book suggests that some activities performed by lawyers that require expertise and high technical knowledge are going to be supplemented in the near future, I believe that the future may be here already.

If we pay attention to the way we transitioned our daily activities as a result of the pandemic to the way we do them now, we realize that such transition was almost automatic.

Almost every hearing was moved from physical attendance to remote. Arbitrator, expert, and witness visits to construction sites are changing from physical to remote as well, using drones and BIM modeling technology, and we can follow the project with that tool in real time.

Witness hearings are being conducted by Zoom, Teams, or similar software.

Due to the pandemic this new reality came much faster than we believed before and this situation has made necessary that lawyers advise their clients to transition from common court litigation to methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution that could provide easier, faster, cheaper and most of all, safer and possibly more secure ways to resolve disputes.

In that regard, it is worth mentioning that there are a lot of International Institutes that address this current demand like the International Chamber of Commerce, which in its Rules for Arbitration proposes that communications be exchanged via email (Article 3 of the ICC Arbitration Rules), and also suggests that the case management conference be held remotely (Article 24 of the ICC Arbitration Rules).

Locally for me in Mexico, the CAIC (Centro de Arbitraje de la Industria de la Construcción – Arbitration Centre of the Construction Industry) also suggests that communication be by any technological means.

As the world and our reality moves forward, we as lawyers should adapt accordingly. A good start would be advising our clients to use the ADR Institutions, whether international (like the ICC) or domestic (like the CAIC), that offer a service that fits the current reality, until robots come to resolve the disputes themselves.

Author Juan Pablo Sandoval García is an Associate at COMAD, S.C. (www.comad.com.mx). His email address is jpsandoval@comad.com.mx.

How Great Leaders Build Trust to Level Disputes

If you are reading this article, the chances are high that you have more than a passing interest in dispute avoidance, mitigation, and resolution particularly as it relates to the construction industry. While there are many technical, operational, and legal processes and best-practices that aim to assist contractors and owners in reducing the likelihood of a dispute or to mitigate the overall risk associated with a dispute, a topic that is less frequently discussed in relation to dispute avoidance, though no less important - is that of leadership.

As an MBA alumnus, I have the privilege to stay involved with the business school by serving as a leadership coach for current students. This involves facilitating groups of students as they work through simulations designed to replicate real-world dilemmas. The purpose of these simulations is to teach students to navigate the challenges associated with leading groups, make timely decisions based on incomplete data, and balance individual motivations with team objectives.

If you read the previous sentence and immediately thought, “That sounds like what I deal with every day” -- you are not alone!

Construction’s Unique Challenges

Construction leaders, both in the office and in the field, face a unique set of challenges when compared to other industries. A prime example is the sheer number of stakeholders involved in a construction project – ranging from those funding the project to the sub-tier contractors physically putting steel and pipe in place.

Each stakeholder has their own set of interests, stressors, and goals. While the developer of the project site may be focused on the timing of completion, the lease-up of the facility, and the status of their relationship with city officials, the surety may be primarily concerned with the performance and financial health of the contractor.

As if that were not complex enough, it is also true that even within the same company different individuals can have personal goals that do not necessarily align. Consider the electrical subcontractor’s Project Manager whose immediate career trajectory may be determined by the financial success her company has on the project. This can be contrasted with the Project Executive who is entirely focused on the relationship with the general contractor to increase the chances of landing a future project.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that construction project teams are rarely repeated from one project to the next.

This means that not only do the collaborators involved in a construction project have individual goals that may or may not be aligned with one another, but many of the team members have never worked together in the past! These factors, coupled with the capital-intensive (i.e. expensive) nature of construction are a combination which, if not managed properly, can lead to disastrous results - as evidenced by the billions of dollars of construction currently in some form of dispute resolution.

So, the question becomes:

How can construction project teams appropriately balance individual objectives with overall project goals in order to create a shared future that considers all stakeholder interests and produces innovative solutions? Oh – and that all needs to be done quickly because according to the schedule you are already behind!

The Missing Piece

As many of the MBA teams discover in the simulations, there is a common theme that emerges which explains many of the pain points and failures experienced by both the MBA and construction teams…

Trust.

Or rather, a lack of trust.

Tell me if this sounds familiar to you,

“I felt like our discussions were guarded and we were all holding something back.”

This is a quote from a current MBA student during a recent simulation. This reflection hits the nail on the head. It reminded me immediately of countless OAC (Owner-Architect-Contractor) and subcontractor meetings that I have attended in the past.

In his book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni astutely places the “Absence of Trust” at the base of his pyramidal model for the common pitfalls individuals and organizations fall into – which lead inevitably to a lack of effective teamwork.

As can be seen in Lencioni’s model, the absence of trust on a team is directly linked to several other ‘dysfunctions’ that hinder project success – fear of conflict, lack of true commitment, etc.

So, what exactly is an “Absence of Trust”?

Put simply, it means that the individuals comprising the team are not comfortable being their true authentic selves and are unwilling or unable to be vulnerable to each other. Team members who are not open with one another about their own mistakes and shortcomings make it impossible to build a foundation for trust.

As Lencioni puts it in his book,

"As 'soft' as all of this might sound, it is only when team members are truly comfortable being exposed to one another that they begin to act without concern for protecting themselves. As a result, they can focus their energy and attention completely on the job at hand, rather than on being strategically disingenuous or political with one another."

From a dispute avoidance perspective, the above quote is particularly relevant and is critically important to understand. This is because while the vast majority of contractors and owners naturally desire to avoid damaging relationships with clients and/or costly litigation, an extreme focus on protecting only oneself and keeping project team members at arms reach in an attempt to stem off a potential dispute never allows the project team to become “High Performing”. Ironically, this less-productive, low-performing team that hasn’t cultivated the foundation of Trust necessary to effectively communicate issues within the pressurized environment of a construction project is actually more likely to find themselves heading into a dispute!

This is not to say that the members of the project team should abandon the processes, procedures, and best practices developed to protect themselves in the event of a dispute. Simply that a focused effort must be made by the project executives, managers, and field supervision to ensure that while following these procedural best-practices, authentic relationships built upon mutual trust, are still fostered among all project stakeholders.

How to Identify if Trust is Lacking

Below are a few additional red-flags that may indicate the level of trust within your team is lacking.

1. Communication is “guarded”: Team member’s true motivations or intentions are not openly discussed - which can result in other stakeholders making inaccurate assumptions or even projecting their own motivations;

2. No safe space for conflict: Team members do not feel comfortable disagreeing with one another. This leads to false consensus - team members not truly buying in to the plan even though they “agreed” to it;

3. Hesitate to offer help outside their own areas of responsibility; and

4. Dread meetings and find reasons to avoid spending time together.

Teams with a lack of trust tend to spend far too much time managing the way they interact within the group rather than focusing on the overall objectives of the team.

If a lack of trust is evident within your project team, the logical next question is: How do we create trust?

Creating Trust

One of the key lessons for any leader to know about building trust is that as leaders, it is our job to cultivate an environment in which trust can flourish. This means creating an atmosphere in which our team members feel safe to give their true, unedited thoughts and opinions. Often, this means being the first person to show vulnerability – speaking up when you need help, openly discussing your motivations, giving the other people on the team a glimpse at the real you and putting aside your own need to be invulnerable in the eyes of your team mates.

This may seem counter-intuitive when considered through the lens of dispute avoidance, mitigation, and resolution. Indeed, the ability to balance the necessary legal and procedural best practices to protect one’s own interests while simultaneously building authentic, trust driven, relationships with other project stakeholders is one of the most difficult to finesse. Mastery of this skillset separates the good leaders in construction from the very best.

Unfortunately, as we all know, trust is not built overnight. In the construction industry, project teams are rarely the same from one project to the next and with today’s aggressive construction schedules, there is no time designated for “building trust” – despite its criticality. This is one reason it is so crucial for construction teams to utilize the most effective and proven methods available for building highly performing teams and to make conscious efforts to foster trust within the project team from day one.

A version of this article was originally published on LinkedIn.

Chase Callaway is a licensed Professional Engineer and globally certified Project Management Professional with David Pattillo & Associates, a Socotec Company. He has a decade of experience in the construction industry providing project management and consulting services to owners, contractors, architects, and engineers. Chase has worked on Domestic and International dispute engagements related to the construction of power generation facilities, mining operations, oil and gas operations, manufacturing plants, and government facilities. He also has extensive experience in the construction of commercial, industrial, educational, and medical facilities. Chase obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his M.B.A. from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School with concentrations in both Strategy and Leadership. While at Goizueta, Chase was honored to serve as President of the Evening MBA program during his final year and was elected by his peers to receive the Core Value Award for Community. 

What's Up at Division 1 (No. 5)

D1 Members . . . October was a BUSY month for us.  Here is a summary of some of what we all did. 

Division 1 Virtual Planning Retreat

On October 13th, we held a virtual planning retreat from 3-5PM.  We had a good representation of our steering committee members, liaisons, and excellent volunteers on the zoom meeting.  We focused on four topics:

1. Member Recruitment & Engagement 
2. Division 1 Program / Publications Concepts (particularly virtual programs)
3. The Dispute Resolver Blog 
4. Upcoming Forum Meetings 

Member Recruitment and Engagement. Division 1 is an inclusive and ambitious group.  While we have a strong membership, we are always looking for new construction lawyers to bring into Division 1.  During the planning retreat, we discussed how we can increase transparency regarding ways and levels to get involved.  We also discussed our outreach efforts including sending D1 branded desk crumbees to our active members as a thank you.  We discussed reaching out to the Young Lawyers Division and work on programs with the Diversity and Inclusion Committees to expand our membership and give speaking/writing opportunities to our members.   Here are a few concrete example of what we have done along these lines:

We (Katie Kohm) put together the above video explaining how to get involved in Division 1.  The video has great information including the contact information for each of D1's steering committee members.  

We continue to send out our D1 Desk Crumbees.  Here is a photo Steering Committee Member, Rob Ruesch, sent to me with his desk crumbee.  

Division 1 will support the Forum's guide program -- a mentorship-style program without the mentor word.  This initiative will pair up active Forum members with Forum members who are looking to get more out of their Forum membership.  For those interested in serving as a guide, there is a call scheduled for tomorrow (11/10). Please reach out to me if you are interested.  

In addition, we will promote the Forum's new supercharging your Forum membership handout that is full of information about how to get the most out of your Forum membership including speaking, writing, and leadership opportunities. 

Division 1 Program / Publications Concepts (particularly virtual programs)

While we may not be traveling in January to San Diego for the Midwinter Meeting, there are lots of ways that we can interact with our Division members.  We had a 30 minute plus brainstorming discussion about "big ideas" for virtual programing for Division 1 and the Forum generally.  This committee led by Joe Imperiale is just getting off the ground.  If you want to join this "D1 think tank" -- please email/call me!

The Building Results program on October 20th is an example of the success of virtual programs planned by Division 1.  150+ registered for the event with 80+ attending.  About half were law students and half were construction lawyers.  Most, but not all were Forum members.  The first part of the program was a excellent panel discussion.  If you missed the event, you can watch the video of it here:

The second part of the program had networking between construction attorneys and law students.  We had 10 different breakout rooms. Thanks for all of our discussion leaders for helping with this program.  Below is a screenshot from one of the breakout rooms:

The Dispute Resolver Blog & Upcoming Meetings.  We reported on the success of the Dispute Resolver over the years -- 6+ years old!  We gave credit to the excellent editorial team and discussed content that we can publish to benefit the construction law community.  We discussed upcoming meetings and the status of the same.  Keep an eye out for the Forum potentially planning a virtual construction conference next year!  D1's CLE subcommittee team has been working hard to schedule upcoming webinars through 2021. 

While I missed being with everyone at the planning retreat, I was proud of what we accomplished and the energy of our group.  I am particularly excited about a new virtual series we are starting in a few weeks -- D1 Toolbox Talk.  Jade Davis and other members of the Toolbox Talk series have planned an informal, practical virtual discussion series about ADR topics of interest.  Each program will have different discussion leaders.  Check your email inbox for news and announcements regarding the first in the series!  

 I hope you all are enjoying the fall.  It was absolutely glorious in New England this past weekend.  Above is a selfie of my with my family in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  It was a beautiful weekend.  

As a reminder, Division 1's monthly calls are on the second Monday of each month.  Our next call is today, November 9th.  Join us for today's call or upcoming calls:

https://americanbar.zoom.us/j/6691783882?pwd=NUh3SE42eWMrc0ZrdW5pdEgyMFo0Zz09

Meeting ID: 669 178 3882

Password: 826501

Stay safe and healthy.  I look forward to working with you!

Tom Dunn

Chair, Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution)

401-490-3418 | rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com