tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41253076862900814522024-03-15T21:13:28.730-04:00THE DISPUTE RESOLVERArticles on Construction Litigation & Dispute Resolution by Division 1 of the ABA Forum on Construction LawPatrick McKnighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983642143576040949noreply@blogger.comBlogger479125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-74980825941136207382024-03-12T15:30:00.005-04:002024-03-13T11:51:55.728-04:00Enforceability of Contract Provisions Extending Liquidated Damages Beyond Substantial Completion<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UhA5T1L-GhuxLZx_C48a6Zdf65fM4Kv_R1vhI-0BHPPCHw3QNcH0hQmW5Dv2BhDtnL9aPvWv5EGZt3n4BnZYNWBPYm48nKIiLEsqQ2hgpcvtkyJt1agMrjdm7a7P4stvwYQJHjBLeRmYPGPiaicGiXkbrPXVHnYE_eDhXdLqHD4qkpsqDk5dD3fB6Q/s6612/pexels-jordan-benton-1095601.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4408" data-original-width="6612" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UhA5T1L-GhuxLZx_C48a6Zdf65fM4Kv_R1vhI-0BHPPCHw3QNcH0hQmW5Dv2BhDtnL9aPvWv5EGZt3n4BnZYNWBPYm48nKIiLEsqQ2hgpcvtkyJt1agMrjdm7a7P4stvwYQJHjBLeRmYPGPiaicGiXkbrPXVHnYE_eDhXdLqHD4qkpsqDk5dD3fB6Q/s320/pexels-jordan-benton-1095601.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">This post takes a look at
the enforceability of contract provisions providing for liquidated delay
damages after substantial completion. Typically, the assessment of liquidated
delay damages ends at substantial completion of a project. However, various
standard form contracts, including some of the ConsensusDocs and EJCDC contracts,
contain elections allowing for the parties to agree on the use of liquidated
damages for failing to achieve substantial completion, final completion, or
project milestones. The standard language in the AIA A201 leaves it up to the
parties to define the circumstances under which liquidated damages will be
awarded.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Courts
are split on the enforceability of provisions that seek to assess liquidated
damages beyond substantial completions. Courts in some jurisdictions will not
impose liquidated damages after the date of substantial completion on the
ground that liquidated damages would otherwise become a penalty if assessed
after the owner has put the project to its intended use.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Perini Corp. v. Greate Bay Hotel &
Casino, Inc., </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">129 N.J. 479, 610 A.2d 364 (1992). When the terms are clear,
other jurisdictions will enforce contract terms providing for liquidated
damages until final completion, even if the owner has taken beneficial use of
the facility. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Carrothers Const. Co. v. City of S. Hutchinson</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 288 Kan.
743, 207 P.3d 231 (2009).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Power
Constructors, Inc. v. City of Ketchikan</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 923 F.2d 863 (9</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Cir.
1991), a public owner sought to recover liquidated delay damages beyond
substantial completion pursuant to a contract provision that provided for
liquidated damages for “each and every day that the work and any specified
portions thereof are not completed . . .” The district court held that the
entire provision was an invalid penalty because it applied after substantial
completion to minor and inconsequential breaches. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
Ninth Circuit reversed the district court and held that under Alaska law, the
court should have upheld that portion of the liquidated damages provision that
was not a penalty and that the public owner was entitled to recover liquidated
damages until substantial completion.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">However,
other courts have allowed liquidated damages beyond substantial completion
where the contract specifically provides for such. In </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Reliance Ins. Co. v.
Utah Dept. of Transp</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">., 858 P.2d 1363 (Utah 1993), the Utah Supreme Court
upheld a provision in a state highway contract that provided for liquidated
damages of $600 per day when “any work shall remain” on the project.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Reliance
Ins. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">court rejected the surety’s argument that liquidated damages should
end at substantial completion. The court noted that the contract between the
parties does not provide for liquidated damages to end at substantial
completion, but rather, final completion as determined by the UDOT engineer.
The court went on to hold that the provision was unambiguous and that the
parties could have used substantial completion as the date for ending the
assessment of liquidated damages if they so intended. The </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Reliance Ins.</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> court
noted, however that there could be a case when the work remaining on the
project was so trivial that assessing the entire liquidated damages amount
could result in gross unfairness – but that was not so in the case before the
court.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Similarly,
in </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ledbetter Bros. v. N. Carolina Dep't of Transp.</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 68 N.C. App. 97, 314
S.E.2d 761 (1984), the Court of Appeals of North Carolina enforced a provision in
a public highway contract which assessed liquidated damages until final
completion of the work.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
liquidated damages provision was contained in the standard specifications
issued by the state highway commission and incorporated in the contract by
reference. The provision provided in pertinent part: “a sum of money in the
amount stipulated in the contract will be charged against the Contractor for
each calendar day that the work remains uncompleted after the expiration of the
completion date . . .”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-indent: 0.5in;">The court
noted that liquidated damages provisions have long been held to be valid and an
appropriate means of inducing timely performance. “It would frustrate this
policy, and increase the likelihood of inconvenience and danger to the public
to allow disputes over substantial performance to affect such provisions.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">California
courts have also upheld contract provisions providing for liquidated damages on
a school construction project until “final completion” rather than “substantial
completion.” Rejecting the contractor’s argument that liquidated damages could
not be awarded after substantial completion, the court noted that because the
parties had contracted for a complete building, not a substantially complete
one, liquidated damages until final completion were appropriate. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Vrgora v.
Los Angeles Unified Sch. Dist.,</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> 152 Cal. App. 3d 1178, 1187 (Ct. App.
1984).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-indent: 0.5in;">Based
on the case law, it appears that many jurisdictions will enforce contract
provisions providing for liquidated damages beyond substantial completion.
Provisions as such should be unambiguous in their terms and – even considering
that some jurisdictions will not evaluate the gravity of the liquidated penalty
versus actual delay damages – in most instances liquidated damages should be
predicated upon a reasonable estimate of the damages to the owner from the
failure to achieve final completion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><span>Author
and Editor </span><a href="https://www.phelps.com/professionals/stuart-richeson.html" target="_blank">Stu Richeson</a><span> is an attorney in the litigation section of </span><a href="https://www.phelps.com/" target="_blank">Phelps'</a><span> New Orleans office, primarily focusing on commercial litigation with
an emphasis on construction matters, intellectual property issues and
insurance.</span></i></span></p><p></p>Stu Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03246898074058363227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-62278589395543647972024-03-06T15:30:00.001-05:002024-03-06T15:41:18.047-05:00Toolbox Talk Series Recap – CPAs in Construction Disputes<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">In
the February 29, 2024 edition of Division 1’s Toolbox Talk Series, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-garcia/">Chad Garcia</a><span style="background-color: white;"> provided information
on the role of a CPA in construction litigation. Garcia discussed the various
type of claims and situations in which Certified Public Accountants (“CPAs”) can
provide value to parties involved in construction disputes, as well as other
contexts in which CPAs are often used on construction projects.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
Garcia’s experience, CPAs frequently work to quantify damages on errors and
omissions claims, construction defect claims, and delay claims. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CPAs also perform analysis relating to cost
overrun disputes, change order disputes, claims for lost profits, and claims
involving liens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the precise
analysis differs in each of the above contexts, CPAs generally analyze
financial records and other relevant project documents (such as change orders,
contracts, etc.) to make sure all amounts claimed are reasonable and
accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As
one example, in <i>JH Kelly, LLC v. AECOM Technical Services, Inc.</i>, 605 F. Supp.
3d 1295 (N.D. Cal., June 2, 2022), a CPA (who is also a Certified Management
Accountant and Certified in Financial Forensics) offered expert testimony to calculate
the Subcontract balance, to determine where cost overruns occurred, and to
compare design cost overruns to construction cost overruns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response to a Daubert challenge regarding
the analysis of cost overruns, the court ruled that the expert’s opinion “is
sufficiently based on his analysis of the billings at issue and his experience
in accounting, auditing, and analyzing costs related to construction projects to
be admissible under Rule 702.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Depending
on the dispute and the available records, a CPA’s methodology will vary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garcia detailed how they may look at invoices,
payments, and purchase orders to build a damage valuation based on actual
costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other options include total cost,
modified total costs, and measured mile approaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those methodologies were discussed in greater
depth in the <a href="https://abaconstructionforumdivision1.blogspot.com/2023/11/toolbox-talk-series-recap-using.html">October
26, 2023 Toolbox Talk</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Other
areas that Garcia covered include the potential, at least in smaller claims, to
engage a CPA to prove costs and rely on project personnel for testimony to
support the root causes, and various non-dispute contexts in which a CPA can
support a construction project. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
include (1) accounting and finance process improvements based on an
evaluation of a company’s internal controls; (2) tax planning and compliance;
and (3) advice for tracking ongoing claims by using a separate cost code or
separate account in the job costing system to isolate costs related to the
damage event or delay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank you to Garcia for detailing the various
ways a CPA can add value to a construction claim or di</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">spute. </span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Author</i> </span><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/mackin-douglas">Douglas J. Mackin</a></span> is a construction attorney with
Cozen O’Connor in Boston, Massachusetts. Douglas counsels owners, developers,
contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of a construction project, from
contract negotiation through to completion, including disputes, litigation and
arbitration. Douglas can be contacted at </span></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4125307686290081452/4335065257671315995"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span style="color: #f57c00; text-decoration-line: none;">dmackin@cozen.com</span></span></i></a><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">.</span></i></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Douglas Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10318987437614969104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-13929555272739748272024-02-27T11:07:00.000-05:002024-02-27T11:07:24.519-05:00Meet the Forum's ADR Neutrals: TOM NOCAR<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP2EFoR8Gi-hFLt996UuJWaxC8qHh25j0_7cgmU2i4JmHe74zTnXR5gvKS5Ru2GO_fRN_5bIZqrtZvrgmv9plzcDdbiVARiz2IY_YY5ZnSbJrPIh02QGgpNXTQhkyS3KztHm1z_fwM6RkQA3ny4_xbEr6vXhsycbGF4Z6Gw8YBrq6qiUQsnWDDEuLQvo/s600/Nocar%20-Tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP2EFoR8Gi-hFLt996UuJWaxC8qHh25j0_7cgmU2i4JmHe74zTnXR5gvKS5Ru2GO_fRN_5bIZqrtZvrgmv9plzcDdbiVARiz2IY_YY5ZnSbJrPIh02QGgpNXTQhkyS3KztHm1z_fwM6RkQA3ny4_xbEr6vXhsycbGF4Z6Gw8YBrq6qiUQsnWDDEuLQvo/s320/Nocar%20-Tom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Company</span></b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span>:</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span>Office Location</span></b><b><span>:</span></b><b> </b><span>Columbus, Ohio</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Email: </b></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:tnocar@hahnlaw.com">tnocar@hahnlaw.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Website: </b> <a href="https://www.hahnlaw.com/professionals/j-thomas-nocar/">https://www.hahnlaw.com/professionals/j-thomas-nocar/</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Law School:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Types of ADR services offered:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Arbitration and Mediation</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Affiliated ADR organizations:</b> AAA Construction Panel</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Geographic area served:</b> Nationwide</span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>Q: Describe the path you took to becoming an ADR neutral.</span></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am a former builder turned construction attorney. I spent 26 years building before going to law school. I’ve worn every hat in the industry—D/B business owner, owner’s rep, CM at risk, GC, design/builder, subcontractor, and vendor at some point in my prior career. I chose to adapt these experiences to a law career in 2009 with the focus of practicing construction law. Now I commonly represent commercial builders and developers. AAA added me to the Construction Roster in 2022.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What percentage of your current legal practice is spent on ADR work? If less than 100%, what do you do when not serving as an ADR neutral?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My ADR practice is small, but growing. I served as a neutral on five cases in 2023. I am primarily a construction attorney counseling clients in practical approaches to dispute avoidance, and representing clients in transactions and litigation.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="text-align: left;">What are your thoughts on requiring mediation as a contractual prerequisite to litigation or arbitration?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Forcing parties to mediate is not a great idea. It is rarely productive. I have been involved—as many of us have—in a mediation where one party shows up for the sole purpose of satisfying the contract clause, and then just leave. A total waste of time. A successful mediation usually involves two willing parties who want to avoid litigation risks and costs, and are capable of seeing past the dispute validities to reach a business decision.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="text-align: left;">What can attorneys do to best position their clients for a successful mediation outcome?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Prepare them for compromise. Set financial expectations using the BATNA (Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement) approach. Go through anticipated negotiation scenarios. Review the merits of each side’s contentions but remove the emotions where possible. Mediation is for business decisions, not for trial. Assure the client that mediation settlement is voluntary, and understand the walkaway number. Have a settlement agreement in the queue that can be quickly edited with the terms of agreement and signed by the parties that day.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What should attorneys and their clients take into consideration when vetting and/or selecting an arbitrator?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A: (1) the arbitrator's construction industry expertise, both technically and legally specific to your case; </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(2) </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">whether the arbitrator will control arbitration costs, limit discovery, briefing requirements, etc.; </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">3)</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">the arbitrator’s tendencies when it comes to awards</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">do they split the baby or let chips fall where they may</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">and </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(4)</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">w</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">hat factors the arbitrator considers when deciding attorney fee awards. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What advice do you have for parties when considering whether to choose a single arbitrator or a panel?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is generally a function of cost and risk. A panel is generally advisable when the amount in controversy exceeds $2M, when there are several parties, and/or the subject matter is exceedingly diverse or technical. Otherwise, if the single arbitrator passes your vetting as describe above, go forth.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What measures do you take as an arbitrator to ensure arbitration is less costly and more efficient to litigation?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Arbitration should be less costly than litigation. I try to limit the amount of discovery to help in this regard. Also, we are trained to allow all evidence to be presented and heard, but I caution the parties that duplicative witnesses and hearsay testimony has little probative value and adds time to the hearing. I also generally favor pre-hearing and closing briefs and discourage opening or closing statements.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: H</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="text-align: left;">ow has your prior career in commercial construction management helped you to serve as a neutral in construction cases?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My former design/build career provides a wealth of hands-on experience to draw from that commonly expedites my comprehension of the issues in the case. I have performed many times over the very tasks that are at the center of the controversy—issuing contracts and change orders; managing design from concept to completion; creating and managing schedules, submittals and shop drawings; running and documenting progress meetings; coordinating manpower, equipment and material deliveries; managing quality and safety; and dealing with non-performing parties. This insight helps me to quickly cut through the noise to get to the heart of any construction dispute. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="text-align: left;">What are some of your interests or hobbies?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Live music, travel, cooking, and cycling.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-align: justify;"><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /></span><div><i style="font-family: verdana;">Editor-in-Chief Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</i></div></div>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-84211620820390224642024-02-20T10:07:00.005-05:002024-02-21T14:35:26.196-05:00Consultant Corner: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...Technical Storytelling in Construction Litigation<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Engineers are not
commonly thought of as storytellers. But telling a true, accurate, and
convincing story is one of the most important aspects of the job. Whether testifying
as an expert witness or conducting a forensic investigation, technical experts require
not only deep expertise but also the ability to effectively communicate complex
ideas of a technical nature. Therefore, an effective and persuasive technical
expert needs to master the art and science of storytelling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While storytelling
may vary from case to case, one of the most essential techniques is
visualization. Most people are visual
learners. A great graphic can be more effective in delivering the technical
message, enhancing comprehension, and providing a lasting impression than the
expert’s report or other testimony. This is particularly important in the legal
setting, in which the audience—often a judge or jury—is typically non-technical.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Creating Graphics</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Common types of visuals typically used in forensic
investigations and construction litigation include two-dimensional (2D) graphics
such as charts, figures, timelines, three-dimensional (3D) renderings or
animations, engineering analysis models, or other tools such as Augmented
Reality(AR) or Virtual Reality (VR). Development of the visuals is an integral
part of the forensic investigation and technical storytelling process</span><b><span>. </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Visualization typically used
in forensic investigations or as demonstratives in construction litigation are
often created using technical illustration techniques. Technical illustration
is to <u>visually</u> communicate information of a <u>technical</u> nature
based on <u>science and physics</u>. These graphics are not only “art” but also
“science” as they are based on mathematical formulation and physics-based
computer simulations. To tell a compelling, impactful, accurate, and relevant
story, the visuals must be consistent with the evidence, analysis results, and
the expert opinion.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Common Applications</span></b></p><p style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This section highlights some common applications in which the use of 3D renderings
and/or animations is helpful.</span></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div font-family:="" font-size:="" medium="" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;" verdana=""><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span>(a) Visualization of a complex system</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – Visualization can be helpful to illustrate an engineering system that
is highly complex and/or has multiple interior components.<i> </i>In these
situations, a 3D rendering of the system using a combination of visualization
techniques, including callouts, cutaways, or ghosted views, proves to be
effective. For example, Figure 1 uses a cutaway to demonstrate the main
components of a composite floor.</span></span></div><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFFQZMUVkMNgStptWj_DaDLRVBblO5g-uFXtIxu4uDcU6NYmiuqSURmN3PTYvbvFUttWFy9NsYnK-Qx4BGyA6440iuVJf3q7qdpbsD3qd-NSzz4UKxDxOG0fzoAdQL4hM2463VhjNSDR9yrH3sgJ986LJYuq9OFAvoU9tfbS3ALffVXMHElyPkUWI9wo/s1554/Figure%201%20(Final).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1554" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFFQZMUVkMNgStptWj_DaDLRVBblO5g-uFXtIxu4uDcU6NYmiuqSURmN3PTYvbvFUttWFy9NsYnK-Qx4BGyA6440iuVJf3q7qdpbsD3qd-NSzz4UKxDxOG0fzoAdQL4hM2463VhjNSDR9yrH3sgJ986LJYuq9OFAvoU9tfbS3ALffVXMHElyPkUWI9wo/w640-h358/Figure%201%20(Final).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Figure 1: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cutaway illustration of a composite floor<br />(snippet from an animation, courtesy: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(b)<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span>Design comparison </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">– Visualization
can be helpful to compare different construction, such as as-built versus
as-designed configurations, or between different designs or layouts. Figure 2
is a side-by-side comparison of the slab reinforcement layout at the column
location shown in the floor plan. The two reinforcement layouts of interest are
those that were (i) specified in engineering drawings (“as-designed”), and (ii)
constructed in the field (“as-built”). It is clear from the rendering that the
as-built layout shows fewer reinforcements and larger bar spacing compared to
the as-designed layout.</span></span></div><p class="MsoListParagraph" font-family:="" font-size:="" medium="" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;" verdana=""><!--[if !supportLists]--></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLiSw8UNpX3gAynU-sfm6-hPxRqmuHn16LfWA8P2zoGC2RQzv6bRoXc4G66yvOYaCmPW-9ExbNrevNVoGzbZ7NilYifFGw8PpbWi5S4zEWaJg-NMS3OgL0Aq8azBDrUAUPlBFGuSvCtH2xsxQsXiGJ-WU9SqHEJC_r-dugrrKJaaP9BxjBYF-HDLMr3E/s472/Figure%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="472" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLiSw8UNpX3gAynU-sfm6-hPxRqmuHn16LfWA8P2zoGC2RQzv6bRoXc4G66yvOYaCmPW-9ExbNrevNVoGzbZ7NilYifFGw8PpbWi5S4zEWaJg-NMS3OgL0Aq8azBDrUAUPlBFGuSvCtH2xsxQsXiGJ-WU9SqHEJC_r-dugrrKJaaP9BxjBYF-HDLMr3E/w640-h360/Figure%202.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Figure 2: </span><span style="text-align: left;">As-designed vs As-built slab reinforcement layout<br />(courtesy: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>(c)<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></span><b><span>Sequencing</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – When the
construction, installation, or failure of a system involves multiple steps or
stages, of which the order and/or timing are relevant to the narrative, an
animation may be warranted. For example, a construction sequence animation with
timestamps can be used in construction delay cases to highlight the planned
versus the actual construction progress at various project stages.</span></span></p><p bold="" class="MsoListParagraph" font-family:="" font-size:="" medium="" mso-bidi-font-weight:="" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify><span style=;" verdana=""><br /></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBodDvAqbfZ46fYc9pfM_5WYks7BVpxJlbohtSTlL10cnFb49ME7-dBkHbO2REDgrbHO0Mm_OtNbpYSMASiLSRhR2jCVGmFIL0UuAZ-Sri_48GOynaukTtiOLBnyUZvhuWIPwPxUwrSFEF8i78fklAMOJGc9-h5m9XlL1AOmGivMJBMdx_g_j5iLKVa8/s635/Figure%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="635" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBodDvAqbfZ46fYc9pfM_5WYks7BVpxJlbohtSTlL10cnFb49ME7-dBkHbO2REDgrbHO0Mm_OtNbpYSMASiLSRhR2jCVGmFIL0UuAZ-Sri_48GOynaukTtiOLBnyUZvhuWIPwPxUwrSFEF8i78fklAMOJGc9-h5m9XlL1AOmGivMJBMdx_g_j5iLKVa8/w640-h414/Figure%203.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><a name="_Ref157847139" style="text-align: left;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 18.4px;">Figure </span></a><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">3: Construction sequence illustration<br />(snippets from an animation, courtesy: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.)<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>(d)<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></span><b><span>Explanation of technical concepts</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – One of the most important applications of visualization in forensic
engineering is to explain complex technical concepts. An animation allows the
expert to “zoom in” at any location for further review, create section cuts
and/or “see through” the interior details, such as reinforcement arrangement,
or take advantage of the motion to explain how different parts interact
dynamically in a failure mechanism. Figure 4 shows a close-up view at a
slab-to-wall connection to illustrate the failure of the steel reinforcement
and the concrete, which ultimately led to the collapse of the slab. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrw3MHa-ICRW6GFCyIlKx8blYUPkx8J300QTMxRy2jBCslcTFCBDuXZMfHPhxgYMlpkoYQgZINtl1P315WMxPKUagIqI0GaGsyrWTMAIyztI-XuZdYYMiSiFwSZFXAzFzEnFzGn3Ztk97AFzD_4Vk4hKFKTJAUueO9VAJlyByybiF6RvByEKNioeSAmg/s616/Figure%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="616" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrw3MHa-ICRW6GFCyIlKx8blYUPkx8J300QTMxRy2jBCslcTFCBDuXZMfHPhxgYMlpkoYQgZINtl1P315WMxPKUagIqI0GaGsyrWTMAIyztI-XuZdYYMiSiFwSZFXAzFzEnFzGn3Ztk97AFzD_4Vk4hKFKTJAUueO9VAJlyByybiF6RvByEKNioeSAmg/w640-h360/Figure%204.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><a name="_Ref157832625" style="text-align: left;"><span>Figure </span></a><span style="text-align: left;">4: Illustration of the reinforcement failure at the slab-to-wall connection<br />(snippet from an animation, courtesy: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In another example, Figure 5 is a snippet from a
time-lapse animation of an underground parking garage that experienced water
intrusion. The animation captures accurately the locations and timing of the
documented leaks in the walls and floor slab. The timescale is included to
illustrate the timing of the events.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDn0ZvrDvzJXHNunF-Bm5foNqK1MdypYKdWbImN8IcfNcL9h68X-T4v5JYdk-5LuJ9F-Q_1bJXNOhLRVJ3vydk-F1mKfFzGBqY__lthsPA0z8sJJBLAyGXLDJedYdEwO-bGMSm8HYupaZ_WdZFXEo6hWpXDfpPXUevf2D1m9Vo_P69flrBR2xFGWrvAE/s462/Figure%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="462" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDn0ZvrDvzJXHNunF-Bm5foNqK1MdypYKdWbImN8IcfNcL9h68X-T4v5JYdk-5LuJ9F-Q_1bJXNOhLRVJ3vydk-F1mKfFzGBqY__lthsPA0z8sJJBLAyGXLDJedYdEwO-bGMSm8HYupaZ_WdZFXEo6hWpXDfpPXUevf2D1m9Vo_P69flrBR2xFGWrvAE/w640-h362/Figure%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a name="_Ref157834061" style="text-align: left;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 18.4px;">Figure</span></a><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;"> 5: Time-lapse of documented water intrusion<br />(snippet from an animation, courtesy: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.).</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Technical and Legal Considerations</span></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One of the first, and perhaps the most important,
tasks is to plan for the use of graphics. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The technical expert and the legal counsel need to
thoroughly develop a plan for the case at hand and how the visuals will fit
into the overall strategy. </span><span>There are several aspects that the team needs to evaluate,
including the need for graphics, potential limitations, and when to introduce
graphics.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Different experts have different ways to tell
stories and explain technical concepts. Understanding the strengths and
weaknesses of the experts is key to more compelling storytelling. </span><span>From the technical
perspective, the expert needs to ensure that the visuals are consistent with the evidence (such as
column and beam size as shown in drawings) and other expert testimony (such as the
opinions stated in the expert report). It is critical to understand the basis
of the visuals, how they are correlated with the evidence and the engineering
analysis, and the underlying assumptions of the analysis model on which the
visuals are based. If the visuals are based on an engineering simulation, it is
important to understand the input and output of the analysis model, the model
settings, any assumptions, and limitations of the analysis.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From
the legal perspective, when using
graphics in construction litigation, the technical expert and the legal team
must be familiar with the rules of evidence to develop a proper legal strategy.
There is a distinction between “demonstrative aids” or “visual aids” and
“demonstrative evidence,” which is admitted and sent back with the jury or
considered as “evidence” by arbitrators. To become the latter, a graphic needs
to meet admissibility standards, for instance, it has to be authentic,
relevant, and especially, not hearsay. It is equally critical that the visuals not be confusing, irrelevant,
inconsistent with expert testimony, or highly complex. This will increase the
chances of admissibility and ensure that the audience can readily comprehend
and appreciate the technical story the visuals are intended to tell.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Concluding Remark</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Learning how to
tell a technical story to a non-technical audience, especially in the legal
setting, can be a daunting task, even for seasoned experts. Proper use of
storytelling techniques, such as visualization, can greatly enhance the
expert’s effectiveness in presenting his/her opinions. These graphics are not
just “pretty pictures,” but also play an integral part of the expert’s role as
communicators an</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">d storytellers.</span></p>
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For more examples of technical visualization,
<i>see </i></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/761940654"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;">Technical visualization samples</span></a>.</span><br />
<br /></span><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Author, Thanh Do, is a structural forensic engineer with Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. He specializes in investigations of construction/design defects and collapses, and standard of care assessment. He also oversees the Forensic Visualization group at Thornton Tomasetti, which produces graphics and animations for trial exhibits/demonstratives.</i></div></span>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-27172542237636605812024-02-13T10:26:00.001-05:002024-02-13T10:28:33.729-05:00Meet the Forum's ADR Neutrals: LISA D. LOVE<p><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqmd7PuxYa3ydkBA3ioGg7FJXNVx8wBN0vPqp3ZGxA1N9hvGE-5i0v38xvbLygxxeSl_piuxnPlIOC5PN9WrRAnBf7RIszvPYUQY-5NlWJd6TOevTOrKuWOG3vKrmAC6NzXCN92WR1hX9yCCvV7iBhDoRN6YTp8s1ShVrOai4yN6_CfEUG6soaDTpv5c/s2357/Lisa%20Love%20-%20JAMS%20Final%20(002).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2357" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqmd7PuxYa3ydkBA3ioGg7FJXNVx8wBN0vPqp3ZGxA1N9hvGE-5i0v38xvbLygxxeSl_piuxnPlIOC5PN9WrRAnBf7RIszvPYUQY-5NlWJd6TOevTOrKuWOG3vKrmAC6NzXCN92WR1hX9yCCvV7iBhDoRN6YTp8s1ShVrOai4yN6_CfEUG6soaDTpv5c/w385-h400/Lisa%20Love%20-%20JAMS%20Final%20(002).jpg" width="385" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Company</span></b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span>:</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">JAMS</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span>Office Location</span></b><b><span>:</span></b><b> </b><span>New York, NY</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Email: </b></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:llove@jamsadr.com">llove@jamsadr.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Website: </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.jamsadr.com/love/">https://www.jamsadr.com/love/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Law School:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Georgetown University Law Center (J.D. 1984)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Types of ADR services offered:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Arbitration, mediation, neutral evaluation and special master services</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>Affiliated ADR organizations:</b> JAMS, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and CPR</span></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>Geographic area served:</b> Domestic and International</span></span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/TaD_6-4WEHs?si=ysMGTQ02qDf_2TlY" width="480"></iframe></div>
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>: Describe the path you took to becoming an ADR neutral.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I started my legal career practicing law as a complex commercial transactions attorney in the corporate department of a major New York law firm for eleven years. After leaving the firm, I served as chief legal counsel to several municipalities and as co-founding partner of a boutique finance, infrastructure and real estate law firm. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In my legal practice, I have served as counsel in many complex transactions involving infrastructure, transportation, construction, real estate development, public private partnerships, acquisitions, dispositions and mergers, energy, and public and corporate finance. I have represented parties on all sides of the transactions from owner, public entity, lender, issuer, contractor, borrower, equity investor, trustee, fiscal agent and closing title agent. As a result, I have extensive experience drafting, negotiating and interpreting complex agreements for sophisticated transactions from many different perspectives.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In 2017, I decided to use the knowledge that I have acquired in my legal practice to provide a practical, experienced and transactional perspective to resolving commercial disputes. This knowledge informs my decision-making as an arbitrator and my conciliatory efforts as a mediator. I believe that transactional attorneys are uniquely positioned to provide a legal and business perspective to many of the principal claims involved in complex commercial disputes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Currently, I am a neutral with JAMS and am a member of its Global Engineering and Construction Disputes Resolution Panel</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What should attorneys and their clients take into consideration when selecting an arbitrator?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When vetting or selecting an arbitrator, it is important to consider the subject matter expertise of the arbitrator, including experience gained through the practice of law generally and in specific practice areas. While I acknowledge that most of the ADR professionals that I know are former litigators, I am confident that transactional attorneys have the advantage of having been involved in the intricate details of drafting and negotiating the business terms of many transaction documents that are similar to many of the provisions that are subject of the ADR proceeding. Such experience is extremely important and should not be underrated in our legal system which thrives on the concept that the documents “speak for themselves.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Equally important is the need to select well-qualified, diverse neutrals who bring a diversity of thought, perspectives and experience to decision making which improves the arbitral process. While many arbitral institutions have increased the diversity of their panels, the discretion embedded in the selection should be more inclusive. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One way to embed diversity in the selection process is to consider adding arbitrator diversity as a component of the arbitration agreement. Several institutions have adopted diversity clauses that can provide guidance for drafting a diversity component to the arbitration agreement</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: If you were going to draft your own dispute resolution clause in a construction law contract, what points would you include (or exclude)?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a contract drafter, I have personally witnessed that many dispute resolution clauses in transaction documents do not fully receive the attention to drafting required prior to the execution of the transaction documents. Unlike many labor, environmental, tax, securities and other specialized provisions in transaction documents, many arbitration clauses are included in the miscellaneous section of contracts and may be combined with the governing law and other provisions and are not timely reviewed by the firm’s dispute resolution professionals. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In drafting dispute resolution clauses in construction contracts, there are several provisions that I recommend that parties consider for inclusion in their dispute resolution provision. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><u>First, a couture clause designed to address the parties specific requirements.</u></i><b> </b> When drafting dispute resolution clauses in construction contracts, the parties should recognize that dispute resolution is a party-controlled process. The more specific the dispute resolution clause is, the less reliance will be on institutional rules and the more on party control. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The dispute resolution clause provides an opportunity for the parties to assess the possible claims that could arise during the course of the project and design well drafted ADR provisions to meet the specific needs and expectations of the parties for expedient and efficient dispute resolution. The ADR clause should incorporate an expedited, tiered process (dispute resolution boards, negotiation, mediation, and/or arbitration, as desired by the parties) within specific time frames acceptable to the parties to be handled by experienced ADR professionals. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, in drafting a dispute resolution clause, it is extremely important that the specificity of the clause does not lead to inconsistency within the clause. If the clause is found to be internally inconsistent, the result could be the disregard of the entire arbitration agreement.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><u><i>Second, an integration clause to consistently and centrally resolve disputes by ADR.</i></u><b> </b>The transaction documents should fit together like an intricate, completed puzzle and should include integration provisions requiring all disputes in all construction transaction documents to be subject to the dispute resolution process. This ensures that litigation is not proceeding with respect to issues arising out of one contract (without an arbitration clause) while arbitration is proceeding with nearly similar parties arising out of another contract (with a dispute resolution clause). The parties should also consider whether dispute resolution clauses should be the same in all contracts or whether some disputes, in light of the amount in dispute, or the parties involved, e.g. sub-tier contractors, may require less complex dispute resolution provisions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><u>Third, an arbitration appeals clause to provide for appellate review of significant issues.</u></i> Although not commonly used currently, an arbitration appeal process can be incorporated into the dispute resolution clauses of the construction documents that will permit the appeal of the decision of the arbitration panel. If an appellate process is desired by the parties, it should be specifically addressed in the contract’s dispute arbitration clause. If the appellate process is not included in the contract dispute resolution clause, the parties can agree later to an institution’s optional arbitration appeal process. However, once a dispute occurs, it may be difficult for the parties to agree upon an appellate process.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For large projects, the appellate process could be customized to be used only for claims exceeding a certain threshold or utilized to preserve rights of parties for certain claims for the appellate process until the end of the project in light of all of the project claims at that time</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What do you do when not serving as an ADR neutral?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Over the years, my ADR practice has consistently increased. However, when not serving as an ADR neutral, my boutique law firm—Love and Long, L.L.P.—represents federal, state and regional public agencies, museums, and Fortune 500 companies in the areas of infrastructure, transportation, construction and energy projects, real estate, public private partnerships, public finance, corporate governance, contracting and commercial leasing. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have served as lead counsel to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Commerce. I have also served as bond, disclosure, real estate and P3 counsel to New York, Pennsylvania and regional agencies. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In addition, I am an appointee to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Professional Conduct Committee (2021 – 2024), an associate in the College of Commercial Arbitrator Associates Program and an academy participant in ICC 2023 – 2024 DRS Learning Academy</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-align: left;"><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /></span><div><i style="font-family: verdana;">Editor-in-Chief Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</i></div></div>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-14431477219721258272024-02-06T10:15:00.007-05:002024-02-07T17:47:01.319-05:00Recent Statutory Changes Cap Retainage on Applicable Construction Projects<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMSiwrf91ex0gNXIVgN9plY1ctHPPfgFBAx77KMM6vUFYsta6DfzVRXUoOdShMAV3KPqGgQOBGjD-xHaCjEnIYqcNBaf565iWBt7ECAAtmtVTnmH77BA4nAVmTR9vjeiuHvCNzidhMJ2ZRu17A43L4mcR9JXC5F1qbBZjfFrV3a2KvL7Re4KRUS7qqQJq/s5015/pexels-anamul-rezwan-1216589%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3343" data-original-width="5015" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMSiwrf91ex0gNXIVgN9plY1ctHPPfgFBAx77KMM6vUFYsta6DfzVRXUoOdShMAV3KPqGgQOBGjD-xHaCjEnIYqcNBaf565iWBt7ECAAtmtVTnmH77BA4nAVmTR9vjeiuHvCNzidhMJ2ZRu17A43L4mcR9JXC5F1qbBZjfFrV3a2KvL7Re4KRUS7qqQJq/w320-h213/pexels-anamul-rezwan-1216589%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Recent reforms to certain state retainage laws have reduced
the lawful amount of withholding permitted on construction projects. In theory,
retainage allows an owner to mitigate the risk of incomplete or defective work
by withholding a certain portion of payment until the construction project is
substantially complete. Recent statutory developments in Washington, New York,
and Georgia represent significant changes in how much an owner may retain on
applicable construction projects in those jurisdictions. The details of each
state’s retainage laws vary in many important respects. Most states set caps at
5% or 10%, with important variations depending on the type of project and the
amount of progress completed. Some states require retainage to be held in an
escrow account, but most do not. Many federal construction projects allow up to
10% retainage, while other federal agencies do not require any retention. <i>See
48 CFR § 52.232-5(e) - Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts</i>.</div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The ongoing motivation for retainage reform is typically
framed in terms of reducing delays in getting payment to subcontractors who
complete their scope of work on time and free from defects. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Washington<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Washington State enacted Senate Bill 5528 to reduce
retainage on private projects to 5% of the contract price of the work completed.
<i>See</i> RCW 60.30.010. Effective July 23, 2023, the new law now reflects
Washington’s pre-existing 5% cap on public projects. Under the new law, an
owner has 15 days after notice of completion of work to notify the contractor
of additional work required for completion of the project. After 30 days,
unpaid amounts begin to accrue a 1% per month penalty per violation. In lieu of
retainage, SB 5528 contains a provision which allows contractors and
subcontractors to tender a retainage bond to the owner or upstream contractor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Washington law does not apply to single-family
residential construction of less than 12 units. Notably, waiver of the new
statutory cap is not prohibited. The new law does not appear to contain
language implying the possibility of retroactivity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">New York<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On November 17, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed
legislation making <a href="https://www.foxrothschild.com/publications/new-york-caps-retainage-at-5-on-private-construction-projects-permits-contractors-to-submit-final-invoice-upon-substantial-completion">important
changes</a> to New York’s Prompt Payment Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §756). Much
like Washington, the New York legislation caps retainage on private
construction projects at 5%. The changes apply to all private construction
projects in New York with a contract sum over $150,000. Under the new law, New
York contractors can submit an invoice for the full amount of retainage after
achieving substantial completion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Before the amendments, N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §756 allowed an
owner to retain “a reasonable amount” of retainage. There is a 1% per month
penalty for violations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Georgia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In 2022, the Georgia General Assembly passed Act 781
amending O.C.G.A. §§ 13-10-80 and 13-10-81. The relevant retainage reforms
apply to most public works projects in Georgia not including roads or highways.
The main feature of Act 781 is capping retainage on applicable public projects
at 5% of each progress statement. The statute also contains language which
allows the owner of a public works project to withhold 200% of the value of any
outstanding punch list work remaining after substantial completion. These and
other changes went into effect on July 1, 2022, and are not retroactive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">How did Retainage Become Popular?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Retainage appears to have developed as a construction industry
custom at least as early as the beginning days of the 19<sup>th</sup> century.
For example, during England’s 1840s railway boom, railroad companies began to
withhold up to 20% of contract sums to mitigate the risk of inconsistent and
under-skilled labor. Today some type of retainage is a common industry practice
in many, but not all, domestic and international jurisdictions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Understanding the current retainage laws in a client’s
jurisdiction is critical to help prevent disputes before they begin. Because important
details of these laws vary widely from state to state, it may be helpful to
review the applicable retainage and prompt payment laws during the pre-bid and
contract-drafting process.</span></p>
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.foxrothschild.com/patrick-mcknight"><i><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Patrick McKnight</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white;"> is a member
of Fox Rothschild’s national Construction Practice Group. For more
information, please contact Patrick at </span></i><a href="mailto:pmcknight@foxrothschild.com"><i><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">pmcknight@foxrothschild.com</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent1;">. </span></i><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<em><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">This article is provided for informational purposes only—it does not
constitute legal advice. Readers should consult legal counsel before taking
action relating to the subject matter of this article</span><span style="background: white; color: #5d5d5d; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">.</span></span></em></div></em>Patrick McKnighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983642143576040949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-20608540084914793112024-01-30T13:04:00.011-05:002024-01-31T10:59:18.593-05:00Top 10 Take-Aways: the ABA Forum's 2024 Mid-Winter Meeting<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUIY7z4Kn-zooisqynfSKcvqOt0f6QN4UA1yHffBru3giNju079P4iqUGbejvMEMhHFiNQOOV-LS-foEc6mKLKz125nOyH4gzsldMkcW4uj_AuXnzEazynAAQjDtPkwRLrbMroOfnfdJfSerTqb0MugrfMY_vfBiYQDi1eFew0sk7xaXrYDnA9SNGJI0/s4032/caesars.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUIY7z4Kn-zooisqynfSKcvqOt0f6QN4UA1yHffBru3giNju079P4iqUGbejvMEMhHFiNQOOV-LS-foEc6mKLKz125nOyH4gzsldMkcW4uj_AuXnzEazynAAQjDtPkwRLrbMroOfnfdJfSerTqb0MugrfMY_vfBiYQDi1eFew0sk7xaXrYDnA9SNGJI0/w400-h300/caesars.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Forum on Construction Law convened last week at Caesars Palace in sunny Las
Vegas for its 2024 Mid-Winter Meeting. <span style="background: white;">Carrie Okizaki and David Suchar (along with</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"> John Cook, Karen Erger, and countless others)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">put together a truly outstanding program on power
projects. Here are my top 10 take-aways from this unique and insightful event:</span></i></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>10. </b></span><b>The demand for power projects is steadily increasing.</b><span> The increasing demand for power construction projects is being
driven chiefly by the need to replace aging infrastructure as well as the desire
to develop cleaner and more sustainable generation facilities. The constant demand for more and more electricity is not that surprising but, according to Jeff Richardson (Energy
Solutions) and Eric S. Gould (Modus Strategic Solutions), the pipeline
market size for power-generation projects in 2028 is expected to reach $10.6 <u><b>trillion</b></u>, i.e., double what it
was just in 2022.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>9. </b></span><b>"Net Zero" is the new normal.</b><span> In December 2021, President </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Biden issued an executive order proclaiming that, by 2050, the federal government will be a Net-Zero contributor to the climate crisis. To achieve this goal, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the greenhouse gasses ("GHGs") released by government operations must be less than (or equal to) the GHGs absorbed/removed from the environment</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Other</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> g</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">overnment bodies and private companies
alike are adopting similar Net-Zero goals. Because not all of these promises are created equal, Moody’s Investors Services has a <a href="https://ratings.moodys.io/products/nza" target="_blank">tool</a> to help
consumers compare and evaluate companies' carbon transition plans. According
to panelists, Amanda Schermer MacVey (Venable), Brendan Hennessey
(Pillsbury), and Laszlo von Lazar (Black &
Veatch), these Net-Zero commitments are likely to result in more rigorous supplier
codes of conduct and heightened carbon tracing efforts on construction
projects.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>8.</b> </span><b>The quest for Net Zero is our
modern-day "moonshot."</b><span> Currently, coal and natural gas are
responsible for almost 60% of electric generation on the U.S. market. That
means, to get to Net Zero, the U.S. market will have to replace 60% of
electric generation with green energy. This is no small feat. Amanda Schermer MacVey aptly
analogized the pledge to achieving Net Zero to President Kennedy's public commitment in
1962 that the United States would land a man on the moon before the decade
was over. The gauntlet has been thrown, now we have to figure
out how to get there.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>7.</b> </span><b>Despite their promise,
nuclear-powered projects have proven difficult to execute.</b><span> Building out
more nuclear-powered project would aid immensely on the way to Net Zero.
Given the intermittent availability of wind and solar, nuclear energy is
presently the only source of non-GHG electric power that is also reliable
for base load generation. Despite their promise, nuclear
projects do not have a strong track record of successful execution in the United
States. Only two nuclear projects were constructed in the United States
since the turn of the century (10 more nuclear projects which were planned were subsequently canceled). One of these projects―Vogtle Units 3 and 4
in Georgia―was $17 <b><u>billion</u> </b>over budget and 7 years late. While extreme, these schedule and cost overruns are lessons to be learned from, not justifications to avoid nuclear power projects entirely.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>6.</b> </span><b>We may be on the verge of a new
Nuclear Revival.</b><span> According to Jeff Richardson (Energy
Solutions) and Eric S. Gould (Modus Strategic Solutions), the key to
seeing the nuclear energy sector flourish is learning how to construct these projects on
budget and on time. Building something the same way more often tends to
yield more predictable the outcomes; the problem with nuclear projects is
that very few of them have been approached the same way. Favoring Small Modular Reactors ("SMRs") which, as the name suggests, are smaller
in scale and rely on modular construction techniques could allow us to get
to a place where contractors could learn to literally stamp out nuclear plants with less risk of extreme budget and/or schedule deviations.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>5. </b></span><b>The delivery systems and risk
allocations traditionally relied on might not work anymore.</b><span> Power
projects historically relied on an Engineering Procurement Construction, or "EPC", delivery model where a single contractor assumed the
risk of delivering the project on time and within budget. Finding a good EPC contractor to take on power projects has become increasingly difficult. In a panel
discussion with Matthew Meaker (Sundt Construction) and Laura B.
LoBue (Pillsbury), Neal Sweeney (Jones Walker) hypothesized that the traditional EPC contract was
"dead." What we need to see in its place are more collaborative
contracts that emphasize shared objectives, open
communication, joint risk management, and incentive-based payment
structures. This sort of radical approach will foster shared
accountability and better position the project for a successful outcome.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>4. </b></span><b>The goal on any power project should
be to encourage early reporting and resolution of disputes.</b><span> If a dispute
arises on a power project, or any mega project for that matter, owners and contractors should do their best to keep the
project moving forward while parallel tracking claim investigation.
Panelists Robert Brown (McKenney’s), Joseph Dennis (Arup), Daniel Fuchs (Manion Stigger), and John Snyder (Bechtel) shared
their insights into what to do early in the claims process to set claims counsel
up for success. Perhaps most insightful was their suggestion for clients to
appoint a case manager (someone who is not on the project team) to liaise
with outside counsel and coordinate access to the fact witnesses and
documents. It was refreshing to hear that they also saw the value of
document discovery and devoting the time and resources to an "Early
Case Assessment" so counsel can fully understand the issues before
formal dispute resolution has commenced. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><b>3. </b></span><b>Keep your insurance brokers close.</b><span> Christopher
DeBruin (Alliant) and Chase Johnson (Lockton) gave an insightful
presentation on common insurance-related issues on construction projects. The big take home here was for owners and contractors to consult with their brokers early and often and report any potential claims to their carriers as soon as they arise. If contractors attempt to address warranty issues
which later turn out to be defects on their own, their subsequent claim
may be denied. Another piece of advice from Chris and Chase: hire a claim
submission consultant to help assemble what you need to properly document
your claim. When contractors don't hire these vendors, the documentation
is poor and the claims get denied.</span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2Xttjtf4hoSgPdd2Fx8LnfPOSx4ZxDFkUyqGUlRb7sSque4q7q6O9dnLz0-Z4poxSK-hvQ7-ns0NL7M3ANA7RJsdWkVs-u4guG6zMF0dGDgzxBTyr_1QZQFKyRIaln-f35m4TbvTLb90w70JpIa-9pfRY3ka2chmrk7wr3axw-_r5cyLV_wDeZs8Mzw/s777/Elvis.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="777" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2Xttjtf4hoSgPdd2Fx8LnfPOSx4ZxDFkUyqGUlRb7sSque4q7q6O9dnLz0-Z4poxSK-hvQ7-ns0NL7M3ANA7RJsdWkVs-u4guG6zMF0dGDgzxBTyr_1QZQFKyRIaln-f35m4TbvTLb90w70JpIa-9pfRY3ka2chmrk7wr3axw-_r5cyLV_wDeZs8Mzw/w320-h317/Elvis.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">An Elvis sighting at the welcome reception...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>2. </b></span><b>We should learn to prioritize people
over profits.</b><span> In 2021, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (the "SMB") acquired the Palms Hotel & Casino, becoming one of
the first tribal enterprises to own and operate a casino in Las Vegas. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peter Arceo, Chief Gaming Officer of the SMB, spoke of the heightened emphasis tribal gaming organizations place on employee wellbeing and social responsibility. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the SMB acquired the Palms, the previous owner had
already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its redevelopment. But it was clear to Peter that none of that money had been spent on the back-of-the house
spaces that only employees would see. The first dollars that the SMB spent at the Palms were used to renovate the employee locker rooms and dining room. Where many companies might see such </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">investment as a waste given the lack of clear return, Peter saw
value in such improvements because they would make the Palms a better place to
work. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>1. If you're going to lose money
gambling, it's best to do so amongst friends.</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> Some of the
best lessons I take away from the Forum meetings occur outside the
conference room. So when three of the Forum's divisions (D1, D2, and D12)
joined together for an evening of craps and cocktails, I
knew it would be an instructive night. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of <a href="https://www.solomonpage.com/" target="_blank">Solomon Page</a>, I learned there is truth to craps being the most difficult table game in Vegas. Aside from learning the odds associated with the dizzying amount of bets available, I now appreciate that it takes a certain skill to be able to roll the die hard enough so they hit the back of the table, but not so hard enough that they fly off the table entirely. At the end of the night, I don't think I was the only one who fared poorly against the House...thankfully, we still have our day jobs.</span></p>
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Author and Editor-in-Chief Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</i></div>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-31882105833071685202024-01-23T09:37:00.000-05:002024-01-23T09:37:27.636-05:00Seeing Around Corners: The Value and Challenges of ECA in a Data-Heavy World<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnXep7FqksW8o3CnwFupd1Qzr8w5cwxHn5Y10apnS8SqwpPR7kPsBH743VaEudVcBp_10RKUvo45jBGdEkP8y4VqliHrVL0cTbTHF54aK39jcGr6QW2zFBTZdCZvWFpZb0ZCeA_FEEijOBR11_VOiwI1qE0ylYZ65lKUUb59RCqxF5uW7gLDFKPfmmD1f/s1000/Nextpoint-Construction-Litigation.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnXep7FqksW8o3CnwFupd1Qzr8w5cwxHn5Y10apnS8SqwpPR7kPsBH743VaEudVcBp_10RKUvo45jBGdEkP8y4VqliHrVL0cTbTHF54aK39jcGr6QW2zFBTZdCZvWFpZb0ZCeA_FEEijOBR11_VOiwI1qE0ylYZ65lKUUb59RCqxF5uW7gLDFKPfmmD1f/w352-h352/Nextpoint-Construction-Litigation.png" width="352" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It’s hard to argue with the assertion that the earlier you understand your case, the better. Whether it means avoiding arguments that cannot be supported by the evidence or asserting legal theories that will maximize insurance coverage, knowing where you want to go is the best way to find the shortest route there.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-32a410cc-7fff-ae7e-db29-aeb5a1c7a777"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, that is easier said than done. Long gone are the days when Early Case Assessment (ECA) involved rifling through boxes of documents and interviewing key witnesses. Each contractor, sub, architect and consultant brings their own data, often utilizing different software platforms. Identifying, collecting, reducing, and reviewing documents can be an involved task, often at a stage when clients are not ready to open the spigot for the expense of ediscovery.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Balancing the timing of litigation costs with the need to understand your case can be tricky. But there are tools available to do so. As with most aspects of the litigation process, it just takes some thought and planning.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1bfb4086-7fff-dd5e-9038-247007897bea"><h1 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Value</span></span></h1><div style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">It is worth first reviewing some of the benefits of ECA in construction cases. Here are five key ways that ECA can give you an advantage in your case.</span></p><ol style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Effective Third-Party Discovery</b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Third-party discovery can take time, particularly when trying to obtain documents from a list of smaller subs. Knowing what you already have helps identify what you need to obtain through subpoenas so you can start issuing them. Targeted requests for what you need help avoid broad requests that lead to unnecessary posturing and motion practice.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="2" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Find Relevant Evidence Quickly. </b></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Too often, lawyers simply focus on the data that is easiest to collect. But accessibility does not equate to relevancy. Cost data may exist in a contractor’s third-party accounting system. Key communications may be on the mobile devices of individuals in the field. Identifying the type of software where potential evidence is stored as early as possible can help hone in on determinative evidence. From there, it is a matter of determining how to collect it, filter it, and review it. Waiting too long to address such data issues can lead to always being a step behind, dealing with exorbitant costs from last-minute collections and reviews.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="3" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Maximize Insurance Coverage.</b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Insurance coverage is often overlooked as a key factor in ECA. But to state the obvious, the availability of coverage can dictate the resolution. It is therefore wise (if not imperative) to evaluate potential coverage issues early and frame arguments accordingly. There’s nothing worse than pleading yourself out of coverage.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="4" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Understand the Damages.</b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Having a sense of the damages at stake is key in any matter, particularly in construction disputes. </span></p></li></ol><ol start="5" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Early Resolution.</b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">The cost of construction litigation has led many clients to push for early resolution, often through mediation. Of course, many would prefer to defer any time-intensive analysis until after mediation, in the hope that a settlement will save costs. But fruitful mediations require a deep dive into a number of complex issues. “Winging it” just isn’t an option.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you are looking for a deeper dive into the issues that should be surfaced early in construction litigation, this </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://constructionlawtoday.podbean.com/e/episode-34-construction-case-investigation/" target="_blank">Construction Law Today podcast</a></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a great source.</span></p><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><h1 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, How?</span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With relevant evidence often buried in gigabytes (or even terabytes) of data, how do you go about identifying it, especially at an early stage? The key is to incorporate data considerations into each phase of your investigation. These seven steps will help you navigate ECA and develop a comprehensive understanding of your data.</span></p><ol style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask Clients About Data Sources.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When conducting initial interviews with client witnesses, be specific in your questioning about document locations. If the witness indicates that they communicated with emails and texts, identify the email provider and the type of mobile phone. On a site visit, ask about documents and plans associated with what you are seeing and inquire about where they are stored. Also ask your witnesses what they may know about the other parties' data sources: how they communicated, if they are aware of which accounting and project management systems were used, etc. Be sure to interview purely custodial witnesses (who may not have factual knowledge but are familiar with the client’s information systems). Such custodians may include IT professionals and administrators.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="2" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Address the Other Parties’ Data Sources Early.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t wait until the other parties serve their written discovery responses to find out where they have been storing data. Try to identify data sources during initial meet and confers and when negotiating ESI protocols. There is no reason that another party cannot tell you upfront whether they use Office 365 or G Suite or disclose what type of accounting system they use.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="3" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start Planning for Collection, Filtering and Review</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have a sense of where the data is, start working with your support team or outside vendor to evaluate potential approaches to collecting and making that data useful. For example:</span></p></li></ol><ul style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your client has a large number of emails in Office 365, determine whether using Microsoft’s Purview to filter data before exporting is an option, or whether entire email boxes should be exported and filtered in an ediscovery tool.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Identify what data is generally available from accounting and project management systems. Your client can probably educate you on its own systems. For third-party systems used by the other parties, you may be able to obtain information from the software provider’s website or even get a demo.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Determine whether you need the other parties to produce data in a certain format.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If data is stored in interactive/dynamic project management software (such as Primavera or Buildertrend), then reviewing the data in that software is often preferable. (License sharing among the parties is one way to allow access to parties that do not already have the software.) By contrast, if all you need from AutoCAD or BIM drawings are snapshots, then conversion to PDF can save the need for access to the original software. Addressing issues such as these early will save you from last-minute scrambling. If there are uncommon or older data sources from which data cannot easily be extracted and reviewed, start looking for experts who can extract such data if necessary.</span></p></li></ul><ol start="4" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do Your Legal Research</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Knowing what legal theories may be applicable will help guide you in decisions regarding which data might be relevant. For example, how is “occurrence” defined under the governing law for purposes of property damage? What factual arguments might get around a design defect exclusion? Waiting until you are six months into a document review to start exploring a new legal theory can lead to significant added expense.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We pause here </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to note that, at this juncture, your client has not yet needed to make any significant investment in the collection, processing, hosting or review of data. Many clients resist addressing data issues early because of the cost. But the foregoing steps can be easily incorporated into other tasks that would have to be done anyway, such as witness interviews and meet and confers. And yet, they can save thousands of dollars and maximize your advantage. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have addressed the preliminary issues, created your data map, and started honing in on key legal theories, you can more effectively begin the data collection and analysis process through the next steps:</span></p><ol start="5" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Collect Once.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Armed with all the information from above, you can determine how best to start collecting your client’s data. There may be certain information that can be pre-filtered before collection. You should also make sure that you are collecting in a format that will comply with the ESI protocol. Otherwise, you risk having to go back and collect again.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="6" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do Some Initial Analysis.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This part is perhaps the hardest, as it is more art than science. Since we are talking about the ECA stage (not production for discovery purposes), the fundamental challenge is how to quickly identify likely relevant evidence without combing through hordes of data. One common option is to utilize data mining tools to filter documents matching certain search terms. Another is clustering to identify documents that have similar content. Often, the best process is an iterative one where you apply subject matter expertise to make educated guesses, and then utilize technology to either verify or disprove your assumptions.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="7" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Start Issuing Third-Party Discovery.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once court rules allow, it is usually a good idea to start issuing third-party subpoenas. Chasing down such information can often take time, and the earlier the start, the better. Third parties may also be more forthcoming than adversaries with certain information, which will help you get to the relevant evidence more quickly.</span></p></li></ol><h1 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t Worry</span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">As the amount and types of construction data explode, dealing with it in litigation can be daunting. But getting ahead of the data and planning accordingly can make it manageable from a cost perspective – and thorough Early Case Assessment will put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to the resolution of the dispute.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span></span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p style="font-size: medium;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Additional Resources:</b> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><ul style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.nextpoint.com/ediscovery-guides/ediscovery-collections/" target="_blank">eD</a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.nextpoint.com/ediscovery-guides/ediscovery-collections/" target="_blank">iscovery Collections eGuide</a>: The Definitive Guide to Managing Modern Data Collections</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.nextpoint.com/ediscovery-guides/ediscovery-data-filtering/" target="_blank">The Art of eDiscovery Data Filtering eGuide</a>: How to use modern data filtering and culling techniques to defensibly reduce data volumes and document review costs</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.nextpoint.com/ediscovery-guides/meet-and-confer-process/" target="_blank">Winning the Meet & Confer eGuide</a>: How to Set Comprehensive Ground Rules for eDiscovery</span></p></li></ul><div><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><!--more--></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Andy Greene</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b> </b>is the Managing Partner of </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.nextpointlawgroup.com/" target="_blank">Nextpoint Law Group</a></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, overseeing its senior lawyers and consultants in the areas of ediscovery, litigation support, and case analytics. As a former big firm partner and founder of a commercial litigation boutique, Andy has represented Fortune 500 companies and SMB’s across the U.S. in a broad array of matters, including construction claims and insurance coverage disputes. Andy can be reached at <a href="mailto:agreene@nextpointlawgroup.com" target="_blank">agreene@nextpointlawgroup.com</a>.</span></i></div></span></i></div></span></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2443379-7fff-05c1-3812-1a8a7f359c2c"><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Sonali Hanson</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> is </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.nextpointlawgroup.com/" target="_blank">Nextpoint Law Group’s</a></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> Managing Director of eDiscovery Services. With over 11 years of experience in the legal field, she has deep experience at the intersection of law, data and technology. She has assisted construction law firms across the country with complex discovery issues, including predictive coding, ESI protocols, data collection, data mining, collections and production. Sonali can be reached at <a href="mailto:sray@nextpointlawgroup.com">sray@nextpointlawgroup.com</a>.</span></span></i></div></i></span></span></div></span></span></div></span>Nextpointhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04397988239723062174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-41584688648475218972024-01-16T01:00:00.000-05:002024-01-16T09:36:42.130-05:00Meet the Forum's In-House Counsel: KATE GOLDEN<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8WJkROqitlSu7abZm-EE7AfQGsmb1gaykB2DXyBXq2jowN_jrS9sloci1ISCvUF03-kdAAHybiOjEqXTlBdSVHNMggl99deoZXoZWGTzc9QxJVhgxmFmCwJBAbTBWPOmTpKjSADdJhbQJAWpn-YFPdMk5UcJ_cid88weDZI9-Wn1h6sCy53xaQ5IVlkR/s1835/2023%20Kate%20Golden%20(headshot).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="1806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8WJkROqitlSu7abZm-EE7AfQGsmb1gaykB2DXyBXq2jowN_jrS9sloci1ISCvUF03-kdAAHybiOjEqXTlBdSVHNMggl99deoZXoZWGTzc9QxJVhgxmFmCwJBAbTBWPOmTpKjSADdJhbQJAWpn-YFPdMk5UcJ_cid88weDZI9-Wn1h6sCy53xaQ5IVlkR/s320/2023%20Kate%20Golden%20(headshot).jpg" width="315" /></a></div></div></b></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Company</b><b>:</b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mortenson</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Email:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="mailto:kate.golden@mortenson.com">kate.golden@mortenson.com</a></span><span style="text-align: left;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Website:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.mortenson.com/">www.mortenson.com</a></span><a href="http://www.lobar.com" style="text-align: left;"><br /></a><b style="text-align: left;">College: </b><span style="text-align: left;">University of Iowa (Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1991)<br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Graduate School:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> University of Minnesota (Master of Science in Civil Engineering, 1994)<br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><b style="text-align: left;">Law School: </b><span style="text-align: left;">William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell </span></span>|
Hamline School of Law)<span style="text-align: left;"> (JD 1999)</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: left;">States Where Company Operates/Does Business:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> Mortenson is a national builder and developer with 13 regional office locations.</span></span></div></div></div><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>:
Describe your background and the path you took to becoming in-house counsel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In high school, I loved
math and science, so I attended the University of Iowa College of Engineering
and studied civil engineering, with a focus on environmental engineering. To practice environmental engineering at that
time, you generally needed a master’s degree, so I attended the University of
Minnesota, where my thesis for my degree program was “Organochlorines in Lake
Michigan.” I then worked as an
environmental engineer for a consulting firm called Montgomery Watson (now MWH)
assisting clients with various environmental issues from air permitting to
watershed reports to risk assessments of contaminated sites. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I went to law school
thinking environmental law might be my practice area, but then I joined Faegre
and discovered construction law. I had
the privilege to work with and learn from Phil Bruner and Pat O’Connor on
various matters, and was involved in cite checking chapters of their
treatise then under development. While
at Faegre, I focused on dispute resolution of construction matters, and
transactional advice to owners and material suppliers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p>While I found the law firm experience much more
enjoyable than I anticipated, my long-term goal was always to go in-house. I joined the Mortenson in-house legal
department in 2006, as the second attorney.
We are now a team of 18, including 11 lawyers. Joining Mortenson made my career path make
sense!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>: How does working in-house compare or differ from firm life? </span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What I love about
working in-house is being closer to the business, and as a result, being able to
provide insightful legal advice that is specifically targeted and directly
impactful. I enjoy translating legal
requirements into easily understood guidance, capturing concepts or
compromises in contract language, and helping solve problems.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Being in-house, I occasionally miss reading cases and writing briefs in
advocacy of a position (truly practicing law).
I often describe what we do as being “a mile wide and an inch deep.” I
need to know a little bit about many legal areas, so I can: (a) quickly triage an
issue and determine if I can answer it with my legal knowledge; (b) answer it with
a limited amount of work; or (c) dig in further and even consult with
a legal expert.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What kind of work does your company do? Do you focus on specific sectors, states or regions? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Mortenson is a construction industry leader in
markets like sports facilities, renewable energy (i.e., wind, solar, and
storage facilities), data centers, and healthcare.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q: What are the work/business-related issues that tend to keep you up at night? </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A:<b> </b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The issues on my mind today are the Corporate
Transparency Act and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) requirements (particularly new California laws). One thing I love about being in-house is that
by next week it will likely be something else!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q:
What advice would you give to outside counsel about how to meet or even exceed their client's expectations? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">To meet or exceed
their client’s expectations, outside counsel should: (1) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">understand
what success looks like for their client with respect to the matter(s) being
handled; (2) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">be a problem
solver; (3) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">listen
and work with the client, especially if the first approach or solution you propose will not
work for that business; (4) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">be
experts in their fields, but also recognize we might have expertise too, and we
might expect to collaborate to develop the best plan of action; (5) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">provide
drafts of briefs or significant correspondence 1-2 weeks in advance of filing
or transmitting; (6) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">anticipate
and prepare for various possible outcomes (we don’t like surprises); (7) </span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">understand
how to estimate and manage legal costs, and be a project manager of the matter; and (8) </span><span style="text-align: left;">be
smart and reasonable in the eyes of the court or other decision maker.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: What is your biggest pet peeve about working with outside counsel? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My greatest
frustration with outside counsel is not having sufficient time to review work
product prior to filing or transmitting.
My success is your success, so give me the opportunity to help you be
successful (and help both of us avoid frustrating company business leaders). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Also, it seems like
a little thing, but it is remarkable to me when outside counsel do not include
contact information, especially a preferred phone number, on <u>all</u> emails
(including, and especially, reply emails). In a fast-paced environment, the
time it takes to track down your phone number may cause me to not call you, or
to call someone else.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q: What is your experience litigating or arbitrating construction disputes? Was your experience generally positive or negative? Why? <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I represented clients
involved in various construction matters in mediations, arbitrations, and litigation
prior to going in-house. My experience
was generally positive, but like all attorneys, I can recall occasions of
unnecessary vitriol from opposing counsel. Zealous advocacy can occur without personalizing or demonizing other
advocates.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A
specific positive memory involved my first jury trial (as a second chair)
representing an architectural firm. I
had worked for nearly 2 years on the case, and at the time of scheduling the
trial, I was pregnant with my third son. The court’s docket had us setting the
trial a couple of weeks after my due date. The first chair partner (male) asked the judge to postpone the trial
until after my maternity leave. The
judge (female) knew of my involvement in the case on various motions and was
agreeable. Opposing counsel (male), who had been difficult in many circumstances throughout the case, was also
agreeable. I’m grateful for that opportunity
and the adjustment the lawyers and judge made.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q: What is your company or your department doing in the area of DEI?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Our legal department and company are engaged in
a number of DEI activities. We recently
became a Mansfield Certified in-house department, the first in-house
construction company legal department to do so. We are also involved in Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, an
organization helping legal employers working together to build a vibrant,
diverse, and inclusive legal community in the Twin Cities. Additionally, we engage with
NAMWOLF to help us identify minority and women owned law firms when we need legal
services.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q: What are some of your interests or hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I’m a proud Iowa Hawkeye. My husband and I both
graduated from the University of Iowa College of Engineering, and my 3 sons are either currently attending or have graduated from the University of Iowa College of Engineering.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><hr color="grey" size="1" style="text-align: center;" width="90%" /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><i><span>Assistant Editor-in-Chief </span><a href="https://www.stinson.com/people-JessicaKnox" style="text-align: left;">Jessica Knox</a> is a Partner in the Minneapolis office at <a href="https://www.stinson.com/" style="text-align: left;">Stinson LLP</a>.</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">She represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in litigation disputes. Jessica can be contacted at jessica.knox@stinson.com. </i></div></div>Jessica Knoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16491251664433067133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-5835349578514961412024-01-10T10:39:00.005-05:002024-01-10T15:10:22.389-05:00 If a Defect Occurs During Construction, Is It an "Occurrence?" <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">E<span style="font-size: medium;">stablishing
insurance coverage for construction defects is almost as important as establishing
liability in the underlying construction defect litigation itself.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
risk to the defendant contractor of defending a construction claim can place
significant burdens on a contractor’s operations and an uninsured judgment might
even put the contractor out of business.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">For
owners, suing a contractor for construction defects can become academic if
there is no prospect of insurance coverage; obtaining a $1 million judgment
against a contractor with limited assets would be a pyrrhic victory.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtJW8cxM_X-sRy7rSMWANSp0iDhNP9WqD3Lr3_XTxuYy7M1-5Ncf2DmETHxDod0-Exo07kzsjcUiAEskMhtLDpXl6Hbyl1EIEfROGHZdaU31OcySnWhMF9McZDUknw-5ivQxEpTw5oGpngXVoPyFwaN_TPcvjO0I0oYXMhN2moenwNZCySOAPPSI6sq9k/s3992/pexels-steffen-coonan-2098624.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2242" data-original-width="3992" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtJW8cxM_X-sRy7rSMWANSp0iDhNP9WqD3Lr3_XTxuYy7M1-5Ncf2DmETHxDod0-Exo07kzsjcUiAEskMhtLDpXl6Hbyl1EIEfROGHZdaU31OcySnWhMF9McZDUknw-5ivQxEpTw5oGpngXVoPyFwaN_TPcvjO0I0oYXMhN2moenwNZCySOAPPSI6sq9k/w400-h225/pexels-steffen-coonan-2098624.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Commercial
General Liability (CGL) carriers are obligated to defend claims that
potentially fall within the coverage granted by the policy.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/bwitry/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/1ZHOYPTW/TDR%20CGL%20insurance%20coverage.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
When presented with a claim, CGL insurers typically have three options: (1)
assume the defense without reservation; (2) assume the defense asserting
defenses to coverage, and depending on the state, reserving the right to recover
defense costs if it later determines there is no duty to defend; or (3) deny
the claim outright and seek a declaratory judgment holding that the insurer has
no duty to defend or indemnify. An insurer may deny the claim outright and not
seek a declaratory judgment, but does so at its peril because it can expose the
insurer to significant liability if the insured later shows the insurer in fact
had a duty to defend.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In construction defect cases,
claims typically arise from “occurrences” under the “property damage” coverage
afforded by CGL policies. Whether a claim involves an “occurrence” such that
there is “property damage” varies from state to state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In
some states, damage to the contractor’s defective work itself will be deemed an
“occurrence.” In others, there must be damage to property other than the work
itself (i.e., personal property of the owner/tenant) before an occurrence will
be found. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Black & Vetach Corporation v. Apsen Insurance (Uk) Ltd., </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">882
F.3d 952 (10</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Cir. 2018) (construing New York law to suggest that a
subcontractor’s defective work damaging others’ work could be an occurrence).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The
law in a handful of states (e.g., Kentucky) is that virtually no occurrence can ever be
the result from faulty workmanship. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">See</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Cincinnati Ins. Co. v.
Motorists Mut. Ins. Co.</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 306 S.W.3d 69 (Ky. 2010); </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Martin/Elias
Properties LLC v. Acuity</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 544 S.W.3d 639 (Ky. 2018) (because contractors
intended to build a structure and had control over the construction, the faulty
workmanship is not “accident[al]” so as to qualify as an occurrence).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-indent: 0.5in;">Notwithstanding
the Kentucky approach, in recent years, the trend has been for more states to
recognize a duty to defend in construction defect cases.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In
</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Acuity v. M/I Homes of Chicago, LLC</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 2023 IL 129087, the Illinois Supreme
Court recently clarified that defective work causing property damage is an
occurrence, overruling decades of patchwork appellate decisions. The Illinois
Supreme Court expressly rejected the notion that there must be damage to other
property besides the work.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The Michigan
Supreme Court held similarly after analyzing the changes of the 1986 changes to
the CGL policy-language in </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Skanska USA Building Inc., v. MAP Mechanics
Contractors, Inc.,</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> 952 N.W 2d. 402 (Mich 2020).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">T</span>his patchwork approach can be
challenging to navigate. Given that CGL policies offer nationwide coverage and
typically lack a choice of law provision, they may invoke difficult
choice-of-law issues, as well. However, as construction litigators, we would be
doing our clients a disservice if we do not attempt to understand them.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></p><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[endif]-->
</span><div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/bwitry/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/1ZHOYPTW/TDR%20CGL%20insurance%20coverage.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
CGL insurers typically have a broader obligation to defend than to indemnify,
even if the merits of the suit are suspect.</span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Editor <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/brendan-witry/">Brendan J. Witry</a> is an Associate at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/">Laurie & Brennan LLP</a>. His practice focuses exclusively on representing and advising owners, contractors, and trade contractors in construction disputes at all stages. </span></i></p></div>
</div>Brendan J. Witryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607736416151855583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-49377554538556260242023-12-19T09:37:00.000-05:002023-12-19T09:37:01.091-05:00Message from the Chair: Kelsey Funes (Volume II)<p><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIuNYe8JRQjUamQw20vRA0zfS4pQqbFWSqyPxKbkAOKQD0aTvOsFYVd8kupuHUaMhMsRibF2UWa0uMKa7cooo1oCCbSCh1O6kg1SYrKQ-kHWCpAKq9VmywpKeLxediFW4V-nn4GNUzidptBypx0tn0Uf6grIKbNc1sn0169o12AX13MdXI7Q2MQ_Ig00/s421/funes-kelsey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIuNYe8JRQjUamQw20vRA0zfS4pQqbFWSqyPxKbkAOKQD0aTvOsFYVd8kupuHUaMhMsRibF2UWa0uMKa7cooo1oCCbSCh1O6kg1SYrKQ-kHWCpAKq9VmywpKeLxediFW4V-nn4GNUzidptBypx0tn0Uf6grIKbNc1sn0169o12AX13MdXI7Q2MQ_Ig00/s320/funes-kelsey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">With the end of another year
upon us, I am taking stock of 2023 and thinking about how I can make 2024 even
better. Like many of you, I had a busy litigation calendar in 2023. In addition
to a challenging work schedule, I also had the opportunity to travel to Forum
meetings in Puerto Rico, Vancouver and Washington, DC where I attended great
substantive programs and participated in fun D1 social events. Taking on the
role of D1 chair this year also gave me the opportunity to take a closer look
at every aspect of D1’s activities. And D1 accomplished a lot this year—two
practicums, three lunch programs, three social events, five Toolbox Talks, and more than 45 blog posts, including features on five neutrals, four consultants and three in-house counsel.</div></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Despite an impressive list of
activities this year, D1 still has a lot more to offer in 2024. In Las Vegas,
we will have a craps lesson and cocktails at the Venetian and will learn how to
resolve the unique disputes that arise in power projects. In New Orleans, we
will host an interesting practicum on the art of persuasion and learn what
science can teach us about how factfinders make decisions. We will kick off our
next three-part practicum series in Pittsburgh. This practicum series will
offer hands-on training on best practices in construction discovery including
document collection and production, interviews and depositions of fact
witnesses and expert witnesses. In addition to these live programs, the Dispute Resolver blog team already has a stellar content line up and planning
has begun for additional installments of our Toolbox Talk Series. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Even though our talented D1ers
have created and sustained an impressive level of written product and
presentations, the law is always evolving meaning there are always
new things for us to learn and share to become the best construction lawyers. Working
in the business of resolving complex construction disputes can be hard. So,
what else do we need to learn and share with one another to help us improve?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My husband and I are raising
teenagers which can also be hard. Recently he shared with me the video of Duke
Women’s Basketball Coach Kara Lawson talking with her team about the reality
that hard things in life don’t get easier. Instead, we learn how to handle hard
better. She is coaching her players to
“become someone that handles hard stuff better.” (You can check it out here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzfZOfNki4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzfZOfNki4</a>)
That is a great lesson for my kids but for me, too. Couldn’t we all use some
coaching at times? Some of the best coaching I have gotten as a lawyer has been
from the Forum. The Forum, through its programs and the mentors and friends I
have made there, have helped me learn how to do hard better. <o:p></o:p></span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNWGonxIp5Z75S1RDjJbAKrKZAv2z96Dy9okGlQ0_99FPLTQPCy4cRmAmaxiDlz7EHQ2wYOMDOr1sDLC3QDwTLjh0nP3RrA5PbNxcaf8v5ZEAasIMXwsxqsfJGA1wc0x7CbYKpmZpepHhSeZ0VufBWDLuCqvESiAPd18gdlZc98eIi3uvDWWTFUKrFI8/s548/Funes%20Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="394" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNWGonxIp5Z75S1RDjJbAKrKZAv2z96Dy9okGlQ0_99FPLTQPCy4cRmAmaxiDlz7EHQ2wYOMDOr1sDLC3QDwTLjh0nP3RrA5PbNxcaf8v5ZEAasIMXwsxqsfJGA1wc0x7CbYKpmZpepHhSeZ0VufBWDLuCqvESiAPd18gdlZc98eIi3uvDWWTFUKrFI8/w288-h400/Funes%20Christmas.jpg" width="288" /></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>What can we do in 2024 to learn
how to do hard things better? For </span><span style="text-align: left;">starters, we can help more people to create
connections in Division 1. I have found that the best way for me to get value
from my membership and build meaningful relationships was by rolling up my
sleeves and helping to do the work of the Forum. There are a ton of
opportunities. If you have something to write about, consider the blog. Want to
plan a social event, lunch presentation or practicum? Raise your hand at a
meeting or email me. Would you like to one day speak at a national or regional
meeting of the Forum? Start by volunteering to be a session coordinator in
2023. To do that, you can reach out to Michael Clark (</span><a href="mailto:mclark@siegfriedrivera.com" style="text-align: left;">mclark@siegfriedrivera.com</a><span style="text-align: left;">),
Tom Dunn (</span><a href="mailto:rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com" style="text-align: left;">rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com</a><span style="text-align: left;">), or Keith Bergeron (</span><a href="mailto:kbergeron@deutschkerrigan.com" style="text-align: left;">kbergeron@deutschkerrigan.com</a><span style="text-align: left;">).</span></span></p><p></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">As we cruise through the end of this year, I
wish each of you a peaceful holiday season full of time with family and
friends. See you in Las Vegas!</div></span>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-63201611676481579912023-12-12T08:27:00.005-05:002023-12-12T08:31:50.020-05:00Meet the Forum's ADR Neutrals: LESLIE KING O'NEAL<p><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8BjoiTvMU_QJ29zNn8B4OeF_YWk9kqurc8rjJe6s91uXYOnaX4BIsaAptzBflnlgwADutS1CDCwKTV5s8dJ4HWQFcswpK2LfMpvmPvgs7mRzjKC1qUlrRtRSDEDdo6Uq-3Mq4VUau4Wi9B0RM9hTDz30YDya4RZpca2AdPW_p-8eYbjZTwpcqlOqmn0/s4000/Leslie.Oneal_1400_v2%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8BjoiTvMU_QJ29zNn8B4OeF_YWk9kqurc8rjJe6s91uXYOnaX4BIsaAptzBflnlgwADutS1CDCwKTV5s8dJ4HWQFcswpK2LfMpvmPvgs7mRzjKC1qUlrRtRSDEDdo6Uq-3Mq4VUau4Wi9B0RM9hTDz30YDya4RZpca2AdPW_p-8eYbjZTwpcqlOqmn0/w400-h320/Leslie.Oneal_1400_v2%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Company</span></b><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span>:</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">JAMS</span></span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span>Office Location</span></b><b><span>:</span></b><b> </b><span>Orlando, FL</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Email: </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><a href="mailto:lkoneal1117@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: verdana;">lkoneal1117@gmail.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://wrvblaw.com/attorney_/william-e-franczek/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><b>Website:</b><span> </span></span></a></span><a href="https://www.jamsadr.com/oneal/"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.jamsadr.com/oneal/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Law School:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">University of Florida, J.D. (1977)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Types of ADR services offered:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation</span></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>Geographic area served:</b> </span><span>Nationwide</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>: Describe the path you took to becoming an ADR neutral.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Florida was one of the first states to allow judges to send civil cases to mediation. When I was an advocate, nearly all my cases went to mediation at least once—sometimes more than once! I became a firm believer in the value of mediation and other ADR methods. I became a Florida certified circuit court mediator in 2021 and I joined JAMS in 2022, after retiring as in-house counsel with Brasfield & Gorrie, a large commercial general contractor. I am also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School, teaching arbitration theory and practice in its master of dispute resolution and master of laws programs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What adversities did you have to overcome to succeed in your practice and get where you are today?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: When I started practicing law, there were very few women doing litigation and even fewer doing construction litigation, so I experienced some gender bias. However, I found that construction clients accepted me once they realized I knew what I was doing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What sets you apart from other ADR professionals?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: The depth and breadth of my experience with all types of construction, insurance, and surety claims. When I was an advocate and when I was in house, I was involved in dozens of mediations of all types: insurance coverage claims, personal injury claims, various types of construction disputes and surety bond claims. I have mediated similar types of claims with JAMS, particularly insurance claims and subcontractor disputes. Likewise, I have been involved in numerous construction arbitrations as an advocate, as in house counsel, and as an arbitrator. Specifically, I have arbitrated construction defect cases, subcontractor/general contractor/surety delay and default claims and contract disputes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: Mediators are oftentimes described as “facilitative,” “evaluative,” or “transformative.” Do you have a style?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: I think mediators must adapt their style to the particular case and the parties. I look at the parties’ interests, relationships, and goals in working toward resolution.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: Do you have any practices that you find make you particularly effective as a mediator?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: In construction cases, pre-mediation conferences with the parties improve the chances for success in mediation. The parties need to have sufficient information to make informed decisions. I always try to have at least one conference with each party (including insurers or sureties) before mediation to ensure this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What techniques and strategies do you use to help parties overcome impasse?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: There are books about this topic because there are many different techniques. I have found using role reversal, using trial balloons and bracketing can be effective.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What can attorneys do to best position their clients for a successful mediation outcome?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Attorneys need to work with their clients to prepare for mediation. Even sophisticated clients may have little knowledge or understanding of the mediation process. Advance preparation for mediation through information exchange with other parties is important. Attorneys and clients should discuss their expectations for mediation and their negotiation strategy—but they must understand the need to be flexible.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: When do you recommend parties in a dispute attempt mediation?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: This varies, but in my experience, there should be sufficient information exchange (not full-blown discovery) for the parties (and their insurers) to make informed settlement decisions. The earlier this can occur, the better.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What should attorneys and their clients take into consideration when selecting an arbitrator?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: The arbitrator’s background and experience are important but I think case management skills are equally important and often overlooked.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What measures do you take as an arbitrator to ensure arbitration is less costly and more efficient to litigation?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Developing a detailed, realistic case management plan at the preliminary hearing is essential. I encourage parties to limit depositions and to do phased and targeted document discovery, particularly in e-discovery. To reduce hearing time, I suggest using witness statements for direct testimony, using summaries of voluminous documents, using witness panels, using joint expert testimony, and using a chess clock to divide time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: In what way do you use technology in the arbitration process?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Zoom and similar platforms have made virtual arbitrations or hybrid arbitrations the norm. Real time transcripts are valuable in hearings. I am investigating the use of AI tools to summarize long documents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What do you think the future of arbitration will look like?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: I think use of online arbitration platforms will become more common. I also think that use of AI in the arbitration context will expand; that said, I don’t think AI will replace arbitrators or lawyers anytime soon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: If you were going to draft your own dispute resolution clause in a construction law contract, what points would you include (or exclude)?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: I would suggest a stepped negotiation process with mediation as an option; if this fails, the dispute goes to arbitration. Key points for the arbitration clause: (1) make it definite (I don’t like “optional” arbitration clauses); (2) define the scope; I prefer broad arbitration clauses; (3) specify the arbitration provider and applicable rules (ad hoc arbitrations can be tricky); and (4) provide for finality (the arbitration award should be final and binding and subject to confirmation as a final judgment).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What are some of your interests or hobbies?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: I love to travel. I also enjoy cooking and reading, particularly biographies.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-align: left;"><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Editor-in-Chief Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</i></div></div>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-16604469005954432782023-12-05T17:03:00.007-05:002023-12-06T07:51:51.239-05:00The Importance of the Recent Amendment to Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTwHqz0oqU79bZjBAS0Ask6jD5bendZjfu_4PCMgC2m81KfhxBirz3sB2yNh7AiFZ3jTCq40vgNMGfQ068ojJRklPCG90UUWnoqCAlw2WZd9X9_Fvy1uTNx5MenuCVELTeSF0C2GNBMNhwGav3_OuBOSJGqoaCJ4ofeuvvbyyfKQeFvbNpllV2Ode4dQ/s5472/pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-6077326.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTwHqz0oqU79bZjBAS0Ask6jD5bendZjfu_4PCMgC2m81KfhxBirz3sB2yNh7AiFZ3jTCq40vgNMGfQ068ojJRklPCG90UUWnoqCAlw2WZd9X9_Fvy1uTNx5MenuCVELTeSF0C2GNBMNhwGav3_OuBOSJGqoaCJ4ofeuvvbyyfKQeFvbNpllV2Ode4dQ/w400-h266/pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-6077326.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">Every
litigator understands that expert witnesses play a key role in litigation,
especially when dealing with construction issues.</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">Expert testimony at trial can be a deciding
factor in persuading a judge or jury in your client’s favor.</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">It is so important that, as parties get
closer to trial, litigators often spend considerable time filing motions to
limit or disqualify certain aspects of expert testimony in an effort to gain an
advantage at trial.</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">Because experts are
a key aspect of the trial process, it is important to understand the various
rules governing use of expert testimony, primarily Rule 702 of the Federal
Rules of Evidence. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">On
December 1, 2023, amendments to Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence went
into effect which added the language in underline below and removed the language
which is crossed out:</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Rule
702. Testimony by Expert Witness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A witness who is qualified
as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may
testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if <u>the proponent demonstrates
to the court that it is more likely than not that</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(a) the expert’s
scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of
fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(b) the testimony is based
on sufficient facts or data;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(c) the testimony is the
product of reliable principles and methods; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(d) the <s>expert has
reliably applied</s> <u>expert’s opinion reflects a reliable application of</u>
the principles and methods to the facts of the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Clarification
on the Admissibility Standard<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The
Committee Note<a href="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/920SS23V/12.4.23%20Blog.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[i]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> for Rule 702 indicates
that the amendments were necessary to clarify and emphasize that expert
testimony may not be admitted unless the proponent can demonstrate to the Court
that it is more likely than not that the proffered testimony meets the
admissibility requirements set forth in Rule 104 – the preponderance of the
evidence standard. Thus, admissibility of expert testimony must be established
by a preponderance of evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It
was noted that many courts were following an incorrect application of Rules 702
and 104(a) finding that questions as to the sufficiency of an expert’s basis
and application of methodology were questions of weight and not admissibility. However,
the Committee clearly stated that the sufficiency of an expert’s basis and the
application of a methodology implicate questions of admissibility and not weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However,
once a court has found it more likely than not that the admissibility requirement
has been met, any attack on the expert opinion will only go to the weight of
the evidence and not the admissibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Clarification
to Rule 702(a)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Rule
702(a) always required that the expert’s scientific, technical, or other
specialized knowledge help the trier of fact understand the evidence or to
determine a fact in issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this
requirement was unchanged, the Committee clarified that this requirement should
be applied exactly as worded; the testimony need only “help” the trier of fact.
The Committee rejected the attempt to impose a higher bar, noting that some
courts applied an incorrect standard that required the expert’s testimony
“appreciably help” the trier of fact. The Committee noted that any standard
other than “helpfulness” is unnecessarily strict and was not the standard under
Rule 702(a).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Amendment
to Rule 702(d) <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Rule
702(d) was amended to emphasize that an expert opinion must stay within the
bounds of what can be concluded from a “reliable application” of the expert’s
methodology. The Committee focused on the role of judicial gatekeeping to limit
an expert’s opinions to one that is based on a reliable application of the
methodology. The Committee noted the importance of “gatekeeping” because jurors
may lack the specialized knowledge to (1) meaningfully evaluate the reliability
of an expert’s methods utilized for an opinion and (2) determine if/when an
expert’s opinion goes beyond what the expert’s methodology may reliably
support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The
amendment further recognized the court’s authority to pass judgment on the
conclusions that the expert has drawn from the methodology. The Committee’s
amendment is in line with the holding of <i>General Electric Co. v. Joiner</i>,
522 U.S. 136 (1997) that a trial court must not only consider the expert’s
methodology but must also consider the expert’s conclusion—so the methodology
must be reliably applied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The
amendment does not impose any new procedures. Rather, the amendment clarifies
that Rule 104(a) preponderance of the evidence standard applies to expert
opinions under Rule 702. The court’s role is not to “nitpick” an expert’s
opinion to reach “a perfect expression” of what the expert’s methodology can
support. Rather, the amendment does not permit an expert to make claims that
are simply not supported by the expert’s methodology.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
sum, expert testimony cannot be presumed admissible; rather the proponent
(attorney) must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the expert’s
testimony—the methodology and principles—are reliable and the expert “reliably
applied” their methodology and principles to the case at issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Even though the amendment did not take effect until December 1, 2023, courts
have already started to recognize the amendments in their rulings.<a href="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/920SS23V/12.4.23%20Blog.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ii]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The weight of prior precedent may be diminished if based on a prior
incorrect application of Rule 702 that is in conflict with the recent
amendments; however, the changes clarify what standards the courts should apply going
forward in evaluating expert testimony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of day, the methodology must
be reliable and the expert must have reliably applied the methodology to the
case at issue. As litigators, we must be prepared to defend the qualifications
of experts, their methodology, and how the expert
applied their methodology.</div></span><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span>Author <a href="https://darcyvicknair.com/attorneys/andrew-vicknair-intellectual-property-lawyer/" target="_blank">Andrew G. Vicknair</a></span><span> is an attorney with </span>D'Arcy Vicknair, LLC<span> in New Orleans, Louisiana. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Andrew focuses his practice on intellectual property, </span></i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><i>commercial, and construction disputes and regularly handles claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, design issues, and general disputes among subcontractors, owners, and general contractors.</i></span></span></div></span><p></p>
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/920SS23V/12.4.23%20Blog.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[i]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2023_congressional_package_april_24_2023_0.pdf#=page210">https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2023_congressional_package_april_24_2023_0.pdf#=page210</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/920SS23V/12.4.23%20Blog.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ii]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i>See Kaneka Corp. v. Designs for Health, Inc., </i>2023 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 131412, *6 (D. Del. 3/3/2023); <i>In re Anderson</i>, No. 15-21681,
2023 Bankr. LEXIS 153, at *3 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 1/19/2023); <i>Qari v. Am. S.S.
Co.</i>, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 154447, *8 (E.D. Mich. 8/31/2023); <i>Edge v.
SRA Mgmt., LLC</i>, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151277, *23 (E.D. Tenn. 8-28-2023).</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-49449474761486331972023-11-28T17:10:00.006-05:002023-12-05T17:16:01.834-05:00Courthouse Reporter Series: Two Recent Cases Address Copyright Protection for Architectural Works<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy84FP6IhPNbdIQO2H1zUI_AkEIR0xfs-p1dhYCoi5J3mTYwEe2wM5fj1ZTuqRzwmv1VbK4IV5VywCRe48WIXIfzC7ARCYrpeM6qJjE6LtAXVAl3DY7wfZ2ZY1xqy-soAPkq5vBYbDrWY1TU2smywvkS_2YrvzSxjXcux9xLKxKKvyjKtUM-IneVz6_Q/s4921/pexels-alena-darmel-7642117.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4921" data-original-width="3281" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy84FP6IhPNbdIQO2H1zUI_AkEIR0xfs-p1dhYCoi5J3mTYwEe2wM5fj1ZTuqRzwmv1VbK4IV5VywCRe48WIXIfzC7ARCYrpeM6qJjE6LtAXVAl3DY7wfZ2ZY1xqy-soAPkq5vBYbDrWY1TU2smywvkS_2YrvzSxjXcux9xLKxKKvyjKtUM-IneVz6_Q/w266-h400/pexels-alena-darmel-7642117.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Recent decisions by the Seventh Circuit and the Eight Circuit have
addressed the scope of protection afforded to architectural works under
copyright law. <span style="background: white;">The Seventh Circuit case
of </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3d3d3d; padding: 0in;">Design Basics, LLC v. Signature Constr., Inc.</span></i>, 994
F.3d 879 (7th Cir. 2021), took a somewhat narrow view of the copyright
protection afforded to the design of an “affordable, multipurpose, suburban,
single-family home.” <span style="background: white;">In <i>Designworks
Homes, Inc. v. Columbia House of Brokers Realty, Inc</i>., 9 F.4th 803 (8th
Cir. 2021), <i>cert. denied</i>, 142 S. Ct. 2888, 213 L. Ed. 2d 1103
(2022) the Eight Circuit held that the publication of floor plans of a house in
a real estate listing was not protected from claims of copyright infringement.</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3d3d3d; padding: 0in;">Design Basics, LLC v. Signature Constr., Inc.</span></i>,<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3d3d3d; padding: 0in;"> </span></i>involved
a plaintiff that the court described as holding registered copyrights in
thousands of floor plans for suburban, single-family homes that are basic
schematic designs, largely conceptual in nature, and depict layouts for one-
and two-story single-family homes that include the typical rooms: a kitchen, a
dining area, a great room, a few bedrooms, bathrooms, a laundry area, a garage,
stairs, assorted closets, etc. The court described the plaintiff as a
“copyright troll” and noted that litigation proceeds had become the principal
revenue stream for the plaintiff. The plaintiff sued a contractor and related
businesses contending hat the defendants had infringed plaintiff’s copyrighted
floor plans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The court in its analysis stated that Congress
amended the Copyright Act in 1990 to provide for copyright protection for
architectural works. Architectural works are defined under the Act as “the
design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression,
including a building, architectural plans, or drawings. The work includes the
overall form as well as the arrangement and composition of spaces and elements
in the design but does not include individual standard features.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3d3d3d; padding: 0in;">Design Basics, </span></i><span style="background: white;">court noted that to establish copyright infringement, two elements
must be proven: (1) ownership of a valid copyright; and (2) copying of the
constituent elements of the work that are original. The first element in that
case was not disputed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">In addressing the copying of the constituent
elements of the work that are original, </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3d3d3d; padding: 0in;">the court looked to</span><span style="background: white;"> two questions: (1) whether the defendant copied the
plaintiff’s protected work; and (2) whether the copying went so far as to
constitute improper appropriation.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">To answer the first question, the court held that
plaintiff must show that the defendant copied the work. This is generally
established through circumstantial evidence that the defendant had access to
the plaintiff’s work and that there is enough similarity between the
plaintiff’s work and the defendant’s work to support a reasonable inference of
copying. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The second question (whether the copying
went so far as to constitute improper appropriation) required substantial
similarities between the defendant’s work and the protected elements in the
plaintiff’s work.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The court noted that “standard features” or <i>scènes
à faire</i> are </span>elements that are commonplace, standard, or so
unavoidable that they do not distinguish one work from another, and that such
elements are not entitled to<span style="background: white;"> copyright
protection. The court held that “standard features” or <i>scènes à faire</i> in
house plans include the arrangement of the rooms: the kitchen is always close
to the dining room; the bedrooms will usually be clumped together and near a
bathroom; the door from the garage into the house usually leads to the kitchen
rather than the great room or living room. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The court also held that the “merger doctrine”
prevents the use of copyright to protect ideas or procedures. If an idea can
only be expressed in a few ways, then it would be possible to copyright every
one of its expressions. In such a case, under the “merger doctrine,” the
expression of that idea cannot receive copyright protection.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">The court went on to hold that the plaintiff, by
copyrighting 2800 floor plans for affordable, multipurpose, suburban,
single-family homes was attempting to occupy the entire field. As a
result, the court found that the copyright protection for its plans was “thin,”
and that any proof of unlawful appropriation would require more than
substantial similarity, but would require “virtually identical” plans. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In <i>Designworks Homes, Inc. v. Columbia House of Brokers
Realty, Inc</i>., 9 F.4th 803 (8th Cir. 2021), <i>cert. denied</i>, 142 S.
Ct. 2888, 213 L. Ed. 2d 1103 (2022), <span style="background: white;">a
homebuilder that was the owner of a copyright in a home design filed suit for
copyright infringement against two real estate companies. The real estate
companies had been engaged by the owners of two of the houses constructed by
the plaintiff to assist the owners in selling their homes. During the process
of listing the homes for sale, the real estate companies, either directly or
through a contractor, produced sketches of the homes’ floorplans and
incorporated images of those floorplans in the listings for potential buyers to
consider.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white;">At issue was an exception to the copyright
protection afforded architectural works which provides that the copyright
protection for an architectural work that has been constructed does not prevent
another party from making, distributing, or displaying pictures, paintings,
photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work if the building in
which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public
place.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Eighth Circuit held that the floor plans did
not constitute a permissible pictorial representation of the architectural
works, because floorplans should not be considered “pictures.” The court noted
that the copyright statutes as a whole reveals that Congress knew how to
describe floorplans with more specificity than by simply referring to them as
“pictures,” and that the floor plans should be characterized as “technical
drawings” or “architectural plans,” rather than as “pictures.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 200%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
</span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Author and Editor </span><a href="https://www.phelps.com/professionals/stuart-richeson.html" style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;">Stu Richeson</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: 0.5in;"> is an attorney in the litigation
section of Phelps Dunbar’s New Orleans office, primarily focusing on commercial
litigation with an emphasis on construction matters, intellectual property
issues and insurance.</span></i></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span><p></p>Stu Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03246898074058363227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-16414808309021682712023-11-21T11:07:00.005-05:002023-11-21T11:35:04.555-05:00Courthouse Reporter Series: The Bizarre Case That Required a 117-Year-Old Expert<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYuS-hxRsH1voG39kQ9ZxjSdQwAew4ydIfufAaHqn72riw1QuxGt2IKibhv4on9Icixj45iU54vQJWIN62yuIulVJBGANndMhdifBMePhThA_Ev08PnJ32QRN-h_tAptJUM2djrtUyaKwwTXTD99S9_IkMeBlX9ttZ5IlRb_doaNCjVHthwHNyE7Qio4/s2835/pexels-sergio-souza-6635591.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYuS-hxRsH1voG39kQ9ZxjSdQwAew4ydIfufAaHqn72riw1QuxGt2IKibhv4on9Icixj45iU54vQJWIN62yuIulVJBGANndMhdifBMePhThA_Ev08PnJ32QRN-h_tAptJUM2djrtUyaKwwTXTD99S9_IkMeBlX9ttZ5IlRb_doaNCjVHthwHNyE7Qio4/w320-h400/pexels-sergio-souza-6635591.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">A recent decision
by the Georgia Court of Appeals, <i>Munro v. Georgia Department of
Transportation</i>, highlights how overly specific and inflexible rules of
evidence can create peculiar results. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Munro</i> involved a dispute over the design of a
Georgia intersection. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>No. A23A0404, 2023 WL 4194716 (Ga. Ct. App. June 27, 2023). </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The plaintiff alleged that the defendant improperly
designed the intersection, never corrected that improper design, and failed to
properly maintain the intersection. These claims were dismissed for a very odd
reason: the plaintiff’s expert witness wasn’t old enough.</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The case arose from a car accident. A vehicle in which the
plaintiff Munro was a passenger collided with a tractor trailer crossing an
intersection. Munro sued the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) for negligently
designing, maintaining, and inspecting the intersection. The DOT filed a motion
to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction on the ground of sovereign
immunity and a motion to exclude the testimony of the Munros’ expert witness,
among other motions. The trial court dismissed the case in full on the sovereign
immunity ground and denied the other motions as moot. The Munros appealed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Georgia Court of Appeals reviewed the trial court’s
ruling on sovereign immunity <i>de novo</i>. It also ruled on DOT’s motion to
exclude the Munros’ expert witness, notwithstanding the trial court’s decision not
to address that motion. In so doing, the Court of Appeals erected substantial
hurdles to successfully stating a claim against the DOT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Munros’ claims had to fit within a statutory exception
to sovereign immunity. In Georgia, the DOT has statutory immunity for losses
resulting from “design for construction of or improvement to . . . public works
where such . . . design is prepared in substantial compliance with generally
accepted engineering or design standards in effect at the time of preparation.”
OCGA § 50-21-24(10). So, to state a viable claim against the DOT, the Munros had
prove that the design of the intersection was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> in substantial compliance with design standards in effect at
the time of preparation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Munros had to find a qualified expert to opine on
these topics. This is where things became interesting. Per Georgia’s Evidence
Code, an expert witness whose testimony is to be used in a professional
malpractice suit must have been licensed at the time of the alleged act or
omission. OCGA § 24-7-702(c)(1). The Munros’ expert’s testimony was deemed
inadmissible to support the claim of negligent design because the expert was
not licensed at the time of design and installation of the intersection. The
expert witness was first licensed in 1969. However, because the intersection was
designed even earlier, the Court of Appeals found that the expert witness’s 54 years of experience were insufficient to qualify him to testify.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Munros also attempted to prove that the DOT failed to
improve the intersection. This claim, too, was foreclosed to them by virtue of
the Munros’ 80-year-old expert’s relative “youth.” Because this claim likewise required
a showing that the original design was negligent—and the Munros did not have an
expert who was licensed long enough to be qualified to testify to this effect—their
failure-to-improve claim also failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To its credit, the Court recognized that its application
of the Evidence Code “effectively destroys an entire class of claims for the
negligent design of roads, as many roads in Georgia were designed long before
any potential living expert witness had been licensed.” Despite this arguably
absurd result, the Court deferred to the intent of the Georgia legislature as
evinced by the text of the statute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Munros ultimately utilized a different exception to
sovereign immunity to successfully assert a negligent inspection claim. Georgia
statutorily waives immunity for losses resulting from inadequate or negligent
inspection of state property. O.C.G.A. § 50-21-24(8). The DOT did not claim
immunity, but instead tried to argue that the negligent inspection claim was so
intertwined with the negligent design claim as to warrant dismissal. Here, the
Court sided with the Munros, noting that the DOT’s duty to keep the
intersection free from visual obstructions (e.g., overgrown bushes), was
distinct from any design responsibilities. The Munros, therefore, were able to
return to the trial court with their negligent inspection claim intact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This decision was not appealed further, which might
mitigate the attention <i>Munro </i>draws to Official Code of Georgia Section
50-21-24(10). Still, it will be interesting to track whether the decision, and
the immortal-expert requirement that the legislature and the court may have
inadvertently created between them, prompts an attempt to amend the Evidence Code.
As things currently stand, assuming one can find an 85-year-old engineer
willing to testify as an expert witness, such engineer likely wasn’t licensed
before age 25, meaning any claims requiring proof that a design done before
approximately 1963 is negligent are foreclosed by the Code. The intersection at issue in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Munro</i> was designed in 1931, meaning the
Munros would have had to find an expert at least 117 years old to be qualified
to testify. This case is a paradigmatic example of enacting a statute with insufficient
thought as to the bizarre results it could produce.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoBodyText3"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></p><hr style="text-align: justify;" /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author <a href="https://www.troutman.com/professionals/todd-heffner.html" target="_blank">Todd Heffner</a> is an associate in <a href="https://www.troutman.com/services/industries/construction/index.html" target="_blank">Troutman Pepper's construction practice group</a>. Todd has devoted his career to serving clients in the construction industry, particularly high-stakes federal court litigation and arbitration.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/divenncilucas/" target="_blank">Di'Vennci Lucas</a> was a 2023 summer associate in <a href="https://www.troutman.com/offices/atlanta.html" target="_blank">Troutman Pepper's Atlanta office</a>.</span></i></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Editor Jane Fox Lehman </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">is a Senior Attorney at <a href="https://www.babcock.com/" target="_blank">The Babcock & Wilcox Company</a>.</span></span></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-85601946402949038162023-11-07T19:13:00.005-05:002023-11-08T12:15:54.715-05:00Consultant Corner: Drones and Artificial Intelligence for Building Inspection in Construction Law<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Drones are becoming increasingly popular for conducting building inspections, as they provide a quick and efficient way to assess the condition of a building and identify any defects or issues. However, in order to extract the maximum value out of autonomous building inspections, drones must be combined with computer vision and data visualization.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="225" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/xFokgMx3VR56SSEEW6fAC1Q3NjjGKbP1n-WuXVop5UEtdMoC6AIXY3g-fR14pAtUrv4y-8CNx_vccOSFz9QWjByyPmCC5bM-m4qtgMpASXmKlD9yL5zaFrXB8c3Xd3WjifsXtSOKpt6jDDHp=w400-h225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 1: Aerial Perspective of Drone Inspection Survey</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f57078ca-7fff-4cc8-2657-6e3ef1255097"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Drone technology allows significantly more area to be inspected in a fraction of the time. Additional technologies such as LIDAR and infrared cameras and AI analysis can help supplement visual inspection information. AI analysis can be particularly useful to alert inspection professionals or their clients where there are red-flag conditions that need to be addressed immediately. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The combination of reality capture and AI analytics software is now used throughout the architectural, engineering and construction space. This technology is being put to use for construction progress inspection, regulatory compliance, historic preservation, risk management and for general repair and maintenance purposes.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f5df7e0-7fff-5f44-3661-93342c5fba3e"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Capturing and Visualizing Large Datasets</b></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While drones may be an attractive solution, anyone who uses them must remember not only the need for an accompanying analytics solution, but also data visualization. The hundreds or thousands of images captured by a drone can be processed through a technology called photogrammetry to deliver a 3D model depicting the as-built condition through a simple 3D visualization, minimizing the need to review thousands of photos. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Owners are realizing that owning their inspection data can be beneficial. Owners can leverage this inspection data to extract insights about adjustments to R&M plans, to increase efficiencies. For example, it might be more efficient to focus maintenance activities more regularly in a specific area on-demand when deterioration is identified rather than on a periodic basis across a whole building.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="341" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/QFTdfjFOi5BV6xmpvZyCgF-Z8_0R4U9cpdqU6bszzS09RHaIgZi35OT6JsaKXm5ml33Xny-86WKbpmU-Xy4WVpMwjxefL1uwS5JBgjAEKbNTAmL5N7462rPi3ZiyaXvOvzdBAkQy4d567DTZ=w640-h341" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 2: Data Visualization and Photogrammetry Tools Together (t2d2.ai)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Inspection data is also valuable when it comes to claims. Performing a complete 100% building envelope inspection can allow for much faster insurance claims processing if the state of a property is documented before a severe weather event. This is also useful when documenting existing conditions prior to adjacent construction. Essentially, this “date stamp” digital-twin of a property’s condition can prove useful in many scenarios, either when there are legal implications or when any building stakeholder has a need to refer back to any point on a building at that time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-e2dbb885-7fff-4499-5f08-4f640c83157f" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Case Studies</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In one example, a cooperative 40-story concrete residential tower was able to use drones and AI to perform a cost-benefit analysis weighing their annual “patch-and-repair” program against a more comprehensive building envelope capital project. Drones provided a comprehensive building assessment that would have taken the engineering firm weeks to complete. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In another example, a large cathedral used drones to monitor exterior conditions on an ongoing basis after completing a significant repair project to minimize deferred maintenance by making sure that conditions do not deteriorate beyond a certain point. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In a third case, a building that recently completed construction used a drone analysis to “date stamp” the building and repeatedly monitor against the baseline to investigate and warranty claims that need to be made prior to the warranty period expiring.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Together, all of these technologies are making AEC professionals, building owners and other property stakeholders better equipped to maintain state-of-good-repair, process claims and take the guesswork out of past conditions.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonehrlich/" target="_blank">Jonathan Ehrlich</a> is</i><span> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">the Chief Executive Officer of <a href="https://t2d2.ai/" target="_blank">T2D2</a>, the
artificial intelligence asset inspection software platform. T2D2 is used by
engineers, architects and building owners to make their inspection workflow
faster, cheaper and more accurate. </span></i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i>Editor </i><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanh-do-ph-d-p-e-8747892a/" target="_blank">Thanh Do</a></i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span> is an Associate in the </span></i></span><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/solution/forensics-investigations" style="color: #f57c00; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Forensics practice</a> </i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span>at</span></i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span> </span><a href="https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/solution/forensics-investigations" style="color: #f57c00; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Thornton Tomasetti, Inc</a><span>. As a structural engineer, </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span>structural failure analyst and investigator, Dr. Thanh Do examines building and infrastructure inadequacies and determines the root cause of the alleged failures. He specializes in design and construction defect evaluations, </span></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)">collapse investigations, </span></i></span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)">Design-Build project delivery, and </span></i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)">standard of care assessment.</span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>Thanh Dohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771948919030808429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-17616326045517179452023-11-02T09:23:00.003-04:002023-11-02T16:52:01.209-04:00Toolbox Talk Series Recap – Using a Measured Mile Analysis to Compare Productivity on a Construction Project<p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgZaVoLtGWNhtFUoLuQi-445Qcg9fDzq18CNyHl-yyGqOISr-f9NPNdKCCl3ERAEzIjIlhN2koUdr0jp_JWXbNw2AxGv299pM5DN4IZVSiKhfANWb7xw9FGzg6nReABAjq9M-vcHn3P0WlvJOlAGki3jam7ZJrmRrjdDY70eeyIyg6Xy8DeWrAogJFWg/s4329/pexels-chanita-sykes-1094545.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="4329" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgZaVoLtGWNhtFUoLuQi-445Qcg9fDzq18CNyHl-yyGqOISr-f9NPNdKCCl3ERAEzIjIlhN2koUdr0jp_JWXbNw2AxGv299pM5DN4IZVSiKhfANWb7xw9FGzg6nReABAjq9M-vcHn3P0WlvJOlAGki3jam7ZJrmRrjdDY70eeyIyg6Xy8DeWrAogJFWg/w200-h134/pexels-chanita-sykes-1094545.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the October 26, 2023 edition of Division 1’s Toolbox
Talk Series, Andrew Vicknair and David Ponte gave an informative presentation
on measuring productivity loss on construction projects. Specifically, they
covered the factors that lead to productivity loss, the various options available
to calculate productivity loss, and when a measured mile approach can be used. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As covered by Vicknair’s slides from the
presentation, factors leading to productivity loss on construction projects
include:</span></div></span>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Schedule Compression</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Multiple contractors working in same
space</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Defective Design</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Change Orders</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Out of Sequence Work</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Changes in crew size</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Poor workmanship</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Excessive overtime</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">FM events</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Scheduling issues</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Weather – not enough to stop work, but
enough to slow progress</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When a construction project incurs any of the above
impacts, a claim for production loss needs support from a quantitative analysis.
Ponte described how a measured mile analysis, if possible, is the “gold
standard.” A measured mile analysis is a comparison of production in an
unimpacted period to the productivity in an impacted period. The primary
requirement for a measured mile approach is the existence of an unimpacted
period of time to establish a baseline productivity for the given construction
project. Ponte explained how there is typically a learning curve in the initial
work performed, regardless of how typical the work is or how experienced the
workers. In the initial days, weeks, or even months of a project, productivity
increases until it reaches a plateau. The unimpacted period needs to be
sufficiently large to get beyond the learning curve and reach the plateau in
order to be representative.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">In addition to the duration of the unimpacted period, a
measured mile analysis also requires adequate documentation to establish
productivity. Vicknair and Ponte highlighted records showing labor hours in
specific areas with specific quantities as a prerequisite to allow the analyst
to determine how much time was spent and </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span>how much production was achieved in
each area for each day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In Ponte’s experience, a measured mile analysis is not
possible the majority of the time. Smaller subcontractors and general contractors
often do not keep sufficient records and might not realize they have been
impacted until it is too late. In these cases, alternatives included a Total
Cost approach or a Modified Total Cost approach. In a Total Cost approach,
which courts frown upon, the claimant compares the total cost of the work performed
to the estimated cost of the same. A Modified Total Cost approach has the same
starting point as a Total Cost approach, but makes adjustments for
underbidding, other bid corrections, change orders, and other factors impacting
productivity. For either approach, courts generally require, among other
things, that a party establish that a measured mile could not be used, that the
estimated cost (often the bid) was reasonable, and that the costs incurred were
reasonable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank you to Vicknair and Ponte for the valuable
information on measuring productivity loss. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><p class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Click </span><a href="https://youtu.be/hyuPV-xmblE"><span style="color: #f57c00;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">here</span></span></a><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> to view the discussion in its
entirety. </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<hr noshade="" size="1" style="color: black; text-align: left;" width="90%" />
</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Author </span></span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/mackin-douglas"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span style="color: #f57c00;">Douglas J.
Mackin</span></span></i></a><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> is
a construction attorney with Cozen O’Connor in Boston, Massachusetts. Douglas
counsels owners, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of a
construction project, from contract negotiation through to completion,
including disputes, litigation and arbitration. Douglas can be contacted at </span></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4125307686290081452/4335065257671315995"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><span style="color: #f57c00;">dmackin@cozen.com</span></span></i></a><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">.</span></i></span></span></p>Douglas Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10318987437614969104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-49390118346757052632023-10-24T10:21:00.011-04:002023-10-24T16:41:13.510-04:00News Alert: Forum Members Complete Construction Litigation Mock Arbitration<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In September 2023, members of the Forum on Construction Law completed a comprehensive mock arbitration event hosted by FTI Consulting at its office in New York City. Attorneys from three law firms and several consultants participated in the event which was designed to give developing construction attorneys and experts an authentic arbitration experience before a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">three-member arbitration panel.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAh6SitvzBjHSGM9s1SZd9h-FI3hQBYiE0y0EZ3_JSNJ0S9OIU4eces6JKvKmnDX5BeGabHOJ12JT6MpmVzVHPLVhYq1o7hdBcvxCtqisgpfFn_d8uxbHoR68kiaY3FVLSPYFjGX5NjCKL_3JGq1Jr93yiDqDCADRYKicDy-P-GhQ3yo9bnJsSax8ZcRq/s640/Mock%20Trial%20Group.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAh6SitvzBjHSGM9s1SZd9h-FI3hQBYiE0y0EZ3_JSNJ0S9OIU4eces6JKvKmnDX5BeGabHOJ12JT6MpmVzVHPLVhYq1o7hdBcvxCtqisgpfFn_d8uxbHoR68kiaY3FVLSPYFjGX5NjCKL_3JGq1Jr93yiDqDCADRYKicDy-P-GhQ3yo9bnJsSax8ZcRq/s320/Mock%20Trial%20Group.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The mock disputes included three parties: an owner, an architect, and a contractor. Approximately six months before the trial, an information pack was provided to the participants detailing the facts of the dispute, including items contributing to project delays and increased design and construction costs. The issues described in the event’s information pack detailed many items central to construction disputes, including differing site conditions, concurrent delays, work stoppages, design changes, remedial construction costs, and time-related damages.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Each of the parties was assigned a one or two attorney legal team and two construction experts to focus on the delay and damage components of the dispute. Each expert issued a written expert opinion and then provided a response to the opposing expert opinions. In total, the experts issued 12 expert reports. The issues and dispute background resulted in diverse opinions between the opposing experts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DIFY-OQsKa28manxXre2mPxPSxF39wCA433f7GKa-L1RhoMltS4kGcm3aBkbNkHu465cSWY1-EI3r__j_ze9IMBwMXz8yU3NedIX9QmYJ5laxwFo9ZT1OZm4i1NCszGQTPXyD806ipfET_jAYLflto7LXwjc0HBp6rl9HNeyN0_RlnE2UeqNQ9sOdfTR/s1885/Mock%20Trial%20Event.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1885" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DIFY-OQsKa28manxXre2mPxPSxF39wCA433f7GKa-L1RhoMltS4kGcm3aBkbNkHu465cSWY1-EI3r__j_ze9IMBwMXz8yU3NedIX9QmYJ5laxwFo9ZT1OZm4i1NCszGQTPXyD806ipfET_jAYLflto7LXwjc0HBp6rl9HNeyN0_RlnE2UeqNQ9sOdfTR/s320/Mock%20Trial%20Event.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Following the issuance of expert reports, the attorney took depositions of each expert. The depositions were recorded not only for use as part of the mock trial, but also for review and training opportunities. Each participant was assigned a mentor with significant trial experience as part of the event. The participants had an opportunity to review the depositions with their mentors for feedback on questions, responses, style, and body language before live questioning during the mock trial. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The mock trial was held in person over two days and provided the feel of an actual arbitration. Counsel provided opening and closing arguments for each party. The experts provided direct testimony and were subjected to cross-examination by each opposing attorney. The panel heard a Daubert argument, actively questioned the experts, and ruled on objections. At each hearing stage, the parties were subject to time constraints. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The panel provided immediate feedback to the participants after the hearing. Additionally, the hearing was recorded, allowing for additional training opportunities with a review between the participants and their mentors following the event. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The in-depth nature of the event required a significant commitment from the participants. However, it provided an excellent opportunity for the attorneys to gain first-chair experience and for the experts to face live questioning from an adverse side. The teaming nature of the event also fostered relationships among and between the different parties. All involved participants spoke to the value of the event, and the participating firms are looking forward to similar opportunities in the future to develop their staffs and foster a new generation of construction attorneys and experts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With the significant current caseloads carried by ABA Construction Forum members, a comprehensive mock trial may seem overwhelming; However, long-term planning and a commitment by the participants make it possible. Additionally, the experience that the participants gained provided immediate developments in their ability to support litigations while positioning them to step up to additional responsibilities sooner because of the event. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The participating firms included: Fox Rothschild, LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Peckar & Abramson, P.C., and FTI Consulting. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" />
</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-sammon-9b6675107" target="_blank">Chris Sammon</a> is a Senior Director in <a href="https://www.fticonsulting.com/" target="_blank">FTI</a>’s Construction,
Projects & Assets Group. With twenty years of experience in construction as
a contractor and consultant, Chris provides consulting services related to
construction delays and damages across the construction industry.</i></span></p><p></p>Patrick McKnighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983642143576040949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-68492296080568006832023-10-17T08:00:00.024-04:002023-10-19T14:25:52.689-04:00Meet the Forum's In-House Counsel: RACHEL CLANCY<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10nnmIm0RodEdqcU6mazVpNo4c8Gqlizi1Tvly0yAaRX9nXW1fx0FSXHHAfa1FmBRPHG6EYjqcBDVlr89jw6dItW0MxAMW3WkZ5PH3wF6yMWli_uocmDDd1no6_evxwU-l1FGog3C3aTA-cG2r7F-R7-I8ium00Z6OsRoVVmD8Xi8g4l-gwEONsVgXFg/s265/Clancy%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="265" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10nnmIm0RodEdqcU6mazVpNo4c8Gqlizi1Tvly0yAaRX9nXW1fx0FSXHHAfa1FmBRPHG6EYjqcBDVlr89jw6dItW0MxAMW3WkZ5PH3wF6yMWli_uocmDDd1no6_evxwU-l1FGog3C3aTA-cG2r7F-R7-I8ium00Z6OsRoVVmD8Xi8g4l-gwEONsVgXFg/s1600/Clancy%206.jpg" width="265" /></a></div></b></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Company</b><b>:</b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Lobar, Inc.</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Email:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="mailto:rachel.clancy@lobar.com" style="text-align: left;">rachel.clancy@lobar.com</a><span style="text-align: left;"> <br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Website:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://www.lobar.com" style="text-align: left;">www.lobar.com<br /></a><b style="text-align: left;">College: </b><span style="text-align: left;">York College of Pennsylvania (Bachelor of Science in Marketing, 2001)<br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Graduate School:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> Florida Institute of Technology (MBA in Acquisition and Contract Management, 2004)<br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">Law School: </b><span style="text-align: left;">Penn State University, Dickinson School of Law (JD 2007)<br /></span><b style="text-align: left;">States Where Company Operates/Does Business:</b><span style="text-align: left;">
Headquarters are in Dillsburg, PA; construction projects located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia</span></span></div></div></div><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>:
Describe your background and the path you took to becoming in-house counsel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Before law school, I spent three years as a Contract Specialist writing construction contracts for the Department of Defense, Naval Facilities Command in New Jersey. I had no idea I'd eventually find my way back to construction. After law school, I spent five years in the business department of a local law firm handling corporate formations, a variety of commercial contracts, and learning some real estate law. After another four years in-house with a data and marketing company in Harrisburg, I accepted my current position with Lobar, where I've been for the last seven years. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q<span>: How does working in-house compare or differ from firm life? </span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a business major in college, I always
pictured myself as part of a business – one member of the team. Although that was technically true in my
years as an associate (I was one part of the law firm business), I noticed and
was bothered by how <i>minimally</i> I was
connected to the business of each client.
Depending on the needs of any particular client, I was able to glimpse
only a small part of that business. I
handled a specific matter at the request of the client, but I did not have insight
into other parts of the business, which I think is a disadvantage as
counsel. As in-house counsel I see all
aspects of the business. I can see how
my decisions, actions, and work affect other employees and departments.
I didn’t have that same opportunity or awareness as an associate in a law
firm. But, honestly, I didn’t have it
during my first few years as in-house counsel.
It takes the right company and the right culture to feel like an
integral part of the business. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q: What kind of work does your company do? Do you focus on specific sectors, states or regions? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: Lobar is a general contractor for public construction projects, handling primarily K-12 schools, water/wastewater treatment plants, and municipal facilities. We also have contracts with state and federal agencies. Our work is primarily within Pennsylvania, but we also have projects in New York, Maryland, and West Virginia. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q: How and when do you use outside counsel? In what kinds of matters? </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A:<b> </b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We use outside counsel for all disputes that go
beyond negotiations and for specific areas where I lack expertise.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q:
What do you or your company take into consideration when vetting and/or selecting outside counsel? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Most importantly, we are almost always searching
for someone who has experience with public construction (even if the issue is
not directly related to public construction).
Beyond that, we want to work with one attorney (or a small team) who will
continuously and directly be involved with the legal matter for which we need
assistance. The law firm economics of
origination and billable time should not be evident. As a family-owned company, we seek
consultants and counselors who can be part of our team. We expect outside counsel to understand our
culture, because that culture often dictates how we handle legal matters. Therefore, we look for an attorney (or team)
who has the expertise and will be the one(s) doing the work.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: What is the biggest problem that you see when working with outside counsel? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rALjk0bG3ll-kjnFmYeQtpoMr5F0lzUurzjxK1YdpYP8lcXq9MUy9j4IKX0AsyD5LgbDsp9HJNopIup-v5fRUOiJoLTF8XjjHbg5zpFDtl7uqflUWaS00gwGB-B6Ed7ZHVxOOl6ANkQN-kTu-QenC5x_ys_t8u3Bn20TbTWegJ0vw8qF6CYe9HmGTRus/s3995/Clancy%20family2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3995" data-original-width="3144" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rALjk0bG3ll-kjnFmYeQtpoMr5F0lzUurzjxK1YdpYP8lcXq9MUy9j4IKX0AsyD5LgbDsp9HJNopIup-v5fRUOiJoLTF8XjjHbg5zpFDtl7uqflUWaS00gwGB-B6Ed7ZHVxOOl6ANkQN-kTu-QenC5x_ys_t8u3Bn20TbTWegJ0vw8qF6CYe9HmGTRus/w304-h386/Clancy%20family2.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Me and my two daughters.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lack of communication. I am rarely provided with documents being
exchanged between the parties, and I do not have access to the document system
used by outside counsel. I end up having
to use monthly invoices as a means of staying up to date (and updating the
Board of Directors) on the status of a legal matter. However, I understand that it is a challenge for
outside counsel to determine how much to communicate because every
communication is a cost to the client.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q: What are some of your interests or hobbies?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A: I</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> have been a soccer player since the age of six (and played through college). Despite a few years since then when I was raising children, I have continued to play in either an indoor coed league or an outdoor women's league. </span><span style="text-align: left;">I’m also always in the midst of reading a book
(or 2 or 3). I
drive almost 90 minutes roundtrip for my commute, so some of my “reading” is
accomplished by listening to audiobooks.
Plus, I have more podcast episodes downloaded than I will ever have time
to digest, even with my daily commute.
When I’m not with my daughters, playing soccer, working or
sleeping, I’m learning something.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><i><span>Assistant Editor-in-Chief </span><a href="https://www.stinson.com/people-JessicaKnox" style="text-align: left;">Jessica Knox</a> is an Associate in the Minneapolis office at <a href="https://www.stinson.com/" style="text-align: left;">Stinson LLP</a>.</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">She represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in litigation disputes. Jessica can be contacted at jessica.knox@stinson.com. </i></div></div>Jessica Knoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16491251664433067133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-87239116620428043542023-10-03T16:30:00.005-04:002023-10-03T17:01:45.991-04:00TOP TAKE-AWAY SERIES: The 2023 Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C.<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2-tH9yoRgvxnSupo2KE35fodAmC-LjqIUTj9SeTKdYbwS7MEfNP2WF4YJZ7AEPXht4ge_qNB6yxn1x17voLahP3o_kMCabjbsRZtEZGU2lVF8Vj43rb-gorawLAcKtFCVaxg91AQ_Uk9gwng0W5bTT95QhmIR06LjoUxpvmBuLmyyYCrjRyY2UGmIKQ/s5472/pexels-pixabay-261093.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2-tH9yoRgvxnSupo2KE35fodAmC-LjqIUTj9SeTKdYbwS7MEfNP2WF4YJZ7AEPXht4ge_qNB6yxn1x17voLahP3o_kMCabjbsRZtEZGU2lVF8Vj43rb-gorawLAcKtFCVaxg91AQ_Uk9gwng0W5bTT95QhmIR06LjoUxpvmBuLmyyYCrjRyY2UGmIKQ/s320/pexels-pixabay-261093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Over 500 construction
lawyers, experts, and consultants descended on Washington last week for the Forum’s 2023 Fall Meeting. Newly
minted Forum Chair John Cook and Program Coordinators Catherine Delorey and
Brian Zimmerman put together a stellar program focused on navigating government
construction. For this installation of the post-meeting post, I'm teaming up with guest contributor, Jennifer Kanady, to bring you
10 of our top take-aways from this unique program. </i></b></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10. Contracting with the
government is replete with risk that could easily trap the unwary. </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Nobody
likes to be taken advantage of. But hell hath no fury like the U.S. Government
scorned.</span> <span>Erin Cannon-Wells and Aaron Silberman, gave a (truly) delightful,
Indiana-Jones-inspired presentation on the regulations that can doom the unwitting contractor who is less than perfectly forthright in its
dealings. The government has
created financial incentives for members of the public to report your
company’s violations as part of a </span><i>qui tam</i><span> action. When you consider the
number of potential whistleblowers in the bidding process and the contracting chain, a qui tam action would seem more likely than not. Add to that the sanctions contractors
might face for even <i><u>innocent</u> </i>errors either by their
own companies or their downstream subs, and government contracting begins to sound
increasingly like the Temple of Doom. Oh, and in case you were only focused on
</span><span>affirmative</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> claims, beware the “reverse false claim” which is concealing
information that would rightfully entitle the government to a credit…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9. The federal infrastructure
act ("IIJA") can fund projects focused on clean water, clean school busses, and
everything in between.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Contractors who are clamoring to get their piece of the IIJA pie will need to make sure they can live by the government’s rules, chief among them being the Davis-Bacon Act (“DBA”). The DBA, among other things, requires contractors and subcontractors on
federally funded construction projects to pay local prevailing wages and fringe
benefits to laborers and mechanics. While this high-level aim may sound easy enough to achieve, there are several ancillary requirements
built into the DBA that mandate that contractors must, for example, pay workers weekly and
maintain adequate records for three years after completion of the work. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was
for good reason that the DBA was one of the potential traps lying in wait for
federal contractors discussed by Erin and Aaron (<i>see </i>Take Away No. 10 above). But during the Division 3 lunch program, </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="line-height: 107%;">Rob McDonald
and Tamara McNulty</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> advised attendees that the DBA is about to see the most significant and comprehensive changes it has seen in 40 years. Those changes to the DBA go into effect on October 23, 2023 so be on the lookout.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8. The U.S. Government is using</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> its massive purchasing power to force sustainable construction.</span> </b><span style="font-size: medium;">The U.S. Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in
the world. On an annual basis, it spends over $550 billion, with more than $24
billion of that spent on construction. According to James Nagle, the government
is attempting to wield this purchasing power to force the "greening" of construction. Contractors who wish to
bid on government projects are not just going to be evaluated on technical
merit, key personnel, and price. They are also going to be assessed on their
carbon footprint. The impact of these requirements on the bottom line has yet
to be seen but will likely be substantial.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode: char; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>7. </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Language connects us and shapes our most </span></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">significant moments.”</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> Attendees of the fall meeting were invited to a networking reception hosted at the Planet Word Museum where they sampled the culinary contributions of different immigrant cultures and were given free access to several floors of exhibit halls. Opened in 2020, Planet Word is the only museum in the country dedicated to inspiring a love of language. The museum’s mission is ever more critical given the fact that literacy rates in this country are actually declining; Planet Word reports that there are </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">32 million</i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> adults in the U.S. who can’t read. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">The museum's immersive exhibits had an amazing way of bringing words—whether signed, spoken, written, or sung—to life. B</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">e sure to check out the video below to watch John Cook connecting with his karaoke skills!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode: char; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="305" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BpLhZMSHKzQ" width="368" youtube-src-id="BpLhZMSHKzQ"></iframe></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>6.</b> <b>Government contractors
who fall victim to cyber-attack can find themselves subject to government
sanctions as a result.</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> This is the
word on the street by B. Stephanie Siegmann and Alex Trafton who gave an
insightful workshop on the evolution of the threat to cybersecurity. The most
startling statistic was that the vast majority of companies have experienced
some form of cyber-attack over the last 12 months. To match the risk, federal
rules requiring companies to provide adequate security and to report cyber incidents are being implemented.
As if the loss of the data were not punishment enough, government contractors and grant recipients that fail to follow cybersecurity
standards may be held accountable to the government for putting U.S. information and systems
at risk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5. When it comes to the
government claims process, "two roads diverged in a yellow wood…" </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">If you or your clients don’t agree with the contracting officer’s response to your claim for time and money, you have
two paths to appeal: (i) the Court of Federal Claims and (ii) the Boards of
Contract Appeals. Andrew D. Ness, Michelle D. Coleman, Timothy C. Tozer, and
David Wonderlick gave an interactive presentation on the claims process and
their perspectives about which of the roads should be taken depending
on the circumstances. The Boards of Contract Appeals are presided over by
administrative law judges and will be less formal. They allow <i>pro se</i> litigants,
have accelerated processes available for claims under $100,000, and hew more
closely to what you would expect to see in arbitration. If that doesn’t sound
appealing (or if you miss the 90-day window to appeal with the Board), the
Court of Federal Claims might be for you, although there's no guarantee that road will be less traveled by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4.</b> <b>Attorneys can <i>request</i>—but
not <i>direct</i>—their client’s <i>current</i> (but not <i>former</i>) employees
not to speak to opposing counsel.</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> This was just one of several ethical
minefields we navigated with the help of Thomas E.
Spahn. Other nuanced take-aways: (i) while it could be considered malpractice
<i>not </i>to search the social media of an adverse witness, you can cross the line by
attempting to “friend” them; and (ii) while most jurisdictions require you to
return </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><u>documents</u></span><span> inadvertently sent by opposing counsel whether it is
ethical to look at </span><span><u>metadata</u></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> that is inadvertently disclosed is
highly state specific. Research the rules in the state where you are licensed
so you don’t run afoul of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. </span></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Engaging in ADR with the feds is a delicate—but possible!—process.</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> It is always important to understand how a federal construction project might differ from a private one, particularly when it comes to resolving disputes. While historically the government was not willing to engage in ADR, this is no longer the case according to the H<span lang="X-NONE">on</span>.<span lang="X-NONE"> Jeri Somers, Adrian P. Bastianelli, III,</span><span lang="X-NONE"> </span><span lang="X-NONE">and Scott N. Flesch</span>. Just because the possibility of ADR with the feds is on the table does not mean it should be pursued without careful planning. Harry Potter fans know it would be unwise to approach a Hippogriff with too much haste; so, too, a contractor must be patient and respectful in approaching the contracting officer with a proposed meditation plan. In order to set the stage for successful mediation with the government, a contractor should: (i) understand <span lang="X-NONE">who has authority to </span>bind the government; (ii) give the government rep time to understand and evaluate the case <i>before</i> requesting a mediation; (iii) be prepared and willing to select a mediator from the government’s preferred panel of judges; (iv) understand whether settlements will be paid from the Judgment Fund (which covers liabilities of the government); and (v) be prepared to establish some exposure that will <span lang="X-NONE">justify settlement</span> and recognize that the government will <i>never</i> settle for nuisance value.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88NMbNn2c1I-O3RMLx71dXj_42UvRiLUBb-wvVJKXspl4LV2YnkL45HF2huwyN778OKdPT7knsR48HFi552vBDJdR2CcKZ4Vyl2_bU2WuqL4R8AUparCJkdJ-QYRU5CMcXG581YyPA58VGhG-7WrGCDkGeyTEzZMQjaJYSk_ycSpCOSFdRAH29QuCNgE/s1759/Tom%20Dunn%20-%20Golf.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="1057" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88NMbNn2c1I-O3RMLx71dXj_42UvRiLUBb-wvVJKXspl4LV2YnkL45HF2huwyN778OKdPT7knsR48HFi552vBDJdR2CcKZ4Vyl2_bU2WuqL4R8AUparCJkdJ-QYRU5CMcXG581YyPA58VGhG-7WrGCDkGeyTEzZMQjaJYSk_ycSpCOSFdRAH29QuCNgE/s320/Tom%20Dunn%20-%20Golf.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tom Dunn, Jessica Knox,<br />and Chris Caddell at the Puttery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>2. </b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25.68px;">You </span><span style="line-height: 25.68px;">can discover more about someone in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 25.68px;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 19.26px;">That lesson was never better illustrated than at the divisional socials on Thursday evening. Divisions 1 and 6 teed off for </span><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 19.26px;">a few friendly rounds of mini golf at the Puttery. Some were fortunate to experience the unparalleled exhilaration of a hole in one. Others mastered using the reverse side of the putter to chip balls <i>over</i> the obstacles instead of around. While the debate continues to swirl as to whether this technique was in the “spirit” of the game, fun was nevertheless had by all.</span></span></p><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">1. </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Dare to dream big.</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>While </span><span>Jackie Robison wasn’t considered the best </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span>African American player to come out of the Negro League, he became the first to break the Major League color line in 1947. This was the act that </span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;">Bob Kendrick </span><span style="text-align: left;">-- </span><span style="text-align: left;">President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri -- </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span>credits with igniting the civil rights movement. Until that time, the Negro League was the only option open to African American men (and women) who wanted to play professional baseball in this country. The fact that the athletes in the Negro League faced profound discrimination and adversity did not prevent them from competing at the highest levels</span><span>. While they certainly weren't given their due respect contemporaneously with their achievements, a total of </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">35 Negro League players have now been inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame, including: (i) Andrew “Rube” Foster, credited with inventing the screwball; (ii) “Cool Papa” Bell, who could circle the bases home to home in 12 seconds flat; and (iii) Josh Gibson, aka “the Black Babe Ruth” who is reported to be the only player (of any color) to <u>ever</u> hit a ball out of old Yankee Stadium. They are the ultimate testament to the fact that if you dream big, there is no limit to what you can achieve!</span></span></p></div>
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span>Co-author Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span><p class="MsoNormal">Co-author Jennifer M. Kanady is Senior Counsel at FAC Services, LLC, a
professional services firm with over 40 years of experience providing high
quality, timely and trusted business services to architecture, engineering and
construction management firms. Jennifer <span style="background: white;">focuses her practice on design professional practice management and
construction litigation and can be reached at</span> <a href="mailto:JKanady@facfin.com">JKanady@facfin.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p></span></i></div><span style="text-align: justify;"></span>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-23512582455016783232023-09-25T21:24:00.004-04:002023-09-25T21:27:48.690-04:00Message from the Chair: Kelsey Funes (Volume I)<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8_JPgI0jVOLuizbqoH5awoJ_72nGBIaliWmGLGlmG--bhI8EzGIc427e6HlKoZ_YMSAmYu6riBzTbVbjhWPq_aQXmju1VLrYKs8eXo1ilaoxiZnlW04sd3vazn1q0k3ReUYQY19RqiJixthgmWDqAkCnWyXMU1qWkB1zHKkBQmOC6pTQvDNMm9-jp-0/s5585/PD-Funes_007_COLOREDIT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5585" data-original-width="3849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8_JPgI0jVOLuizbqoH5awoJ_72nGBIaliWmGLGlmG--bhI8EzGIc427e6HlKoZ_YMSAmYu6riBzTbVbjhWPq_aQXmju1VLrYKs8eXo1ilaoxiZnlW04sd3vazn1q0k3ReUYQY19RqiJixthgmWDqAkCnWyXMU1qWkB1zHKkBQmOC6pTQvDNMm9-jp-0/s320/PD-Funes_007_COLOREDIT.jpg" width="221" /></a></span></span></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am so honored to assume the Division 1 mantle from my
friend, Tom Dunn, and look forward to carrying on his good work.</span></div></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For those of you who don’t know me, I’d like to take this opportunity
to share a bit about my background. I grew up in New Orleans and went to LSU
for undergraduate and law school. (Geaux Tigers!) I started my practice in 1997
at Phelps Dunbar LLP in Baton Rouge, where I still practice today. I manage the
litigation group in the Baton Rouge office of the firm. I practice as a
construction lawyer full time and serve on the Construction Panel of the American
Arbitration Association and serve as a mediator in construction cases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am married to Dr. Chris Funes (the world’s best
pediatrician) and we are the parents to two high schoolers. My son is a high
school senior and my daughter is a sophomore. So, when I am not lawyering, I
have been spending my time lately touring colleges, prepping for homecoming,
and helping to teach my daughter to drive (all very relaxing!!). We also have a
very sweet (and very hairy) rescue dog, Maggie, who makes sure we get lots of
walks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4J363K1EAens0v-frxKXO1LeMNpwGkx-1bSWGocxenTCTbOM7BqjtuWQb6Fr_GjiO1OD7BbQ-Vy34A05KEUmYoVqtzaK1azzT279q9GNvIYI9Dq9VVxBROMztAm_6mG0ZZtkg4TOw6h02ILEOtf7qdscq7u9aZBh7uI1EX9HD5s6XBTKqaU8HdtBNI4/s385/Picture2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4J363K1EAens0v-frxKXO1LeMNpwGkx-1bSWGocxenTCTbOM7BqjtuWQb6Fr_GjiO1OD7BbQ-Vy34A05KEUmYoVqtzaK1azzT279q9GNvIYI9Dq9VVxBROMztAm_6mG0ZZtkg4TOw6h02ILEOtf7qdscq7u9aZBh7uI1EX9HD5s6XBTKqaU8HdtBNI4/s320/Picture2.jpg" width="274" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I started attending Forum meetings almost 20 years ago.
Division 1 created a gateway for me to build relationships and learn how to be
a better construction lawyer. I’ve gained so much value from the Forum and
can’t wait to pay it forward!</div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="IMG_2003.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 256pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 192pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="IMG_2003" src="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><v:shape alt="IMG_3911.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 257pt; mso-left-percent: -10001; mso-position-horizontal-relative: char; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-top-percent: -10001; mso-wrap-style: square; rotation: 631640fd; visibility: visible; width: 206.95pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:href="cid:F6D279F8-E74A-4B75-9FC9-F4922FACA407" src="file:///C:/Users/mdowns/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg">
<w:wrap type="none">
<w:anchorlock>
</w:anchorlock></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">During my tenure as chair, I plan to keep up all the
fantastic work that Division 1 has been doing. Over the next year, we will be focusing
several of our programs on discovery which is the bread and butter for
litigators and is in a season of change with the incorporation of AI. I have
found that the best way to maximize Forum membership and deepen Forum
relationships is by helping to do the work of the Forum.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington D.C.
later this week at the Forum’s Fall Meeting. We will be kicking off the meeting
with a 2-hour planning retreat on Wednesday morning (September 27) at 9 am which
any Division 1 member should feel free to join. </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPRlGSb7cHjStOv2Fq2HhkzpUYJC9xeK8X4TXl5GLNaXpyVl8fbNvbUChAPxXRUHNmI5dvFu299U5iPWArwqX2IRy1ZFVbdNs0NdEiFEyVOqiwpybM1HJIZmq0v3mDS2PGLF8u7ChV2DrU8cGvgQqcGKzioobg89GVC4bAo6EW9nmilPkExam3hxXEjw/s256/Picture1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPRlGSb7cHjStOv2Fq2HhkzpUYJC9xeK8X4TXl5GLNaXpyVl8fbNvbUChAPxXRUHNmI5dvFu299U5iPWArwqX2IRy1ZFVbdNs0NdEiFEyVOqiwpybM1HJIZmq0v3mDS2PGLF8u7ChV2DrU8cGvgQqcGKzioobg89GVC4bAo6EW9nmilPkExam3hxXEjw/s1600/Picture1.jpg" width="192" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday afternoon we are
presenting another fantastic practicum, A Guide to Bid Protests, which will
offer valuable insight from experienced speakers on how to successfully
prosecute a bid protest. </div></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Thursday (September 28), our luncheon presentation
is "A View from the Arbitrator’s Bench" which should not be missed by anyone who
arbitrates construction cases. </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Finally, on Thursday evening, we will have a
great time socializing and playing mini golf with D1 friends new and old at The
Puttery. For tickets, go to the following link: <span style="color: #050505;"><a href="http://sendomatic.com/eY2Vk" target="_blank"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #257bb1; padding: 0in;">http://Sendomatic.com/eY2Vk</span></b></a></span>
or find me or a member of the D1 Steering Committee to get the QR code to sign
up. If you are attending the Fall
meeting, I invite you to join us for all of these outstanding activities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I look forward to working with all of you and encourage
anyone with program ideas and suggestions to reach out to me.</span></p>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-7002610755599054512023-09-19T10:56:00.005-04:002023-09-26T10:41:59.222-04:00 BOOK CLUB SERIES: Everything You Want to Know About Construction Arbitration But Were Afraid to Ask<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2czowR-oF-sjcZU4Trfa5p6nnkLCRPagiBv-qhwf7Z3eogmPR_PBkNkgqO06ZGjG1OfOsFlTVn5x8H_SAlMwb-jRUgqh3xP5sTGsyfDhEINktWGPqtMR16JO0X-fSSAlbmM5NC-PJerAfEiSdE_Q6YtK9myey3qZ-SB9PBfWRWcG6Da_3jHpY8kW-0Jc/s486/Foust%20&%20Ness.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="486" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2czowR-oF-sjcZU4Trfa5p6nnkLCRPagiBv-qhwf7Z3eogmPR_PBkNkgqO06ZGjG1OfOsFlTVn5x8H_SAlMwb-jRUgqh3xP5sTGsyfDhEINktWGPqtMR16JO0X-fSSAlbmM5NC-PJerAfEiSdE_Q6YtK9myey3qZ-SB9PBfWRWcG6Da_3jHpY8kW-0Jc/w400-h250/Foust%20&%20Ness.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>John Foust (left) and Andy Ness (right)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span>I recently had the
pleasure of speaking with construction law notables John Foust and Andy Ness to
discuss the release of their new book—</span></span><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/434051086/" target="_blank">Construction Arbitration: The Advocate’s Practical Guide</a></i><span style="text-align: justify;">. The goal of their book: to teach attorneys what
they need to know to maximize their effectiveness in the arbitration context. To
that end, the book covers every aspect of the arbitration process including
motion practice, conduct as an advocate, presentation of the case, and
post-hearing submissions. Read on for Andy and John’s candid, behind-the-scenes
take on how this book came to be and why you should get your copy now, while supplies last!</span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<hr color="grey" size="1" style="text-align: justify;" width="90%" />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: Who is the target
audience for this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Andy:</b> In the editing
process (and in writing my own chapter on Navigating an International
Construction Arbitration) I pretended that I was speaking with a construction
lawyer who was a few years out of law school, with some litigation experience, who
was getting ready to take on a significant and complex construction arbitration
for the first time. The book presupposes knowledge of the basics and tries
to anticipate the questions that would be asked when you are trying to think
through the whole arbitration process from start to finish. What should my pleadings look like? How much discovery am I likely to be able to
obtain? How should my demeanor be
different from what I would do in a courtroom? How much should I object during the hearing? In a nutshell, it’s “What do I need to know
to maximize my chances of success in the arbitration setting?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: What was the inspiration behind this book? Why this
topic and why now? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>John:</b> There is nothing like it out there that we could find. There are a couple of much longer, scholarly
treatise-like books about arbitration law, but nothing that was concise,
readable, and practical</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. We wanted to provide
something useful and accessible that would get you on the right track in a
construction arbitration, right from the start </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">— </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">things that our authors had to learn on-the-job</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. As to timing, it just seemed overdue!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJOIJNFE6-aRsMLAPO9VADFnJT2-mVz6Iz4c6JehwJvZIgq5EvBh-OtQxQjluKl3o_2KUtpCzoW7Pd4h-Sed6FJTKrjnZEELNJByfqFQqY_D0kf6yCLAHgHYjt7_XENHhpGMXrB4yWnBrkdMlGKX2wsKDrnK-brf1Atsg9ngxQLre5YqIw3cxolsoQYk/s601/Construction%20Arbitration.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJOIJNFE6-aRsMLAPO9VADFnJT2-mVz6Iz4c6JehwJvZIgq5EvBh-OtQxQjluKl3o_2KUtpCzoW7Pd4h-Sed6FJTKrjnZEELNJByfqFQqY_D0kf6yCLAHgHYjt7_XENHhpGMXrB4yWnBrkdMlGKX2wsKDrnK-brf1Atsg9ngxQLre5YqIw3cxolsoQYk/w280-h400/Construction%20Arbitration.png" width="280" /></a></span>Q: Is this the first time this topic has been tackled in an ABA-sponsored text? What do you think sets this book apart from the others?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>John:</b> It’s the first, all right, and we hope it will be something of a model for other Forum books down the road. Keep it concise and practical, rather than trying to produce a lengthy tome that looks impressive, but will mostly just sit on a shelf.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: How did you go about creating the framework for the
book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Andy:</b> We intentionally took a soup-to-nuts approach, consistent with the
goal to get the reader ready for every stage and part of the arbitration
process, from deciding whether arbitration is right for the dispute (where you
have that option) to handling a post-award motion to vacate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: The list of people who authored chapters in this book
reads like a veritable “who’s who” in construction law. What was it like
collaborating with such an impressive group of folks? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Andy: </b> It definitely
is an All-Star team of authors, and that was the idea from the outset. Let’s find the best group of people who have
had a highly successful track record as arbitration advocates, and (for the
most part) have, in more recent years, seen arbitrations mainly from the vantage
point of an arbitrator. Six of the ten
lead authors are former Forum Chairs, and all ten are members of the American
College of Construction Lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Working with this group was a lot of fun and pretty
easy. While they are all busy, they
turned in high-quality first drafts, mostly on schedule. And they all are self-deprecating as a rule
and keep their egos in check. They
appreciated that, despite extensive experience, they don’t know everything and
were receptive to adding ideas and insights where we, as editors, suggested something.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: What was the biggest challenge you encountered in
putting the book together? Any regrets/lessons learned you care to share?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>John:</b> Putting together any book, even when 90% of the
chapters are authored by others, is a big undertaking. No regrets, but it always works out to be considerably
more effort than you anticipated at the start. The biggest challenge is just keeping at it; finding time every month to
push the book ahead, for seemingly endless months, even when you are busy with work
that you get paid for! <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: You state in the book's introduction that even the most
seasoned construction attorney can benefit from this book...As experienced
practitioners yourselves, what did you learn in putting together this book that surprised you? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Andy:</b> Perhaps surprisingly, I learned the most from the
international arbitration chapter that I wrote. I asked two other chapter authors (Wendy Venoit and Zach Torres-Fowler) who do a lot of international arbitration to review and comment on
my draft. Each of them brought out several
interesting points from their own experience that I had not encountered, and
those added real value to the chapter. It was also interesting to see that the authors of the discovery-related
chapters (Deb Ballati and Jim O’Connor) had some different viewpoints as to how
much discovery is commonly allowed.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: In what ways has construction arbitration changed or
evolved in recent years? Will this book provide some “continuing education” on
the current best practices in this space? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Andy: </b> Construction arbitration evolves at a more rapid pace than most appreciate. This occurs as different ways of speeding the process and making it more efficient are tried and spread organically when they work well. What we are seeing currently is greater adoption in the U.S. of practices used with frequency in international arbitration, like the use of witness statements in lieu of direct examination and simultaneous testimony from matched expert witnesses. This borrowing of successful ideas used elsewhere will likely only accelerate as more advocates and arbitrators have favorable experiences with them. We included discussion of many such new ideas and techniques, and not just in the international arbitration chapter, to help this process along and keep the book relevant, hopefully for many years to come.</span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-align: center;">CLICK</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/434051086/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">TO PURCHASE A COPY OF</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; text-align: center;"><i>CONSTRUCTION ARBITRATION: THE ADVOCATE'S PRACTICAL GUIDE</i> </span></span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><hr color="grey" size="1" style="text-align: justify;" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span>Editor Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</span></i></div><span style="text-align: justify;"></span>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-32361516268539343202023-09-12T10:39:00.004-04:002023-10-18T11:20:10.490-04:00Consultant Corner: Key Players and Common Issues in Delegated Design<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Delegated design as set forth in construction documents for
buildings, while an often-used instrument, can be misunderstood or poorly
executed by the Owner, Design team, and/or Construction team, and result in
disastrous consequences. The term ‘delegated design’ as commonly used in the
AIA B-101 Contract between the Owner and Architect means that “if the Contract
Documents specifically require the Contractor to provide professional design
services or certifications by a design professional related to systems,
materials or equipment, the Architect shall specify the appropriate performance
and design criteria that such services must satisfy.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Key Parties involved include the Architect and Engineer
of Record, the General Contractor, the Specialty Contractor, and the Specialty
or Delegated Engineer; their relationship can graphically be described as
follows:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrZFhXFnuIITUO9GYXeqBQ7hVI0HJz7mU9PhZOPoKjX6jF7vXWD0KXEJ6FUa2W3ejf_y7y539iIww5-Ft5sQJG7H0fV1nDa7zSJJ5TtjWTYsx1PMeCXXVvUOkV9ZTnP6zM3ij37qkENxbiG0pxljPyvfKUH8LlxbbWNtjlZI2oe7ycAOKfNmdUt7YYwbs2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="975" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrZFhXFnuIITUO9GYXeqBQ7hVI0HJz7mU9PhZOPoKjX6jF7vXWD0KXEJ6FUa2W3ejf_y7y539iIww5-Ft5sQJG7H0fV1nDa7zSJJ5TtjWTYsx1PMeCXXVvUOkV9ZTnP6zM3ij37qkENxbiG0pxljPyvfKUH8LlxbbWNtjlZI2oe7ycAOKfNmdUt7YYwbs2=w622-h236" width="622" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Typical delegated design items include stairs,
handrails, davits, structural steel connections, precast concrete components, elevator
support rails and beams, façade components and cladding, and other such items
where, ideally, the Contractor and the Contractor’s engineer can provide the
components by taking advantage of the Specialty Contractor’s means and methods
and provide that value to the Owner. The
delegated design may include unique attributes associated with the selected Contractor,
such as concrete strengths, manufacturing processes, glass types, steel
connection hardware, configurations of components, and specialty fabrications.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Owner<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On behalf of the Owner, the Design team, consisting of the
architects and engineers included in the term ‘Architect’ above, decides
whether to delegate a portion of the design to the Contractor. Sometimes the designers believe they can
reduce their own labor costs by delegating some of the design, but commonly
this decision results in more time spent for the Architect in specifying the
performance and design criteria as well as performing a close review of the
shop drawings and calculations. It is
important to note that the Design team must coordinate all of the dimensional
aspects of the building in order to meet the Owner’s criteria for the use and
function of the space. This means that the
dimensions of delegated components must be worked out and coordinated by the
architects and engineers, not left to the imagination and whims of the
delegated Contractor and their engineer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Design Team<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the graphic illustration above, the Architect of Record and
the Structural Engineer of Record are typically contractually bound to each
other, and responsible for the coordination of the project design. The delegated components are technically
delegated to the Contractor or Specialty Contractor, who engages the Specialty
or Delegated Engineer to design the components and connections. There is no ability, nor contractual mechanism,
for the Delegated Engineer to directly coordinate with the Architect of Record to
confirm wall thicknesses, beam depths, clearances, conceptual connections,
column locations and sizes – these must be worked out between the Architect and
Engineer of Record.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In some states such as Florida, there exist Administrative
Rules or Codes that prescribe the details required of the architect and
engineer in delegating the design of components. These can include the configuration (size,
spacing, shape) of the components, as well as details of supports, anchors, and
connections.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Construction Team<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Contractor may receive a set of drawings from the
architect and engineers (the ‘Architect’) that contain delegated designs that
do not sufficiently ‘spell out’ the appropriate performance and design
criteria, or that are missing the configuration and sizes of the components
such that coordination of the work will be required. In those instances, the Contractor should
‘raise the flag’ and note that the particular design has not been properly
delegated – and not just hope that the information can be flushed out during
the shop drawing review process. Again,
there is no contractual link between the Delegated Engineer and the Architect –
and therefore, the necessary coordination between disciplines cannot occur in a
proper and timely manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Delegated design can provide cost, schedule, and
quality improvements for a building Owner if the Architect follows the
guidelines for properly delegating the design of components to the Contractor,
and the Contractor engages a Delegated Engineer who provides calculations and drawings
for the component design in accordance with the performance and design criteria
specified by the Architect.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><u>
</u></i></span></p><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Author <a href="https://www.socotec.us/contact/william-bast" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" target="_blank">Bill Bast</a> specializes in the design and investigation of
building structures, and has forty years of experience as a structural and
forensic engineer, construction manager, and contractor. He is a Past President of SEAOI and NCSEA and
serves as an expert witness on structural engineering and standard of care
issues, and can be reached at </i><a href="mailto:william.bast@socotec.us"><i>william.bast@socotec.us</i></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Editor </i></span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanh-do-ph-d-p-e-8747892a/" style="color: #f7cb4d;" target="_blank">Thanh Do</a></u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> i<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">s an Associate in </span><a href="https://www.thorntontomasetti.com/solution/forensics-investigations" style="background-color: white; color: #f57c00; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.'s Forensics practice group</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">. As a structural engineer, </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">structural failure analyst and investigator, Dr. Thanh Do examines infrastructure inadequacies and determines the root cause of the alleged failures. He specializes in </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Fira Sans, Ubuntu, Oxygen, Oxygen Sans, Cantarell, Droid Sans, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol, Lucida Grande, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Design-Build project delivery, quantity growth investigation, building collapse investigation, standard of care assessment, construction defects and design errors/omissions evaluation.</span></span></i></span></p>Thanh Dohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771948919030808429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-45064752083501905512023-09-05T13:09:00.006-04:002023-09-06T12:34:36.268-04:00Students for Fair Admissions: Shaking the Foundations of EEOC Programs and M/WBE Requirements<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjgS0G5TZS2TqlmPbb5ZO6Oh2RIGvGKVtuvjbiV7U8O32cogsRT5G5R8hMqqfo91bD9CY3RmVM0wnku_9eUqJSOo2eRuiZvByigbYd0phobxufkIGcsrAUF55Txil0VM0R4yapM8Dc3Drb1AT-7U6v6jZi7kWihJARrpjf6CaIICPfjeHSxq7KxluWh8/s2886/pexels-phung-touch-17843099.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2729" data-original-width="2886" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjgS0G5TZS2TqlmPbb5ZO6Oh2RIGvGKVtuvjbiV7U8O32cogsRT5G5R8hMqqfo91bD9CY3RmVM0wnku_9eUqJSOo2eRuiZvByigbYd0phobxufkIGcsrAUF55Txil0VM0R4yapM8Dc3Drb1AT-7U6v6jZi7kWihJARrpjf6CaIICPfjeHSxq7KxluWh8/s320/pexels-phung-touch-17843099.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a landmark
decision, </span><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College</i></a>, holding that race-based affirmative action programs in college
admissions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendm<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">ent. 143 S. Ct. 2141, 216 L. Ed. 2d
857 (2023).
</span>On July 13, 2023, thirteen state
Attorney Generals, relying on <i>Students for Fair Admissions</i>, issued a joint letter to the CEOs of the Fortune 100 companies, urging the
elimination of all race-based programs in EEOC and government and private
contracting. On July 19, 2023, a Tennessee district court
judge issued an injunctive order against the Small Business Administration’s
8(a) application program on the basis of the program’s race-based presumption
of disadvantage. <i>Ultima Servs. Corp. v. U.S. Dep't of Agric</i>., No.
220CV00041DCLCCRW, 2023 WL 4633481 (E.D. Tenn. July 19, 2023). </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The message to be
taken from these developments: all race-based programs and, by
extension, potentially all gender-based programs—including ones that require or
reward participation of Minority Business Enterprises (“MBE”) or Women Business
Enterprise (“WBE”) in construction programs—currently stand on shaky ground.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
post will explain the constitutional foundations at play, the decisions shaking
things up, and why well-rounded dialogue is urgently needed to address the
status of these programs before they’re dead in the water.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">An MBE/WBE Constitutional Law Primer in Construction</span><span style="font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Before examining the recent court cases in more
detail, it may be helpful to understand how MBE and WBE programs developed from
a constitutional law basis. Following passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
cities and municipalities began implementing strong race and gender specific
remedial programs. The programs operated
for years with aggressive minority and women contracting goals. Designed to
bring disenfranchised players to the table, the ever-increasing goals, while
genuinely motivated, slowly began losing relevance when measured against local
statistics. In 1989, a key Supreme Court
decision rocked the commercial construction industry by reviewing and declaring
unconstitutional Richmond, Virginia's race-based program. <i>See</i> <i>City of
Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co. (“Croson”), </i>497 U.S. 547 (1989). By extension, this
decision invalidated the majority of most state and local race-based programs
then in existence. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The goal program challenged in <i>Croson </i>included 30% goals for its defined
minority and women groups. It was not
flexible, thereby converting stated goals into quotas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It identified goals for certain groups, like
Alaskan Inuit, who were not statistically present in Richmond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 30% goal also lacked statistical support based
on current local availability and capability analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The <i>Croson
</i>decision was famously authored by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, herself the
victim of discrimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Graduating at
the top of her legal class, she nonetheless was unable to obtain employment as
a lawyer and initially was limited to working as a legal secretary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noting discrimination continues to be a real
and present problem, Justice O'Connor nonetheless outlined the standards for justifying
race-based programs. The <i>Croson </i>factors, as they became known, stated:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Any
program based on race is inherently suspect and thus sustainable only under a
"strict scrutiny" standard of review.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Strict
scrutiny" requires the government to prove:</span></li><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A <span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">"compelling interest" in creating
the program (i.e. whether the goal is sufficiently important enough to justify a
particular use of </span><span style="text-align: justify;">suspect classification) </span>AND</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The program is "narrowly
tailored" to address that interest.</span></li></ol></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Croson </i>identified
the data necessary to prove the "compelling interest."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later known as <i>Croson </i>or Disparity Studies<i>,
</i>these data-intensive reviews analyzed: (1) specific identification of the
MBE/WBE firms located in that region; (2) the scopes and magnitude of work they
were capable of performing; and (3) the forms and types of discrimination
barring them from access, including lack of educational opportunities, business
education and formation, credit and financing, bonding, and job procurement. Without
a current <i>Croson </i>study, a program could not meet the "compelling
interest" element of strict scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Croson </i>also
required remedial programs to be "narrowly tailored." A
"narrowly tailored" program required proof that it:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Was more than racial balancing;</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Was based on the number of local, qualified
MBE and WBE firms in the region who were capable of performing the work
required in each contract;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Was not over-inclusive by presuming
discrimination against certain minorities;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Was not under-inclusive by omitting
race neutral measures designed to assist small businesses in general, and</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Did not implement either expressly or
by practice mandatory quotas.</span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These
factors, which would govern for over 34 years, still left some gaping holes.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">First, <i>Croson </i>addressed race-based local
and state programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This left gender-based
programs impliedly covered but not constitutionally analyzed at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This remains at issue even today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gender-based classifications are reviewed
under a different—and more lax—"intermediate scrutiny" standard but
are nonetheless typically lumped in with race-based programs under strict
scrutiny.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Croson </i>was also limited
to local and state programs; it did not apply to federal programs which, at
that time, were reviewed under the same, softer "intermediate
scrutiny" review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Intermediate
scrutiny" required the program to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1) serve an important governmental interest; and (2) be "substantially
related" to achieving the objective. <i>Craig v. Boren</i>, 429 U.S. 190
(1976).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This softer review made both
gender-based, and federal MBE programs tougher to legally challenge, permitting
a presumption federal agencies could rely on broader, more generalized national
data to support findings of past discrimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This
different treatment ended in 1995 through three cases known collectively as the
<i>Adarand </i>cases, which were decided between1992 and 2001.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> <i>Adarand </i>held <i>Croson’</i>s<i>
</i>"strict scrutiny" standards for race-based programs were as
equally applicable to federal programs as to state and local programs. This
approach remained the law of the land through today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">MBE/WBE Programs Under the <i>Croson</i> and <i>Adarand</i>
Regimes<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While
<i>Croson </i>and <i>Adarand </i>operated to bring statistical foundations to
local, state and federal programs, and where the disparity studies identified
and revealed important data on race and gender availability and participation,
the history of these studies also revealed a not-so-surprising trend. When
there were goals and strong enforcement incentives to meeting those goals,
utilization was high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This created a
legal conundrum in that proof of success by its very nature disproved ongoing
evidence of discrimination. In other words, if the goal was identified to
remedy past discrimination, and a governmental entity hit or exceeded that
goal, it statistically had "remedied" the past discrimination. For
this reason, the programs were deemed to be short term in nature and to imply
an end date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But
the statistics also revealed another problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The utilization figures waxed and waned in accordance with the goals. Federal
programs implementing annual adjustment, i.e. the increase or decrease of goals
based on prior year's performance, reflected a corresponding bell curve of
utilization. When goals were high, utilization was high. When goals were low,
utilization was low. This reflected issues with the program's long-term
performance and full realization of the remedial intent.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The programs also ignored legal precedent
warning that an expiration of the programs was always anticipated and
constitutionally required.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Students for Fair Admission</span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">'s
Roll-Back of Affirmative Action</span></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span> </span><span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2018 to 2020, the Trump Administration's appointment
of two Supreme Court justices formed one of the most conservative Supreme
Courts since 1931.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ideological shift set the stage for the <i>Students for Fair Admissions </i>decision. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After providing a detailed analysis of legal precedent
defining the parameters of race-based remedial programs over the years, the majority in <i>Students for Fair Admissions</i> concluded the remedial programs had outlived their time. While nominally limited to race-based university admissions programs under Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (the "Act"), the decision contains language which seems aimed at future analysis of all race-based
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specifically, the Court states:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">"<b>[e]liminating
racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.</b> Accordingly, the Court
has held that the Equal Protection Clause applies “without regard to any
differences of race, of color, or of nationality”— it is “universal in [its]
application” . . . . “[t]he guarantee of
equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to one individual and
something else when applied to a person of another color.” </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">(citations omitted, emphasis
added).<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Justice
Gorsuch's concurring opinion impliedly expands application of the holding from Title VI cases
(prohibiting discrimination in federally funded programs) to Title VII of the Act,
which prohibits race-based discrimination in employment and government and
private contracting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This directly
impacts EEOC compliance programs, MBE goal programs, and race-based, Diversity Inclusion programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>The Eastern District of Tennessee's Decision in <i>Ultima</i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On
July 19, 2023, a Tennessee federal district court in </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ultima Services Corp. v. U.S. Department of Agriculture</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> became the first to accept Justice Gorsuch's invitation
to expand the holding of <i>Students for Fair Admission</i> to other contexts.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Following
the guidelines enunciated in <i>Students for Fair Admissions</i>, the judge
in <i>Ultima</i> issued an injunction against the Small Business
Administration's ("SBA") 8(a) program because it incorporated a race-based presumption of social and economic disadvantage in its
application process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of
appealing the district court's decision, the SBA posted a terse notice on its website stating:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"On
July 19, 2023, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Tennessee enjoined the SBA from applying a rebuttable presumption of social
disadvantage to individuals of certain racial groups applying to the 8(a)
Business Development Program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>S<b>BA has
temporarily suspended new 8(a) application submissions to comply with the
Court's decision</b>. Thank you for your patience and interest in the 8(a)
Business Development program." (Emphasis in original).<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is
anticipated that the SBA’s compliance efforts will result in a new application
process removing presumptions of disadvantage and instead require all
applicants to submit a narrative outlining their particular evidence of
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following the decisions in </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Students for Fair Admission </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">and </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Ultima</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, the status of existing 8(a) certifications which were made on racial presumptions is uncertain.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Equally uncertain is the impact these cases will have on numerous race-based programs currently in existence. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Cons of Overnight Elimination </span><span style="font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: underline;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given
the potentially far-reaching implications of the recent constitutional policy
reversals, there is an amazing lack of discussion </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">concerning proactive steps to address current
M/WBE goals in contracts and EEOC Diversity Inclusion
programs.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This silence is not only
unwise but potentially devastating, as was evidenced in a 2005 Missouri case: <i>Behavioral Interventions, Inc. v. Missouri Office of Administration</i>.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In <i>Behavioral Interventions</i>, the plaintiff alleged the State's mandatory M/WBE requirement that 30% of the dollar value of contracts go to firms certified as M/WBE was unconstitutional
where the goals were based on outdated statistics and had become inflexible quotas under <i>Croson. </i>The court agreed and granted a preliminary injunction holding the M/WBE program unconstitutional. </span></span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Behavioral Interventions, Inc. v. Missouri Office of Administration, </i><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>No. 04-0872-CV-W-GAF </i></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(W.D. Mo. Jan. 24, 2005) (order granting preliminary injunction)</span><i style="font-family: verdana;">. </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">While the issuance of any </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">future</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">
M/WBE goal projects was barred, the decision also suspended contracts for work-in-process
that had been issued under unconstitutional M/WBE goals. As Missouri at that time
lacked a corresponding "small business" program, the voided contracts
could not be saved by conversion into a race and gender-neutral small business
award. The court’s decision left all impacted participants reeling.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Contractors
and owners scrambled to rebid significant amounts of MBE contract work already
partially completed, but realized problems with: (a) how to classify court-voided
contracts and what contract termination procedures applied; (b) whether the
contract terms and procedures applied if a contract was deemed legally void; (c)
how final payment and retainage issues were to be handled; (d) how to treat
materials ordered and delivered but not yet incorporated or paid under the
voided contracts; and, perhaps most importantly, (e) how warranties were to be
honored where follow on contractors were understandably twitchy about
warranting the work of another terminated contractor. It was, in two words: a
mess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A negotiated
settlement quickly brought Missouri's program into constitutional conformity
while also creating a small business contracting program operating next to the
M/W/DBE programs. But for a period of time, <i>Behavioral
Interventions</i>’ overnight injunction left the parties in a world of
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All government entities and their
related construction partners face similar messes if the parties do not act
proactively. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The<i> </i>Potential Impact of <i>Students
for Fair Admissions</i> on Private Contracting</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The impact
of <i>Students for Fair Admission </i>is also filtering into private and EEOC
corporate programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Referencing <i>Students
for Fair Admission</i>, on July 13, 2023, Attorney Generals from thirteen states—Alabama,
Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana,
Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia—wrote the CEOs of the Fortune
100 companies urging them to: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"refrain
from discriminating on the basis of race, whether under the label of
"diversity, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>equity and
inclusion" or otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
includes preferences in hiring, recruiting, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>retention,
promotion, and advancement on race but also pressuring contractors to adopt racially discriminatory "quotas
and preferences."<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
response, on July 19, 2023, twenty state Attorney Generals—from Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii,
Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington—argued <i>Students
for Fair Admission</i> was limited to college admissions and not currently
relevant to other programs. Although responding Attorney Generals advocated the
importance of recognizing historic and ongoing inequities, the value of
workplace diversity, and the socio-political-economic reasons justifying
diversity as a primary objective, it is unclear what the companies are to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>Concluding Remarks </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is clear the ripples created by <i>Students
for Fair Admission</i> will be far-reaching. While, the constitutional validity of race
and gender considerations in employment, government, and private contracting is
unsettled for the time-being, the writing is on the wall. Just as <i>Croson </i>changed
the nature of contracting goal programs overnight, <i>Students for Fair
Admission</i>, as applied in the <i>Ultima </i>case, likely spells the end of race-specific
remedial programs as we know them. While gender-based programs continue to
float somewhere in legal limbo, it is likely ANY program currently based on
race and gender is legally vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If parties continue to avoid confronting the issue, there is a significant
chance they will be caught unprepared and subject to consequences similar to
Missouri's <i>Behavioral Interventions</i> case. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Anyone
who finds themselves disheartened by recent court developments and curious
about what steps can be taken, here are some ideas:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>IMPLEMENT
SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTNG PROGRAMS. </b>Immediately see if your local
government or state has a small business contracting goal program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, do an immediate outreach ensuring all
current certified MBE and WBE companies are also registered under the small
business program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If no such program
exists, take the steps needed to authorize, enact, and implement one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>ORGANIZE
BRAINSTORMING ROUNDTABLES WITH STAKEHOLDERS. </b>Meet with interested players
in your community to discuss the impact of these responses to <i>Students for
Fair Admission</i> and how it impacts diversity and inclusion programs in your
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brainstorm and be proactive in
suggested approaches.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>CHANGE
THE FOCUS. </b>Continue the discussion on the proven benefits of diversity in
the workplace, but change the focus to culture, geography, and the benefits of
differing perspectives versus a specific race or gender focus.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>CREATE
LOCAL HUB-ZONE TYPE AWARD PROGRAMS. </b>Consider incorporating HUB-Zone like
programs at the local and state levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently
a federal program, HUB-Zone channels 3% of all federal contracts to Hub-Zone
qualified companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certification
requirements include: (1) the company's primary business office is located
within a designated economically disadvantaged area and (2) the company employs
35% of its workforce from that area.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of programs meet many of the
goals of the M/W/DBE program but in a race and gender-neutral manner. The
program also generates economic viability to economically distressed areas. </span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>CHANGE
THE MESSAGE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>For minority and female
employees and business owners, the sales pitch can no longer be "hire me
because of past discrimination."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The new dialogue needs to be "hire me because:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) I'm good; (2) I provide great goods and
services in a timely, workmanlike and cost efficient manner; (3) I'm important
economically, socially and politically to the community and to the nation; (4)
I'm creating tax revenues for the community; and (5) I'm creating an example
for the next generation of politically, socially and economically important
target groups who have earned their place at the table.</span></span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There
are as many creative approaches available as there are intelligent people
facing the issue. The key is to start the
discussions that lead to the solutions. Don't
simply ignore the problem in the hope it will go away. It won't. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">© Denise Farris Scrivener, Farris Legal Services LLC.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">(August 28, 2023).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">All rights reserved.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">This article may not be copied or reproduced without the author's permission. </span></span></span></p>
<hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #333333;">Author <a href="https://farrislegal.net/" target="_blank">Denise Farris Scrivener</a> practices commercial construction,
equine and veterinary law. She has
authored numerous articles and treatises on affirmative action in government
contracting, including the American Bar Association's Forum on the Construction
Industry "Government Contracting Desk Book". Her articles can be found at: <a href="http://www.farrislegal.net/blog">www.farrislegal.net/blog</a>. </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">She may be contacted at <a href="mailto:denise@farrislegal.net" target="_blank">denise@farrislegal.net</a>.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><i style="color: #333333;">For further ideas on new ways to approach
diversity, see her blog on: "A New
- And Possibly Improved - Affirmative Action Approach". https://farrislegal.net/a-new-and-possibly-improved-affirmative-action-approach/.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Editor <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Marissa L. Downs</a> is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at Laurie & Brennan, LLP and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</span></i></div></span><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></i></div><hr size="1" style="text-align: left;" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[i]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">cases include: ADARAND I:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand
Constructors, Inc. v. Skinner</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 790 F. Supp. 240, 241 (D. Colo. 1992), </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">aff’d sub nom. Adarand Constructors, Inc. v.
Pena</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 16 F.3d 1537 (10th</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Cir. 1994), vacated, 115 S. Ct. 297
(1995); </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand Constructors, Inc. v.
Pena</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 16 F.3d 1537, 1539 (10</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">th </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cir. 1994), vacated, 115 S. Ct.
2097 (1995); </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand Constructors, Inc.
v. Pena</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 115 S.Ct. 2097 (1995).</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADARAND II:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 965 F. Supp. 1556(D. Colo.
1997); and</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ADARAND III:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Adarand
Constructors, Inc. v. Mineta</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">, 122 S.Ct. 511 (2001).</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">See also:
"Diversity in Government Contracting",</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Denise E. Farris,
Patricia A. Meagher, Larry D. Harris, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
2012 Annual Meeting "Advanced Project Delivery: Improving the Odds of
Success" (Las Vegas Apr 26-28, 2012).</span></span></p></div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> <i>See
"</i>Affirmative Action and the Utilization of Minority- and Women-Owned
Businesses in Highway Procurement", Justin Marion,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>University of California (February 2009), available at: <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">https://people.ucsc.edu/~marion/Papers/revised%20manuscript.pdf, last visited on September 5, 2023.</span></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> <i>See
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/05/1109444617/the-supreme-court-conservative.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> <i>See </i>https://certify.sba.gov/</span></p></div>
<div id="edn7" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span> <i>See </i>"Shaking the Foundations of DEI? The
Impact of the Students for Fair Admissions Decision on Corporate Diversity
Initiatives", Dawn Siler-Nixon, Nancy Van Der Veer Holt, and Danielle E.
Pierre, Ford Harrison July 24, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzone-program. </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125307686290081452.post-62871078170793592942023-08-29T16:45:00.011-04:002023-08-30T12:06:50.924-04:00 BOOK CLUB SERIES: LASERS, AND ROBOTS, AND DRONES, OH MY…<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLgm7r36ZhvBiv3mQJuM7a4ZfQN4diTn3KXN6OKEjM5svQ4b7Vhz1uTzijOtr6PZLxyzGKvdcroDXyUKKyZQDUknp_PEvlP0A6VGP6piDNM3-i16IKGGn3VtnnMaH7ybYQV24pPHPxqynV0evAcC9DYyI5-K9ybOYss692nStUE64RRNDm4TVirNeAg/s4000/Leslie.Oneal_1400_v2%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="4000" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLgm7r36ZhvBiv3mQJuM7a4ZfQN4diTn3KXN6OKEjM5svQ4b7Vhz1uTzijOtr6PZLxyzGKvdcroDXyUKKyZQDUknp_PEvlP0A6VGP6piDNM3-i16IKGGn3VtnnMaH7ybYQV24pPHPxqynV0evAcC9DYyI5-K9ybOYss692nStUE64RRNDm4TVirNeAg/s320/Leslie.Oneal_1400_v2%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">For <i>The Dispute Resolver</i>’s first
installment of its brand new “Book Club Series,” we sat down with Leslie King O’Neal
to discuss the recent release of the Forum’s new book—</span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span><a href="https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/433512440/" target="_blank">Technology in Construction Law: A Legal Guide</a></span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">. Leslie
needs no introduction to the construction law community. In fact, just
this year, the ABA Forum presented Leslie with the Cornerstone Award in
recognition of her exceptional service to the construction industry, the public
and the legal profession. Leslie now serves as an arbitrator, mediator, and
neutral evaluator at JAMS, using her over
40 years’ experience handling construction and complex commercial litigation
matters in private practice and as in-house counsel for Brasfield & Gorrie,
L.L.C., an ENR top 25 commercial general contractor. Leslie is not afraid to
tackle </span><span style="text-align: justify;">any</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> topic including one that many attorneys do their best to
avoid—technology.</span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<hr color="grey" size="1" style="text-align: justify;" width="60%" />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q: What is your book about and who
should read it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The book is geared to construction attorneys. It is a resource
that provides practical advice for lawyers on issues related to the new
technology being used to design and construction projects: ethics, contracts, intellectual property
issues, government regulations, insurance, cybersecurity, e-discovery issues,
using the data to support expert opinions, developing presentations for
mediation, arbitration, or court with the data, and how litigators can use
technology as a tool.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q:
What was your inspiration for writing a book about construction
technology?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A couple of years ago, I learned about the
numerous new technologies, such as robot dogs, drones, and virtual reality
glasses, that my then-employer, Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C., was using or
testing on its projects. I wondered how the data generated by these
technologies could be accessed and organized and how it could be used as
evidence in a dispute or an investigation. Then I was asked to introduce a
speaker and edit a paper written by Rebecca Sherman and Megan George on new
technology for the Forum’s 2021 Annual Meeting. This book developed from that
paper. The idea was to create a resource for lawyers to help them understand
these technologies and the voluminous amounts of data they create. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Q:</b>
<b>What are some of the technologies discussed in the book? <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It addresses the most cutting-edge technologies
being used by designers </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">and constructors on projects today, including:</span></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLszXdDUpTJnlzFsn5iDbZjoqy-MhTFHmQapp7SBx4Gl6Ni_lISkBYHGnkiFGeL0RoubsWZRJdn58AIUgOCe6pMUoIOZ7aE-Z7OWTAed7pZ-V_MO-OKEwNhtk568sqi3gWz0b0SCHfqFvkm-tG2LYay3Es5Mk4VLsbQOZsWhQ5aMdzZjiit-vTTeQzxSo/s601/img.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLszXdDUpTJnlzFsn5iDbZjoqy-MhTFHmQapp7SBx4Gl6Ni_lISkBYHGnkiFGeL0RoubsWZRJdn58AIUgOCe6pMUoIOZ7aE-Z7OWTAed7pZ-V_MO-OKEwNhtk568sqi3gWz0b0SCHfqFvkm-tG2LYay3Es5Mk4VLsbQOZsWhQ5aMdzZjiit-vTTeQzxSo/w280-h400/img.png" width="280" /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(1) <b>BIM: </b>While Building Information Modeling
(“BIM”) technology has been used for many years, it has evolved into a 3D model
providing a virtual representation of all aspects of a structure. It allows various
entities involved in design and construction of a project (designers, general
contractors, subcontractors) to change and update the model in real time. When a project is completed, the contractor can
provide a “digital twin” BIM model to the owner for maintenance, operations,
and future remodeling. The digital twin may include the owner’s “smart”
technology such as control systems for security and climate control. This is
the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).
The digital twin replaces the “as-builts” that construction lawyers are
familiar with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(2) <b>Drones: </b> Initially, drone photographs were used for
inspecting sites or difficult to reach areas on projects. Now, drones use 3D
photography which can be overlaid on the BIM model to verify that the design
matches existing site conditions. Drone data can be integrated into other
project management data through use of platforms such as Drone Deploy and
Procore, making the data available to project teams in real time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(3</b>) <b>Robotics:
</b>Use of robotics in construction is growing but has been challenging because
construction sites are varied, complex and constantly changing and many
construction activities are not repetitive. Currently, robots are used for site
deliveries, autonomously operated equipment, project layout, hanging drywall,
bricklaying, welding, tying rebar, cutting materials, packing, and cleaning. Robotics
can also assist human laborers through “robotic arms” or exoskeletons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(4) Laser
Scanning: <span class="hgkelc"><span style="background: white; color: #202124;">Laser
scanning is a highly accurate method to capture the details of an existing
building or construction site. Advanced scanners create 3D representations
known as point clouds which contain data used to create a map of the precise
shape and size of physical objects. This can be used for m</span></span>apping existing site conditions and validating design
execution.<span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(5) 3D Printing: </b>Also
known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the construction of physical
elements, in 3D, by extruding materials such as plastics, concretes, powders,
and resins from a machine guided by a CAD based model. These 3D printed objects
have the strength of steel and can be operational when removed from the printer.
3D printing can create project models, project components such as formwork, and
even entire structures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(6) Wearable
Technology: </b>Technology included in watches, hard hats, safety vests, and
work boots allows tracking and monitoring on-site personnel in an automated,
streamlined process. It provides for greater worker safety, site security, and monitoring
productivity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(7) Virtual Reality
(VR): </b>VR goggles immerse the wearer in the modeled environment,<b> </b>allowing
owners and other stakeholders to experience their project before work begins in
the field. They can also be used in safety training and for collaboration
between the design team and constructors.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(8) Project Information
Management: </b>Project information management platforms such as ProCore and
Autodesk allow data from different types of technology to be integrated and
organized so that project teams can use this information in real time. ProCore
can integrate 300 different applications, including schedule, accounting,
safety, daily reports, drone photographs, deliveries, RFIs, change orders,
punch lists, and more. These are displayed on project dashboards, which are
available to project team members with permission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q:
What challenges do these technologies create for construction lawyers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lawyers have an ethical duty of
technological competence, which means they need to understand the technology
their clients use and how to access, use and safeguard clients’ data. The
volume of data created on projects through these technologies is exponentially
greater than before. Data from many different sources may be housed in a data
lake and may be organized and analyzed by project information management
platforms such as ProCore or AutoDesk. These platforms are being used not only
by large commercial general contractors, but also by residential contractors
and subcontractors. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are
necessary to review, organize, and analyze the terabytes of data a project may create. Contract terms must be
modified to deal with issues relating to these new technologies. Government
contractors and private entities are subject to government regulations and
cybersecurity requirements. Expert assistance may be needed to use data
effectively in mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings. This book can
assist lawyers in meeting these challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Q:
Do you have any thoughts on what the future has in store for the
construction industry?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think the construction industry will continue to
find more uses for different types of technology. Although the design and
construction industries were relatively slow in adopting technology, this has
changed. The challenge is for project teams to understand the best ways to
utilize the technology tools available. Also, construction lawyers need to
understand the technologies their clients are using and how to gather, organize, and utilize the data effectively.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CLICK </span><a href="https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/433512440/" target="_blank">HERE</a> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">TO ORDER A COPY OF <i>TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION LAW: A LEGAL GUIDE</i> </span></span></div></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><hr align="center" color="grey" size="1" width="90%" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span>Editor Marissa L. Downs is a construction attorney in Chicago, Illinois where she has been practicing law since 2009. Marissa is a partner at <a href="https://www.lauriebrennan.com/attorneys/marissa-l-downs/" target="_blank">Laurie & Brennan, LLP</a> and represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all phases of project procurement, claim administration, litigation, and arbitration/trial. Marissa can be contacted at <a href="mailto:mdowns@lauriebrennan.com" target="_blank">mdowns@lauriebrennan.com</a>.</span></i></div><span style="text-align: justify;"></span>Marissa L. Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12179539473058467411noreply@blogger.com0