Category: Construction liability

The Importance of Cleaning Construction Waste

Everybody loves an exciting renovation project. Whether it’s finishing floors, replacing drywall, or even as simple as painting the walls. When it comes to such projects, there will be debris left behind. Construction waste is any “trash” on a job site from leftover materials. Some of these materials could contain harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, asbestos and even live wires and sharp, dangerous objects. Discarding and eliminating leftover construction waste properly is extremely important for your safety, and even the surrounding environment. Construction waste comes in many different forms. The most common forms are listed below.

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The Holidays – Beautiful, but dangerous? Holiday Safety Tips

When it comes to the holidays, we think of food, family and decorations, not necessarily holiday safety tips. Did it ever occur to you that decorations such as lights and candles could become dangerous? According to the ESFI, Electrical Safety Foundation International, damages from the holidays happen more than expected. Though holiday lights are traditional and festive, they should always be under close watch.

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Is your Construction Site up to Safety Standards?

Working too quickly to meet a completion deadline, running to the opposite side of the construction site, or even failing to pay attention to safety standards can all be fatal on a construction site. It is crucial – and lifesaving – to understand and know the safety measures that you must take to protect yourself and others on any given job site. In this article, we will discuss the fundamentals of construction site safety.

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Long Island Construction Attorney John Caravella Invited to Speak at the AIA Contract Document Workshop

On October 17th, 2019 John Caravella, a Long Island Construction Attorney, will be speaking at the AIA Contract Document Workshop located in Ronkonkoma, New York. Held and organized by Halfmoon Education Incorporated, the AIA Contract Document Workshop will analyze most common AIA contract documents and ways to use them. Specifically, this seminar will cover the examination of primary AIA Contract documents and General Conditions, learning about supplemental or alternate AIA contract documents, reviewing contract fundamentals, agreements between owner, architect, designer-builder and construction manager and evaluating completed contract documents for sample projects.

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Why Homeowners are Vulnerable When Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor

Managing a budget is generally a high priority on a homeowner’s list when beginning a home improvement project.  Unfortunately, many homeowners make the mistake of saving money by hiring an unlicensed contractor.  Although it may seem to be the more attractive, less expensive option, hiring an unlicensed contractor to save some money could be very problematic, leading to long-term negative financial effects or legal consequences.  This is due to the fact that there is no guarantee that an unlicensed contractor will have the necessary insurance policies in place to protect your property, themselves, their workers, and any other damages that may arise from their construction work.

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Commissioner’s Regulations in Architecture

Though an architect is responsible for designs and drawings, they also play a part in structural safety. Whether building single-family homes or a large corporate building, a professional in the architectural industry must have the proper education and experience to practice. This article about the commissioner’s regulations in architecture was presented by John Caravella during the “Design Professionals in New York” speaking engagement produced by HalfMoon Seminars.

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5 Reasons that may Justify the Termination of your Construction Agreement

When homeowners are ready to get the ball rolling with their new construction project, excitement and happy emotions usually take over when signing the construction agreement. With that said, however, there is an important relationship from start through final completion with your contractor, and significant issues could develop. When advising in breach of contract and contract termination cases, there are five examples all homeowners should look out for before pulling the trigger, that may justify your agreements termination. Continue reading “5 Reasons that may Justify the Termination of your Construction Agreement”

Primary AIA Contract Documents

Last quarter, John Caravella was invited to speak at the AIA Contract Documents Workshop where he was able to share his knowledge about Construction Contract Interpretation and Fundamentals. In this specific article, we discuss the document types between different parties, to ensure the correct contract is being utilized for your specific type of work.

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Contract Terminology and Interpretation

Construction contracts could be challenging and difficult to read but learning the basic terms can really make a difference. On October 17th, John Caravella was invited to speak at the AIA Contract Document Workshop where he was able to share his knowledge about Construction Contract Interpretation and Fundamentals. In this specific article, we share simplified definitions of commonly used words within a construction agreement as well as exploring the law of Construction Contract Interpretation.

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The Prompt Payment Act: Is It At Odds With Public Policy?

Is the prompt payment act at odds with public policy? In both general litigation and construction litigation, courts generally give parties great freedom to contract. Thus, New York’s policy is to enforce arbitration agreements in construction contracts.[i] Conversely, New York courts do not usually force parties into arbitration unless their contract expressly requires it.[ii]

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