2026 Construction Law Update

Happy New Year! Hope the holidays were enjoyable for you. During the first session of the California Legislature’s 2025-2026 legislative session, 2,350 bills were introduced, of…

9204 Meet 8850. Public Works Claims Processes Now Apply to Private Works, With Some Differences

Contractors working on public works projects are likely familiar with the statutory claims resolution process under Public Contract Code section 9204. Section 9204, which went into…

Call Me Maybe: California’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations

It’s not uncommon in construction claims for there to be Insurance and bond issues, whether it’s tendering a claim to your insurer, or claims against a…

Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai Recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Nomos LLP partner Garret Murai has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Construction Law.

At the Border of Contract and Torts in Construction Disputes

“The declining significance of privity has found its way to construction law.” So begins the 4th District Court of Appeal’s decision in Lynch v. Peter &…

New California Law Caps Retention at 5% on Private Works Projects Effective on January 1, 2026

I usually wait until the end of the year to write about new construction laws. But a friend (thanks Marty!) recently reached out about a bill…

Fairness is Relative. Workers Compensation and the Dreaded Section 7031

I’ve lost my share of cases over the years. Winning of course, feels great, and losing doesn’t. But losing teaches lessons that winning rarely can. At…

Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai Recognized by Super Lawyers

Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai has been recognized as a 2025 Northern California Super Lawyer honoree in the area of Construction Litigation. This is the twelfth…

Tesla, Trafficking and the False Claims Act

Living in California, illegal immigration has been a topic of debate for as long as I can remember. But I can’t think of a time when…

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should. The “Retained Control” Exception to the Privette Doctrine

Eating an entire bag of “family” sized potato chips in one sitting. Guilty. Binge watching the entire new season of Black Mirror over a weekend. Guilty.…

Mind Those Deadlines! Party Loses Appeal of Arbitration Decision by Failing to Timely File a Petition to Vacate

Arbitration provisions are increasingly common in construction contracts. Indeed, the boilerplate AIA contract documents include a standard arbitration provision providing for arbitration before the American Arbitration…