Attention D-40 Service Station Equipment Maintenance Contractors!

As many of you know, the California Contractors State License Board, in addition to issuing Class A General Engineering, Class B General Contractor, and Class C…

Failure to Consider Safety Element in Design Does Not Preclude Public Entity’s Discretionary Authority Under Design Immunity Defense

In Rodriguez v. Department of Transportation, Case No. F074027 (March 27, 2018), the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District considered the following mind-twister: Can you…

CSLB Word of the Day – “Fenestration”

From our well-read friends at the California Contractors State License Board . . . March 21, 2018 CSLB #18-04 What Contractors Should Know about Fenestration Product…

In a Win for Property Owners California Court Expands and Clarifies Privette Doctrine

We’ve written before about the Privette doctrine, which generally holds that a higher-tiered party is not liable for injuries sustained by employees of a lower-tiered party…

And the Winner Is . . . The Right to Repair Act!

Civil litigation attorneys often talk about “damages.” Because without damages . . . well . . . you’re out of luck. But damages come in different…

2018 California Employment Law Update

If there’s one area of the law that has a direct impact on the construction industry nearly as much as new construction laws, it’s new employment…

You Are Your Brother’s Keeper. Direct Contractors in California Now Responsible for Wage Obligations of Subcontractors

If there’s one law from the 2017 Legislative Session that’s garnered a lot of attention in the construction press, it’s AB 1701. Under AB 1701, beginning January…

2018 Construction Outlook: Mature Expansion, Deceleration in Some Sectors, Continued Growth in Others

U.S. construction starts are expected to increase 3 percent to $765 billion in 2018 according to Dodge Data & Analytics in its 2018 Dodge Construction Outlook. But…

2018 California Construction Law Update

The California State Legislature introduced 2,495 bills during the first year of the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. Of these, 859 were signed into law. While much political…

California Court Broadly Interprets Insurance Policy’s “Liability Arising Out of” Language

In McMillin Mgmt. Servs. v. Financial Pacific Ins. Co., Cal.Ct.App. (4th Dist.), Docket No. D069814 (filed 11/14/17), the California Court of Appeal held that the term…

In a Win for Design Professionals, California Court of Appeals Holds That Relation-Back Doctrine Does Not Apply to Certificate of Merit Law

The year was 1995. The old guard was still in power in Sacramento. “Button-Down” Pete Wilson was Governor. Willie Brown, the self-nicknamed “Ayatollah of the Assembly,” was…

Got Licensing Questions? CSLB Licensing Workshop November 17th and December 15th

A rare opportunity to hear it straight from the folks who process the applications . . . October 31, 2017 CSLB #17-09 CSLB Licensing Workshop Offers Helpful Information…