DIR Public Works Renewal Deadline is June 30th

Like taxes and (since I’m getting close to 50) other yearly “requirements” . . . a reminder from the folks at the California Department of Industrial Relations .…

California Supreme Court Addresses “Good Faith” Construction Disputes Under Prompt Payment Laws

It’s been a rollercoaster. But the ride appears to be over. In United Riggers & Erectors, Inc. v. Coast Iron & Steel Co., Case No. S231549…

Let it Shine: California Mandates Rooftop Solar for New Residential Construction

California. Birthplace of the Frisbee, skateboard, television, canned tuna and (yup) fortune cookies has added another first to the list: California has become the first state in the…

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…