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…

California’s Prompt Payment Laws: Just Because an Owner Has Changed Course Doesn’t Mean It’s Changed Course on Previous Payments

We’ve written before about California’s prompt payment laws which are designed to help contractors get paid in a timely and orderly fashion, which is always nice,…

Waive Not, Want Not: Waivers and Releases on California Construction Projects

California is one of a handful of states (12 to be exact) which have statutory mandated waiver and release forms for construction projects. So here’s what…

Sometimes it Depends on “Whose” Hand is in the Cookie Jar

In a lengthy and somewhat detailed decision, the California Court of Appeal for First District, in Pittsburg Unified School District v. S.J. Amoroso Construction Company, Inc.,…

2013 California Construction Law Update

Over 4,000 bills were introduced in the California State Legislature during the 2011-2012 legislative session. Of these bills, 996 made it to Governor Brown’s desk, of…

2012 California Construction Law Update – Part 2

Part 2 of my 2012 California Construction Law Update discusses several new laws which are intended to provide relief to the state’s hard hit construction industry, provide…

Objective, Not Subjective Standard, Determines Good Faith Disputes Under Prompt Payment Statutes

California has several nearly identical statutes scattered across multiple code sections that require public and private owners to promptly pay progress and retention payments to their…