Construction projects are pricey not just because of the materials needed but also because of the labor involved. For large projects, it’s not unusual to see contractors reaching out to subcontractors to handle certain specialized aspects of the construction, such as...
Construction Law
The most dangerous hazards often seen on construction sites
Most construction workers in Maryland are likely aware that they work in one of the most hazardous and dangerous occupations in the entire country. On most construction sites, there are unavoidable hazards at nearly every turn. Here are some of the most dangerous...
The importance of change orders in construction contracts
If there is one common denominator in most, if not all, construction projects, it would be the probability of change. For those overseeing the entire process, change orders require proper management and an effective strategy in place. Efficiency in assessing the need...
Handling a construction defect
When people purchase homes or buildings in Maryland, they trust that the construction was properly completed. Most of the time, contractors, builders and others involved in the construction do their due diligence to ensure that all the work meets proper standards,...
How a mechanic’s lien is interpreted under Virginia Law
The modern form of a mechanic's lien can be traced to Thomas Jefferson, who used the concept in promoting the construction of Washington, the new capital city of our young republic.Today, the Supreme Court of Virginia, like other such courts in other states, maintains...
The Reemergence of Pay-When-Paid
In the recent unreported case of Young Electrical Contractors, Inc. v. Dustin Construction, Inc. the Maryland Court of Special Appeals reaffirmed the validity of a pay when paid clause. In this case a subcontractor sought payment for several change orders which were...
Power of Attorney Holder Tries to Practice Law – Loses Mechanics Lien Case
The recent unreported case of Baker v. L & E Bustamante Concrete Co., Inc. shows that a Maryland court is not required to force a subcontractor to prove how much a homeowner owes the general contractor when the sub seeks a mechanic's lien. This is the case even...
Changes in The Law for Maryland Contractors
There have been a couple changes in Maryland Law impacting contractors. The first is there are a few minor changes in the rescission notice in door to door sales which make it less cumbersome. The second is that repair work is not defined as a door to door sale if the...
Hope for Unlicensed Contractors?
Judge Michelle Hotten's well-reasoned but unpublished opinion in the case of Glen Valley Builders v. Whang may finally offer hope for exploited unlicensed contractors. The Court of Special Appeals Judge recently authored an opinion for a three judge panel in a case...
No Copyright Protection for House Plans
In the case of Sari v. America's Home Place, Inc., which was decided by Judge Gerald Lee in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a homeowner copyrighted the plans which were used to build a new home. When the builder built another...