SANTA IDAHO CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs: The Refund Process Will Be Messy

March 10, 2026 — Brett W. Johnson, Derek Flint, T. Troy Galan & Thomas Williams - Snell & Wilmer
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, and the consolidated case Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs unilaterally.1 The decision invalidates both the “reciprocal” tariffs and the drug-trafficking tariffs imposed under IEEPA. For importers, the immediate question is whether, how, and when refunds can actually be obtained. On that issue, the U.S. Supreme Court provided no roadmap. To the contrary, the dissent warned that the United States “may be required to refund billions of dollars,” that the process is likely to be a “mess,” and that the majority opinion “says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers.” Reprinted courtesy of Brett W. Johnson, Snell & Wilmer, Derek Flint, Snell & Wilmer, T. Troy Galan, Snell & Wilmer and Thomas Williams, Snell & Wilmer Mr. Johnson may be contacted at bwjohnson@swlaw.com Mr. Flint may be contacted at dflint@swlaw.com Mr. Galan may be contacted at tgalan@swlaw.com Mr. Williams may be contacted at twilliams@swlaw.com> Read the full story...

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Appeals Court Upholds Skanska, Granite Win in ‘I-4 Ultimate’ JV Dispute

June 15, 2026 — Bryan Gottlieb - Engineering News-Record
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court’s decision requiring The Lane Construction Corp. to pay roughly $79 million in damages, plus interest, to joint venture partners Skanska USA Civil Southeast and Granite Construction for work on Florida’s I-4 Ultimate highway megaproject in Orlando, which was completed in 2022. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Bryan Gottlieb, Engineering News-Record
Mr. Gottlieb may be contacted at gottliebb@enr.com

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GRSM Marks Seventh Anniversary as First and Only Full-Service Law Firm in All 50 States, Climbs to #70 on Am Law 100

April 20, 2026 — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani proudly celebrates the seventh anniversary of its becoming the first and only full-service law firm with offices and attorneys in all 50 states. Since launching its innovative 50-state platform in April 2019, GRSM has experienced extraordinary growth across markets, practices, and client relationships. In the past seven years, GRSM has expanded its footprint with 20 new offices in both major and secondary markets and doubled its attorney headcount, growing from 940 to more than 2000 lawyers. This growth has propelled GRSM from the 40th to the 11th largest law firm in the United States, according to Law360, while also driving a significant rise on the Am Law 100 rankings, from #103 in 2019 to #70 in 2026. GRSM has served nearly half of the Fortune 500, a testament to its deep bench of lawyers and national capabilities. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

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Georgia HB 676: A Bill Property Owners and Contractors Should Watch

March 24, 2026 — Robert Lafayette - The Construction Seyt
Property owners, contractors, and others dealing with mechanics and materialmen’s liens in Georgia should keep an eye on HB 676, which is currently making its way through the Georgia General Assembly. The bill aims to curb misuse of the lien process and provide additional remedies to those challenging a frivolous lien filing. What HB 676 Would Do HB 676 would add a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-366.6) to the mechanics and materialmen’s lien statutes. If a lien is filed “without substantial justification or that is not made in good faith or that is made with malice or a wrongful purpose,” this new Code section would impose a fine of $1,500 per lien on the lien claimant, in addition to any attorney’s fees or court costs incurred by the party challenging the lien. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Robert Lafayette, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Mr. Lafayette may be contacted at rlafayette@seyfarth.com

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GRSM Attorneys Named Finalists in 2026 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards

March 10, 2026 — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani attorneys have been shortlisted as finalists for Corporate Counsel’s 2026 Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards, which honor women leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in the legal profession. In the Law Firm Internal Collaborative Leadership category, Stephanie Jones was recognized for her exceptional ability to foster collaboration, mentor talent, and align colleagues across GRSM. Jones has consistently demonstrated leadership rooted in trust, inclusion, and shared purpose, qualities that have strengthened the firm during a period of extraordinary growth. Her impact on the firm’s culture and success will continue as she steps into her role as Chief Operating Partner in June 2026, where she will further build on her leadership in fostering teamwork, mentorship, and alignment across the firm’s national platform. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

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The Modern Nuclear Renaissance Reaches New England

April 14, 2026 — Stephen J. Humes - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
On March 31, 2026, the governors of all six New England states issued a joint, bipartisan statement committing the region to explore deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies while supporting the continued safe, affordable and reliable operation of New England’s existing nuclear generation facilities. This coordinated regional initiative follows a major policy announcement in June 2025 by New York Governor Kathy Hochul directing the New York Power Authority to pursue development of at least 1,000 MW of advanced nuclear generation to support statewide reliability needs and New York’s zero‑carbon mission. Less than one year after New York formally embraced a modern nuclear renaissance, that renaissance has now expanded across the New England states—signaling a broader Northeast regional pivot toward nuclear as a core element of long‑term reliability, affordability and decarbonization strategies. For utilities and power generators, this shift creates both opportunities and planning imperatives that warrant immediate attention. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Stephen J. Humes, Pillsbury
Mr. Humes may be contacted at stephen.humes@pillsburylaw.com

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Chambers USA Recognizes Hunton’s Insurance Coverage Practice in 2026 Guide

June 29, 2026 — Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog
Hunton is pleased to announce that its insurance coverage practice was recognized nationally for Insurance: Dispute Resolution – Policyholder in the recently released 2026 Chambers USA guide. The team also received state rankings in Florida (Insurance: Dispute Resolution), Georgia (Insurance), the District of Columbia (Insurance: Policyholder), and Massachusetts (Insurance). In addition to the insurance team’s group recognition across multiple states, the 2026 guide included individual rankings for Lorelie “Lorie” S. Masters (USA Nationwide and District of Columbia), Latosha M. Ellis (District of Columbia), Michael S. Levine (District of Columbia), Koorosh “KT” Talieh (District of Columbia), Walter J. Andrews (Florida), Andrea DeField (Florida), Cary D. Steklof (Florida), Lawrence J. Bracken II (Georgia), and Geoffrey B. Fehling (Massachusetts). Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

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Course of Construction Exclusions and the CGL Policy

July 20, 2026 — Anna M. Perry, Rachel S. Kindseth & Nina Catanzaro - Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
I. Course of Construction Exclusions Course of Construction (“COC”) exclusions are found on General Liability and excess liability policies, typically a wrap-up or project specific policy, and generally exclude “all property damage occurring during the course of construction.” Insurers claim COC exclusions are not problematic because they are intended to prevent an overlap in coverage between the general liability policy and first-party property Builder’s Risk policy. However, because General Liability policies and Builder’s Risk policies provide coverage for different risks, COC exclusions can create a gap in coverage for owners and contractors. Therefore, any exclusion on a wrap-up or project specific policy that limits coverage for property damage liability should be scrutinized, and amendments sought when warranted and commercially achievable, for owners, developers and contractors because General Liability policies do not cover the same risk as that of a Builder’s Risk policy. General liability policies provide defense and indemnity to the insured(s) for claims made by a third-party against the insured. Broad COC exclusions serve to preclude coverage for all property damage, not just property damage to the insured project. This includes property damage to property other than the insured project, e.g. an adjacent property. On the other hand, Builder’s Risk policies provide first-party property coverage for direct physical loss to the project during the course of construction. The Builder’s Risk policy will not provide coverage for property other than the project itself (e.g., adjacent property) and it will not provide a defense or indemnity in the event the owner of the damaged property brings a claim against a potentially at-fault party. Reprinted courtesy of Anna M. Perry, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C., Rachel S. Kindseth, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. and Nina Catanzaro, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. Ms. Perry may be contacted at APerry@sdvlaw.com Ms. Kindseth may be contacted at rkindseth@sdvlaw.com Ms. Catanzaro may be contacted at NCatanzaro@sdvlaw.com Administrative and Environmental Law Cases Decided During the U.S. Supreme Court’
The Investors Profiting Off Water Scarcity

Arizona Supreme Court Confirms a Prevailing Homeowner Can Recover Fees on Implied Warranty Claims

New OSHA Rule Creates Electronic Reporting Requirement

Living With a Millennial. Or Grandma.

Rescission of Policy for Misrepresentation in Application Reversed

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (11/8/23) – New Handling of Homelessness, Decline in Investments into ESG Funds, and Shrinking of a Homebuyer’s Dollar

$48 Million Award and Successful Defense of $135 Million Claim

Remodel Leaves Guitarist’s Home Leaky and Moldy

What is a Personal Injury?

Developers Can Tap into DOE’s $400 Million for Remote and Rural Clean Energy Projects

Contractor Convicted of Additional Fraud

Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

Insurer's Motion for Summary Judgment in Collapse Case Denied

Contractor Sues Supplier over Defective Products

Insurer Not Entitled to Summary Judgment on Construction Defect Claims

Texas Supreme Court Declines to Waive Sovereign Immunity in Premises Defect Case

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (6/24/26) – HUD to Fund AI Grants, Luxury Hotel Deal Investment Activity to Surge, ESPCs to Fund Energy and Infrastructure Improvements

Settlement Agreements and Contracts Require a Meeting of the Minds

Why You May Not Want a Mandatory Mediation Clause in Your Construction Contract

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

Just When You Thought General Contractors Were Necessary Parties. . .

Tech Focus: Water Tech Getting Smarter

Construction Workers Face Dangers on the Job

ASCE Statement on Congress Passage of National Debt Limit Suspension

Justin Clark Joins Newmeyer & Dillion’s Walnut Creek Branch as its Newest Associate

Firm Leadership – New Co-Chairs for the Construction Law Practice Group

Virtual Reality for Construction

Nuclear Energy Gets a Much-Needed Boost

Homeowner Has No Grounds to Avoid Mechanics Lien

Grad Student Sues UC Santa Cruz over Mold in Residence

Workplace Safety–the Unpreventable Employee Misconduct Defense

California Senator Proposes Bill to Require Contractors to Report Construction Defect Cases

Associated Builders and Contractors Northern California Chapter Announces New President/CEO

Recording “Un-Neighborly” Documents

No Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Based Upon Exclusion for Contractual Assumption of Liability

Avoid the Headache – Submit the Sworn Proof of Loss to Property Insurer

These Roads Aren’t Built for Wilder Weather Driven by Climate Change

Federal Court Holds that Demolition Exclusion Does Not Apply and Carrier Has Duty to Defend Additional Insureds

Signs of a Slowdown in Luxury Condos

Safeguarding History: Fire Risks in Renovating Historic Buildings

U.K. Broadens Crackdown on Archaic Property Leasehold System

New York State Trial Court: Non-Cumulation Provision in Excess Policies Mandates “All Sums” Allocation

From Shale to Salt: Texas Supreme Court Applies Uniform Rule for Ownership of Subsurface Caverns

A Property Tax Exemption, Misapplied, in Texas

Following Mishaps, D.C. Metro Presses on With Repairs

Funding the Self-Insured Retention (SIR)

Several Wilke Fleury Attorneys Featured in Sacramento Magazine 2022 Top Lawyers!

Protecting Your Business From Liability Claims Stemming From COVID-19 Exposure

Grupo Mexico Spill Sparks Public Scrutiny of $150 Million Mop-Up

The Architecture of Tomorrow Mimics Nature to Cool the Planet
/bhastory.php?cdjs=193397520">Court Rules Planned Development of Banning Ranch May Proceed

Federal Arbitration Act Preempts Pennsylvania Payment Act

When to Withhold Retention Payments on Private or Public Projects

Governor Signs AB5 Into Law — Reshaping California's Independent Contractor Classification Landscape

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (6/18/24) – Cannabis’ Effect on Real Estate, AI’s Capabilities for Fund Managers and CRE’s Exposure on Large Banks

Tarriffs, a Pandemic and War: Construction Contracts Must Withstand the Unforeseeable

Napa Quake Seen Costing Up to $4 Billion as Wineries Shut

A Few Things You Might Consider Doing Instead of Binging on Netflix

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (04/26/23) – The Energy Transition and a Bit of Brick-and-Mortar Blues

Newmeyer Dillion Partner Louis "Dutch" Schotemeyer Named One of Orange County's 500 Most Influential by Orange County Business Journal

Supreme Court of Kentucky Holds Plaintiff Can Recover for Stigma Damages in Addition to Repair Costs Resulting From Property Damage

Former SNC-Lavalin CEO Now Set for Trial in Bribe Case

State Audit Questions College Construction Spending in LA

Contrasting Expert Opinions Result in Denial of Cross Motions for Summary Judgment

CA Senate Report States Caltrans ‘Gagged and Banished’ its Critics

Federal Court Requires Auto Liability Carrier to Cover Suit Involving Independent Contractor Despite “Employee Exclusion”

Doctrine of Substantial Performance When It Comes to Payment

Build Back Better Includes Historic Expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program

Excess-Escape Other Insurance Provision Unenforceable to Avoid Defense Cost Contribution Despite Placement in Policy’s Coverage Grant

Illinois Attorney General Warns of Home Repair Scams

Recent Developments Involving Cedell v. Farmers Insurance Company of Washington

Builders Arrested after Building Collapses in India

New York Federal Court Enforces Construction Exclusion, Rejects Reimbursement Claim

Recent Third Circuit OSHA Decision Sounds Alarm for Employers and Their Officers