Lawmakers Vote to Reauthorize Programs to Support Water Quality, Coastal Protection
April 20, 2026 —
Pam McFarland - Engineering News-RecordThe U.S. House of Representatives has passed a package of 14 bills that includes measures to reauthorize several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency programs to protect and restore critical water ecosystems, expand access to broadband, reduce regulatory requirements on airport projects and programs and lower costs of federal buildings.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Pam McFarland, Engineering News-RecordMs. McFarland may be contacted at
mcfarlandp@enr.com
ZEC 2.0: New York’s Zero Emissions Credit Program Gets an Extension and a Reboot
February 10, 2026 —
Stephen J. Humes & Jason Drogin Atwood - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn a landmark move that could shape New York’s energy landscape for decades, state officials have taken steps to both preserve its existing nuclear power facilities and significantly expand its advanced nuclear capacity. These actions are part of a broader strategy to maintain grid reliability and meet both escalating energy demand and the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction and zero carbon goals.
Renewing the Zero Emissions Credit Program
On January 22, 2026, the New York Public Services Commission (PSC) unanimously voted to extend and reboot the Zero Emissions Credit program (now called ZEC 2.0) to ensure that New York’s four upstate nuclear reactors maintain operations through 2049. The program, which began in 2016, is designed to provide revenue subsidies for legacy nuclear facilities that have been facing financial difficulties in New York’s competitive wholesale power markets. State officials have stated that the benefits of ensuring the continued operations of these reactors far outweigh the costs due to the lack of zero-emissions alternatives and the importance of ensuring grid reliability in the face of escalating energy demand from large loads like data centers.
Reprinted courtesy of
Stephen J. Humes, Pillsbury and
Jason Drogin Atwood, Pillsbury
Mr. Humes may be contacted at stephen.humes@pillsburylaw.com
Mr. Atwood may be contacted at jason.atwood@pillsburylaw.com
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NJ Public Works Contractors Beware – Pay Special Attention When Submitting Your Public Works Contractor Registration
May 26, 2026 —
Levi W. Barrett & Aaron C. Schlesinger - Peckar & Abramson, P.C.While it is always important to be careful when making submissions to government agencies, recent activity by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (“NJDOL”) reveals considerably increased scrutiny in connection with contractors renewing their New Jersey Public Works Registration. Extra care when completing the registration renewal process is warranted, because the consequences of a misstep can be significant and disruptive.
The New Jersey Public Works Contractor Registration Act requires all contractors bidding on or engaging in construction-related public works projects to register with the NJDOL. This registration, which must be resubmitted every 1-2 years, requires contractors to make a number of detailed disclosures relating to, among other things, the entity’s ownership structure, prior state and federal labor law violations, details regarding interests in other businesses, unlawful acts by owners/officers, and participation in apprenticeship programs.
Reprinted courtesy of
Levi W. Barrett, Peckar & Abramson, P.C. and
Aaron C. Schlesinger, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Mr. Barrett may be contacted at lbarrett@pecklaw.com
Mr. Schlesinger may be contacted at aschlesinger@pecklaw.com
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Congratulations to Reno Partner Karen Baytosh for Securing a Complete Dismissal via a Motion for Summary Judgment
July 13, 2026 —
Dolores Montoya - Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLPBWB&O is proud to announce that Reno Partner Karen Baytosh received a significant victory on behalf of the firm’s Developer Client in a high-exposure personal injury matter.
Plaintiff, a teenager, was struck by an intoxicated driver while walking her dog at night, sustaining catastrophic injuries requiring 24-hour critical care for the remainder of her life. Plaintiff’s Guardian brought suit against the drunk driver and her husband, the City, and BWB&O’s Developer Clients, alleging that the City and Developers failed to improve street lighting and install a sidewalk that would have prevented the accident.
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Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLP
Did You Get the Message? (And does it count?) The Legal Consequences of Text Messages, Group Chats, and Informal Digital Communication on Construction Projects
March 17, 2026 —
Kellie Ros & Curtis Martin - ConsensusDocsIntroduction: The New Reality of Construction Communication
Construction projects have always depended on a constant stream of communication. Today’s project managers, superintendents, and foremen have broadened the method of communication to include convenient forms of digital communication. Superintendents text photos of field conditions, owners send quick approvals through WhatsApp, architects clarify design intent in a Teams chat, and subcontractors coordinate sequencing through group texts. These channels are fast, convenient, and deeply embedded in modern project culture. Yet the legal framework governing construction contracts has not evolved at the same pace. Many contracts still assume – or require – that notice, directives, and approvals occur through formal written channels—letters, emails to designated recipients, or structured project‑management platforms. This disconnect creates significant legal risk, particularly for contractors who rely on informal messages as authorization for extra work or schedule changes. Courts are increasingly asked to interpret text messages, chat threads, and screenshots as evidence of notice, direction, or waiver. The outcomes vary, but the trend is unmistakable: informal digital communication is now part of the project record, and it can bind parties in ways they did not expect.
Reprinted courtesy of
Kellie Ros, Peckar & Abramson, P.C. and
Curtis Martin, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Ms. Ros may be contacted at kros@pecklaw.com
Mr. Martin may be contacted at cmartin@pecklaw.com
Read the full story...
Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (3/18/25) – Data Center Frenzy, China’s Expanding REIT Market and Tariff-Affected Construction Costs
March 31, 2026 —
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn our latest roundup, relistings reached highest total in a decade, Florida State Legislature passes bill to increase the state’s housing supply, data center construction adapts to changes and more!
- The data center construction frenzy and a new, potentially larger highway bill were top of mind for builders during the latest round of contractor earnings calls and financial reports. (Joe Bousquin, Construction Dive)
- Tariffs and associated policy uncertainty have increased construction costs and delayed leasing and investment choices. (J.P. Morgan)
- Relistings hit the highest January figure since Redfin began tracking this metric a decade ago. (Diana Olick, CNBC).
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team
For Urban Walkers, a Patchy Dilemma: Who Owns the Sidewalk?
July 06, 2026 —
Linda Poon – BloombergIn 2007, New York City’s sanitation department
threatened Natalie Shea with a $300 fine for defacing public property with graffiti. Her crime: drawing a blue flower in front of her family’s Park Slope home with sidewalk chalk. She was six years old.
The incident, which made
local and
national news at the time, captures the fraught role that sidewalks often play in US cities. These patches of pavement do more than carry pedestrians to their destinations: They’re also places for commerce, social interaction and childhood play, from chalking to learning how to ride a bike. Urbanist Jane Jacobs once likened the range of activities that city sidewalks attract to an “intricate ballet.”
In the new book
Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America’s Most Overlooked Resource (Harvard University Press), author Michael Pollack explores the “tangled web of state and local regulation” that governs sidewalks, with cities often passing along responsibilities for tasks like clearing snow and keeping walkways safe. He paints a portrait of the American sidewalk a disorderly and often neglected network, filled with literal and metaphorical cracks that give rise to all sorts of conflict, from mundane clashes over maintenance to more consequential fights over accessibility and inequality.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Linda Poon, Bloomberg
Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized in Hudson Valley Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
March 24, 2026 —
Copernicus T. Gaza, Jonathan R. Harwood, Lisa M. Rolle, Lisa L. Shrewsberry, Christopher Russo & Hillary J. Raimondi - Traub LiebermanTraub Lieberman is pleased to announce that six Partners from the White Plains, NY office have been included in the 2026 edition of the Hudson Valley Magazine’s Top Lawyers in the Hudson Valley list. This annual guide recognizes more than 270 of the region's leading attorneys.
Insurance:
- Copernicus Gaza
- Jonathan Harwood
- Lisa Rolle
- Lisa Shrewsberry
Reprinted courtesy of
Copernicus T. Gaza, Traub Lieberman,
Jonathan R. Harwood, Traub Lieberman,
Lisa M. Rolle, Traub Lieberman,
Lisa L. Shrewsberry, Traub Lieberman,
Christopher Russo, Traub Lieberman and
Hillary J. Raimondi, Traub Li
Contractors: Consult Your Insurance Broker Regarding Your CGL PolicyThe Prompt Payment Act Obligation is Not Triggered When the Owner Holds Less Retention from the General ContractorMiller Act Claim for Unsigned Change OrdersASHRAE Seeks Comments by May 26 on Draft of Pathogen Mitigation
UK Court Rules Against Bechtel in High-Speed Rail Contract Dispute
These Pioneers Are Already Living the Green Recovery
Insurer Must Pay Portions of Arbitration Award Related to Faulty Workmanship
Quick Note: Steps to Protect and Avoid the “Misappropriation” of a “Trade Secret”
Avoid a Derailed Settlement in Construction
PAGA Right of Action Not Applicable to Construction Workers Under Collective Bargaining Agreement
Supreme Court of Oregon Affirms Decision in Abraham v. T. Henry Construction, et al.
Performance Bonds: Follow the Letter of the Bond and Keep The Surety Informed
Addressing Safety on the Construction Site
A Court-Side Seat: “Inholdings” Upheld, a Pecos Bill Come Due and Agency Actions Abound
The Architecture of Tomorrow Mimics Nature to Cool the Planet
No Coverage for Construction Defects Under Arkansas Law
Construction Defects as Occurrences, Better Decided in Law than in Courts
Second Month of US Construction Spending Down
Sixth Circuit Affirms Liability Insurer's Broad Duty to Defend and Binds Insurer to Judgment Against Landlord
Licensing Reciprocity Comes to Virginia
Project Labor Agreements Will Now Be Required for Large-Scale Federal Construction Projects
David A. Frenznick Awarded Multiple Accolades in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Certificates of Merit: Is Your Texas Certificate Sufficient?
Business Interruption Claim Granted in Part, Denied in Part
A Reminder to Get Your Contractor’s License in Virginia
Are You Taking Full Advantage of Available Reimbursements for Assisting Injured Workers?
The Connecticut Appellate Court Decides That Construction Contractor Was Not Obligated To Continue Accelerated Schedule to Mitigate Its Damages Following Late Delivery of Materials by Supplier
Is the Construction Industry Actually a Technology Hotbed?
New Jersey Court Adopts Continuous Trigger for Construction Defect Claims
California Builders’ Right To Repair Is Alive
Owner Bankruptcy: What’s a Contractor to Do?
Compass, Zillow Take Feud Over Home Listings Into NYC Court
Modification: Exceptions to Privette Doctrine Do Not Apply Where There is No Evidence a General Contractor Affirmatively Contributed to the Injuries of an Independent Contractor’s Employee
Construction Law Alert: Builder’s Alternative Pre-litigation Procedures Upheld Over Strong Opposition
Scary Movie: Theatre Developer Axed By Court of Appeal In Prevailing Wage Determination Challenge
Fairness is Relative. Workers Compensation and the Dreaded Section 7031
Pennsylvania Court Finds that Two Possible Causes Can Prove a Product Malfunction Theory of Liability
Construction Law Alert: Appellate Court Lets Broad General Release Stand in SB 800 Case
COVID-19 Information and Resources
The Economic Loss Rule and Tort Claims by Owners against Design Professionals
California’s Retention Reform on Private Construction Projects
Kahana Feld Earns Recognition in Five Practice Areas in 2026 Best Law Firms® Rankings
Economy in U.S. Picked Up on Consumer Spending, Construction
Communication Gaps Can Cost Construction Firms in the Data Center Boom
Colorado Passes Construction Defect Reform Bill
Hard to Believe It, Construction Law Musings is 16
U.K. Broadens Crackdown on Archaic Property Leasehold System
New Jersey Judge Found Mortgage Lender Liable When Borrower Couldn’t Pay
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC Recognized by Best Lawyers 2026
Newport Beach Attorneys John Toohey and Nick Rodriguez Receive Full Defense Verdict
Idaho Contractor Registration: Lessons from the Ward v. Bishop Decision
2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!
How Your Disgruntled Client Can Turn Into Your Very Own Car Crash! (and How to Avoid It) (Law Tips)
Owner’s Obligation Giving Notice to Cure to Contractor and Analyzing Repair Protocol
