One Building, Six Owners, One Defective Stucco System: How Do You Coordinate Repairs?
November 02, 2026 —
David McLain - Colorado Construction Litigation BlogThe Problem: Six Homes, One Building Envelope
Consider a hypothetical six-unit townhome building in Colorado. Each residence is individually owned. There is no homeowners association responsible for maintaining the building’s exterior, no commonly owned building envelope, and no association empowered to pursue construction defect claims on behalf of all six homeowners. Instead, the development relies on individual ownership, recorded easements, and party wall agreements to govern relationships among neighboring owners.
Although the residences are separately owned, they share a continuous exterior stucco system, including interconnected flashing, waterproofing, and architectural transitions.
One homeowner discovers water intrusion and retains an expert who identifies defects in the stucco installation. The expert recommends removing and replacing the stucco on the homeowner’s residence. However, because the exterior cladding and waterproofing systems are interconnected, the proposed repair may require work extending beyond the boundaries of that homeowner’s property.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David McLain, Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLCMr. McLain may be contacted at
mclain@hhmrlaw.com
Construction Companies Are Nearly Seven Times Safer With These Best Practices
June 15, 2026 —
ABC - Construction ExecutiveWASHINGTON, May 4—Associated Builders and Contractors released its
2026 Health and Safety Performance Report, an annual guide to health and safety best practices on construction jobsites. The 2026 report shows the positive effects of participating in
ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System, which enables top-performing ABC members to achieve incident rates 686% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average, reducing total recordable incident rates by 85%.
Established in 1989, STEP is a proven system that provides contractors and suppliers with a
robust, no-cost framework for measuring health and safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry. This self-assessment tool helps participants identify real opportunities for scalable growth in their health and safety programs to lower their total recordable incident rates and become an employer of choice in a competitive labor market.
Reprinted courtesy of
ABC, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.
Read the full story...
Introducing the Updated 2026 Pillsbury Guide to Data Centers
June 08, 2026 —
Gravel2Gavel Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogSince the initial publication of the Pillsbury Guide to Data Centers in 2025, the market has continued to evolve—most notably with respect to power availability, energy strategy, tax and incentives planning, and investment activity across the sector. While many of the legal, commercial and regulatory frameworks addressed in the original Guide remain durable and relevant, recent developments warranted targeted updates and additions.
The
2026 edition expands and updates our energy-focused content to reflect the increasingly central role of power procurement, interconnection and long-term energy strategy in data center development. We have incorporated new materials addressing power purchase and interconnection agreements, solar and other renewable energy solutions, advanced reactor designs, and nuclear-powered data centers projects, including an updated project tracker. We have also added new analysis covering state and local tax considerations and incentive structures relevant to data center development and operations, as well as current M&A and private equity trends shaping investment in the sector.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Gravel2Gavel Team
Denis Serkin and Michael S. Zicherman Co-Edit/Author Lexology Panoramic: Construction 2027
August 03, 2026 —
Denis Serkin & Michael S. Zicherman - Peckar & Abramson, P.C.P&A partners
Denis Serkin and
Michael S. Zicherman served as co-editors and authors of Lexology’s Panoramic: Construction 2027 – US and Global guide. Formerly Getting the Deal Through, Lexology Panoramic provides members of the construction industry and construction-related legal and business providers with side-by-side comparison of key industry issues in 19 jurisdictions worldwide.
Reprinted courtesy of
Denis Serkin, Peckar & Abramson, P.C. and
Michael S. Zicherman, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Mr. Serkin may be contacted at dserkin@pecklaw.com
Mr. Zicherman may be contacted at mzicherman@pecklaw.com
Read the full story...
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC Recognized by Best Lawyers 2027
September 28, 2026 —
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLCContinuing the trend from last year, Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC is excited to announce that thirteen members of our firm have received recognition from Best Lawyers® in America for 2027.
The Best Lawyers in America® has been an annual publication since 1983 and focuses on the top legal talent across the United States and the globe. Through its rankings, Best Lawyers® provides a comprehensive guide to legal representation for individuals and businesses alike. Over time, Best Lawyers® has been recognized as one of the leading publications for attorney achievements and references.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
Your AI Tool Could Be Your Next Breach of Contract
October 20, 2026 —
Laurie Choi & Christian Fernandez - Snell & WilmerLike many industries, the construction industry is rapidly adopting artificial intelligence. AI-powered tools now help construction teams estimate costs, transcribe meetings, summarize RFIs, model schedules, and manage project documents faster than ever before. But amid this rush toward efficiency, a serious risk hides in plain sight: every time project documents are uploaded into a third-party AI tool, contractual confidentiality obligations may be implicated — or outright breached — exposing companies to potentially substantial and uncapped liability.
General contractors often face strict confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations, whether under the prime construction contract or a separate NDA. This is especially true for complex projects or those involving proprietary technology — such as data centers, medical or scientific facilities, and energy generation and storage facilities. These confidentiality clauses typically define “confidential information” broadly to encompass all non-public information provided for the project, including plans, specifications, pricing, schedules, RFPs, and even the contract terms themselves. These confidentiality obligations almost always flow down to subcontractors.
Reprinted courtesy of
Laurie Choi, Snell & Wilmer and
Christian Fernandez, Snell & Wilmer
Ms. Choi may be contacted at lchoi@swlaw.com
Mr. Fernandez may be contacted at cfernandez@swlaw.com
Read the full story...
Citadel’s Miami HQ Construction on Hold After Accident, Report Says
October 12, 2026 —
Giulia Morpurgo – BloombergConstruction work on Citadel’s new headquarters in Miami has been paused following an accident on the site last week, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The collapse of a rig on Monday prompted county authorities to issue a stop-work order pending an investigation, according to the newspaper, which cited a local building official. It’s unclear how long the stoppage will last or what caused the accident, the WSJ wrote on Sunday, adding that such probes can take up to six months.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Giulia Morpurgo, Bloomberg
$356 Million Judgement Against Developer for Defective Construction of DC Condominium
August 16, 2026 —
Nicholas D. Cowie - Cowie Law GroupOn July 31, 2026, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia entered a $356,085,513.00 judgment against developers JBG Smith for defective construction and renovation of the Wardman Tower Residential Condominium in Washington, D.C. The case is Wardman Tower Residential Condominium Unit Owners Association v. JBG Smith Properties, et al., No. 2020 CA 004807 B (D.C. Super. Ct.). In a 148-page
Trial Order, the D.C. Superior Court awarded $118,695,171.00 in damages in favor of the condominium association and against the condominium developers, including JBG Smith. The Court trebled those damages pursuant to the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act (“CPPA”) to reach an ultimate judgment of $356,085,513.00. See Cowie Law Group:
DC Condominium Construction Defects: Recovering Attorney’s Fees, Litigation Expenses & Treble Damages Under the Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Cowie Law Group, P.C. filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Association in 2020. The firm represented the Association throughout years of pretrial discovery and ultimately served as trial counsel with Williams & Connolly LLP during a lengthy bench trial before the Honorable Yvonne Williams. The Cowie Law Group team included attorneys, George A. Bealefeld, III, Albert G. McCarraher, Stanford L. Kimmel, III and Nicholas D. Cowie.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Nicholas D. Cowie, Cowie Law GroupMr. Cowie may be contacted at
How Finns Cut Construction Lead Times in HalfNew Becker & Poliakoff Attorney to Expand Morristown Construction Litigation PracticeSubcontractors Have a Duty to Clarify Ambiguities in Bid DocumentsGeorgia Court Rules that Separate Settlements Are Not the End of the Matter The Five-Step Protocol to Reopening a BusinessFlorida Adopts Daubert Standard for Expert TestimonyFlorida Extends Filing Time for Claims Subject to the Statute of ReposeReal Estate & Construction News Round-Up (11/16/22) – Backlog Shifts, Green Battery Storage, and Russia-Ukraine UpdatesTutor Perini Damages Trial Is Set Over Costly Philadelphia Hotel Floor Slab ProblemsMotion to Strike Insureds' Experts Denied, Claims under Fair Claims Settlement Act Survives Summary JudgmentCongratulations to BWB&O’s Orange County Team for Securing a Strong MSJ Result in a Residential Gas Explosion Matter!Three lawyers from Haight were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 EditionNinth Circuit Clarifies Viability of Takings Claims Under Arizona’s Unclaimed Property ActColorado Supreme Court Weighs in on Timeliness of Claims Against Subcontractors in Construction Defect Actions Court of Appeal Puts the “Equity” in Equitable SubrogationAtlanta Hawks Billionaire Owner Plans $5 Billion Downtown TransformationLabor Shortages In ConstructionEnsuring Efficient Arbitration of Construction Disputes Involving Mechanic’s LiensSDNY Vacates Arbitration Award for Party-Arbitrator’s NondisclosuresBrown Act Modifications in Response to Coronavirus OutbreakTime to Update Your Virginia Mechanic’s Lien Forms (July 1, 2019)The Three L’s of Real Estate Have New, Urgent MeaningSpencer Mayer Receives Miami-Dade Bar Association's '40 Under 40' AwardSan Francisco Office Secures Defense Verdict in Legal Malpractice ActionConstruction Litigation Roundup: “The New Empty Chair.”U.S. Supreme Court Decision Alters Course of $745M Louisiana Coastal Damage JudgmentTexas Federal Court Finds Total Pollution Exclusion Does Not Foreclose a Duty to Defend Waterway Degradation LawsuitIt’s Time to Start Planning for Implementation of OSHA’s Silica Rule4th Department Narrowly Interprets Professional ServicesRemembering Joseph H. FosterThere Are Consequences to Executed Documents Such as the Accord and Satisfaction DefenseNuclear Fusion Pushes to Reach Commercial Power Plant StageFour Months From Helene, Emergency Repairs Continue in North CarolinaDiggin’ Ain’t Easy: Remember to Give Notice Before You Excavate in CaliforniaHome-Building Climate Warms in U.S. as Weather Funk LiftsContractor Walks Off Job. What are the Owner’s Damages?Blockbuster Breakwater: Alternative Construction Method Put to the Test in Tampa BayBeyond the Flow-Down Clause: Subcontract Provisions That Can Expose General Contractors to Increased Liability and Inconsistent OutcomesThe New Industrial Revolution: Rebuilding America and the WorldConstruction Leads World Trade Center Area Vulnerable to FloodingAmazon Can be Held Strictly Liable as a Product Seller in New JerseyHow Contractors Can Prevent Fraud in Their WorkforceTallest U.S. Skyscraper Dream Kept Alive by Irish BuilderCongratulations to Las Vegas Partner Madeline Arcellana on Securing a FULL DISMISSAL for BWB&O’s Clients!Does Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code Impact Your Construction Project?Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized in 2019 Edition of Who’s Who LegalConstruction Defect Case Not Over, Despite Summary JudgmentFirm Claims Construction Defects in Hawaiian HomesA Few Construction Related Bills to Keep an Eye On in 2023 (UPDATED)Flexible Seattle Off-Ramp Would Retain Shape in QuakeIreland Said to Plan Home Loans Limits to Prevent Bubble
