My Current Love-Hate Relationship with AI
June 08, 2026 —
Garret D. Murai - California Construction Law BlogIt’s early in the relationship, I know. But still, there are some things that bug me. Yet, I also know that it’s a relationship in which leaving is not an option, and even if I could, it’s not to the point where it’s so bad that I would do so. So, if you would, let me gripe a bit.
While there’s been much discussion about AI and, at least in my neck of the woods, a fair amount of discussion about how lawyers can, should, and must use AI or risk becoming discarded into the dustbin of history, much less has been written about clients’ use of AI.
Increasingly, I’ve gotten the sense that my clients are using AI. For example, I had a client ask for confirmation that if he disagreed with an administrative decision that he could file a writ of mandate, and if so, whether that deadline was 30, 60 or 90 days after the administrative decision. The answer to the first question was yes, and as to the second question, the answer was 90 days. This was from a client who, smart as he is, probably didn’t know this off the top of his head.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Garret D. Murai, Nomos LLPMr. Murai may be contacted at
gmurai@nomosllp.com
Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause Prevents Coverage for Collapse
April 27, 2026 —
Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law HawaiiThe appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court granting summary judgment to the insurer after agreeing that the policy’s anti-concurrent causation clause barred coverage. Lido Hospitality, Inc. v. AIX Specialty Ins. Co., 2026 Iii. App. Unpub. LEXIS 133 (Ill. Ct. App. Jan. 27, 2026).
One of the brick veneer walls of the Lido Motel collapsed during a windstorm. Lido reported the loss it its insurer, AIX. AIX investigated and determined that the brick veneer collapsed due to pervasive wear and tear and corrosion of the underlying infrastructure that secured the veneer- specifically the components that anchored or tied the masonry veneer to the underlying wooden substrate.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak HastertMr. Eyerly may be contacted at
te@hawaiilawyer.com
Standing When It Comes to Real Property Owned by a Trust
February 23, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesIt is not uncommon for property to be owned in the name of the trust as part of an estate planning agenda. In construction, improvements are made all the time to real property owned in the name of a trust or later transferred to a trust for estate planning purposes.
In a recent case, the question became that if the property is owned by the trust does only the trust have standing to file the lawsuit. In this case, homeowners, in their individual capacities, sued a flooring contractor for defective work; however, prior to the lawsuit, the homeowners deeded the home (which would include the flooring in the home) to a revocable trust. The plaintiffs, though, were the trustees of the revocable trust and the settlors of the trust.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai Recognized by Super Lawyers
July 13, 2026 —
Garret D. Murai - California Construction Law BlogNomos LLP Partner Garret Murai has been recognized as a 2026 Northern California Super Lawyer honoree in the area of Construction Litigation. This is the thirteenth consecutive year he has been recognized by Super Lawyers.
Super Lawyers, an annual listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement, is limited to no more than five percent (5%) of lawyers in a state who are selected through a multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluation and peer reviews by practice area.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Garret D. Murai, Nomos LLPMr. Murai may be contacted at
gmurai@nomosllp.com
New Report Outlines Roadmap for Construction Jobsites to Cut Carbon Emissions by 2040
April 20, 2026 —
PCL ConstructionDenver, Colo., April 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new industry report outlines five practical steps that, when implemented together, could reduce construction jobsite emissions by up to 75% without compromising cost, schedule or performance. Grounded in real operational data from 617 construction projects across the U.S. and Canada, Growing and Greening Canadian Construction represents the most comprehensive sector-wide analysis of jobsite emissions conducted to date.
The report was developed through a collaboration among leading general contractors, including
PCL Construction, in partnership with the Transition Accelerator, an organization that drives projects, partnerships, and strategies to promote economic competitiveness in a carbon‑neutral world. The report focuses specifically on emissions from construction jobsite activities and reflects a shared commitment to advancing practical, scalable solutions for the industry.
About PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $9.9 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.
About the Transition Accelerator
The Transition Accelerator works with 300+ partner organizations across Canada to build out pathways to a prosperous low-carbon economy and avoid costly dead-ends along the way. We help governments and industry harness the global shift towards clean growth to secure permanent jobs, abundant energy, and strong regional economies across the country. By connecting systems-level thinking with real-world analysis, we’re enabling a more affordable, competitive, and resilient future.
Read the full story...
Sometimes a General Damages Assessment is Enough. . .
July 06, 2026 —
Christopher G. Hill - Construction Law MusingsIt has been a while since I last posted here at
Construction Law Musings. Life, law practice, and “blogger’s block” have taken their toll on the posting schedule. Hopefully this will be one of several upcoming posts now that the litigation schedule has lightened a bit over the summer.
Today’s post is about damages. Specifically damage to a homeowner’s roof and her legal damages therefor. That last is of course a sentence that only a
construction attorney (or other litigator) could possibly craft and have it make sense. Now, on with the case. . .In
Hardesty Construction, Inc. v. Weedon, the facts are as follows:
Ms. Weedon had hail damage to the roof of her home. She hired Hardesty Construction to repair and replace the roof. After the first roof was installed and failed inspection, a second roof was installed. The issue was that the first roof had a warranty and the second roof, installed similarly to the first (and allegedly with the same construction issues according to Ms. Weedon’s expert), was not provided with the promised warranty. As one may expect, Weedon sued Hardesty and Hardesty Construction for fraudulent inducement and breach of contract. At trial, Weedon testified, without objection, that her home was worth $40,000 less because of Hardesty Construction’s work, which was based partially on quotes Weedon received to fix the roof. The Circuit Court granted Hardesty Construction’s motion to strike Weedon’s fraudulent inducement claim, but not her other claims. A jury awarded Weedon $30,253.30 on her breach of contract claim. Hardesty Construction appealed, arguing the Circuit Court erred in (a) allowing the jury to consider Weedon’s valuation testimony because it was not based on her personal knowledge and (b) denying its motion to strike based on insufficient evidence as to damages. Weedon assigned cross-error in the Circuit Court’s decision to grant the motion to strike her fraudulent inducement claim against Samual Hardesty.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
The Law Office of Christopher G. HillMr. Hill may be contacted at
chrisghill@constructionlawva.com
Prefatory Contract Language Cannot Be Used to Create an Ambiguity with Operative Provisions
May 12, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesContract drafting and interpretation matters.
A case dealt with the potential conflict with prefatory language in an agreement compared with operative provisions in the agreement. The trial court held that the operative provisions control. I discussed this case
here where the appellate court reversed based on the prefatory language.
But, through a motion for rehearing, the appellate court reconsidered its position and affirmed the trial court based on the operative provisions,
Economic Damages and the Right to Repair Act: You Can’t Have it Both Ways Washington State Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision on Spearin DoctrineCourt Strikes Expert Opinion That Surety Acted as a “De Facto Contractor”Traub Lieberman Partner Michael Logan and Associate Christian Romaguera Obtain Voluntary Dismissal in Favor of Construction Company Under the Vertical Immunity DoctrineDon’t Ignore a Notice of Contest of LienWest Coast Casualty’s Quarter Century of ServiceSchool for Building Trades Helps Fill Need for Skilled WorkersFive New Laws to Know Before They Take Effect On Jan. 1, 2022Canada’s Largest Homebuilder Sets U.S. Growth PlanSeyfarth’s Construction and Government Contracts Teams
Will They Blow It Up?
New Case Law Alert: Licensed General Contractors Cannot Sue Owners to Recover Funds for Work Performed by An Unlicensed Subcontractor
Blackstone Suffers Court Setback in Irish Real Estate Drama
Less Than Perfectly Drafted Endorsement Bars Flood Coverage
Following My Own Advice
Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (4/1/26) – President Trump’s EO Affects Federal Funding, Fannie Mae Accepts Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Private Sector Construction Weakness Offsets Public Sector Gains
MetLife Takes Majority Stake in New San Francisco Office Tower
Contractor Entitled to Defense in Suit Filed by Performance Bond Carrier
Another Municipality Takes Action to Address the Lack of Condominiums Being Built in its Jurisdiction
FAA Seeks Largest Fine Yet on Drones in Near-Miss Crackdown
Construction Defect Claim Not Timely Filed
Chutes and Ladders...and Contracts.
Hudson Tunnel Plan Shows Sign of Life as U.S. Speeds Review
Sustainable, Versatile and Resilient: How Mass Timber Construction Can Shake Up the Building Industry
Ten ACS Lawyers Recognized as Super Lawyers or Rising Stars
Revisiting Termination For Convenience Clauses In Uncertain And Ever-Changing Economic Times
Emerging Issues in Construction CGL Insurance Part 1: Continuing or Progressive Loss Exclusions
Policy Language Matters: New Jersey Court Bars Cleanup Coverage Under Broad Policy Terms
Construction Industry on the Comeback, But It Won’t Be the Same
EPA Fines Ivory Homes for Storm Water Pollution
Certificates as Evidence of Additional Insured Coverage Are All the Rage, But You Deserve Better
New Research Shows Engineering Firms' Impact on Economy, Continued Optimism on Business Climate
Nancy Conrad to Serve as President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Oregon to Add 258,000 Jobs by 2022, State Data Shows
Backpacks, Broadway, and Building Restrictions: A Legal Reminder
BWB&O Partner Jack Briscoe and Associate Anoushe Marandjian Win Summary Judgment Motion on Behalf of Homeowner Client!
BofA Said to Near Mortgage Deal for Up to $17 Billion
It’s Getting Harder and Harder to be a Concrete Supplier in California
Construction Defect Scam Tied to Organized Crime?
Court Addresses Damages Under Homeowners Insurance Policy
Missouri Protects Subrogation Rights
Building the Future: Inside China’s Cutting-Edge Construction Innovations
Haight Expands California Reach – Opens Office in Sacramento
TxDOT: Flatiron/Dragados Faces Default Over Bridge Design Issues
Eleven Newmeyer Dillion Attorneys Named to 2023 U.S. News Best Lawyers in Multiple Practice Areas
Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (5/1/24) – IMF’s Data on Housing, REITs Versus Private Real Estate, and Suburban Versus Urban Office Property Market
Construction Defects Lead to Demolition
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Clarifies Pennsylvania’s Strict Liability Standard
Reminder: Always Order a Title Search for Your Mechanic’s Lien
Sometimes It’s Okay to Destroy Evidence
Minnesota Addresses How Its Construction Statute of Repose Applies to Condominiums
Back Posting with Thoughts on Lien Waivers
2020s Most Read Construction Law Articles
Contractor Sentenced to Seven Years for Embezzling $3 Million
Construction Contracts Fall in Denver
A Customized Approach to Data Center Construction
White and Williams LLP is Honored to be Recognized Among the 2026 Best Law Firms Ranked by Best Lawyers®
LLMs in Construction: Where They Fail and Where They Shine
Meet the Forum's In-House Counsel: RACHEL CLANCY
Flow-Down Clauses Can Drown Your Project
.php?cdjs=516070080">The Partial Building Collapse of the 12-Story Florida CondoSelf-Healing Infrastructure Could Pave the Road to the FutureNew York Construction Practice Team Obtains Summary Judgment and Dismissal of Labor Law ClaimsTrends and Issues which Can Affect Workers' Compensation Coverage for Construction CompaniesReport to Congress Calls for Framework to Cut Post-Quake Recovery TimeLouisiana 13th in List of Defective BridgesNavigating Disruption to Construction Projects Flowing From the America First Trade PolicyCable-Free Elevators Will Soar to New Heights, and Move SidewaysGRSM Named Among 2025 “Best Law Firms” by Best LawyersEngineer and CNA Dispute Claim Over Dual 2014 Bridge FailuresTexas Supreme Court Defines ‘Plaintiff’ in 3rd-Party Claims Against Design Professionals
