Anomaly in Adding a Third-Party Claimant to a Liability Insurance Coverage Dispute
May 05, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesIn an insurance coverage lawsuit seeking declaratory relief, an insurer sued the third-party claimant. The insurer was seeking a declaration that there was no coverage, which naturally would impact the third-party claimant. The insured did not respond to the lawsuit and the insurer moved for a default judgment which was objected to by the third-party claimant. The trial court granted a final judgment in favor of the insurer, which prompted an appeal from the third-party claimant because the final judgment impacts its rights to coverage if it obtains a judgment against the insured.
The appellate court reversed but please take a look at this Court’s discussion on the issue of an insurer adding a third-party claimant to a coverage lawsuit when then the third-party cannot pursue a direct claim against the insurer until it obtains a settlement or judgment against the insured. It presents an interesting argument and counter-point for a third-party claimant that is added to the coverage lawsuit which has implications if it obtains a judgment against the insured:
This case involves an apparent anomaly in Florida law. It is well-established that third-party claimants injured by an insured’s negligence have a right as third-party beneficiaries to payment from the insured’s insurance proceeds. It is equally well-established that the third-party claimants’ rights in this regard do not accrue unless and until they obtain a verdict or settlement against the insured. A quick review of this law is helpful at this point.
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David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/8/26) – Data Centers Negotiate Flexibility for Speed, Hotel Deal Activities Focus on Luxury, and DC Sues Apartment Owners
July 20, 2026 —
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn our latest roundup, rail projects gain steam across the U.S., AI optimizes building operations, a modular approach speeds data center construction, and more!
- Hyperscalers want their data centers online, and utilities want to provide interconnections, but both are still looking for common operating guidelines. (Herman K. Trabish, Construction Dive)
- Contractors are taking advantage of multibillion-dollar train and transit contracts, even as funding challenges create hurdles for project execution. (Matthew Thibault, Construction Dive)
- Although hospitality and leisure M&A deal volume was down 2.5% in the first half of 2026 compared to the prior six months, investors are concentrating on the upper end of the market, including luxury hotels, wellness resorts and gaming, or “data-rich,” platforms. (Noor Adatia, Hotel Dive)
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Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team
AI Can Now Train the Soft Skills Construction Ignored
August 03, 2026 —
Aarni Heiskanen - AEC BusinessMost AEC professionals learn to work in teams and across teams through trial and error. There are, however, opportunities to better prepare for the real world with formal training. Until now, it has required human facilitators. Now, generative AI is emerging as a scalable alternative, which I’m also exploring.
A Gap in Curricula
When I studied architecture, most of the teamwork happened with co-students in the same department. However, one course focused on industrial projects where future architects and engineers collaborated on a simulated project. I’m not sure if a similar course is still in the curriculum, but it was certainly worthwhile and should have been much more extensive.
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Aarni Heiskanen, AEC BusinessMr. Heiskanen may be contacted at
aec-business@aepartners.fi
Massachusetts Settlement Targets Mortgage-Backed “Homeowner Benefit” Agreements
April 08, 2026 —
A.J. S. Dhaliwal, Mehul N. Madia & Maxwell Earp-Thomas - SheppardOn March 11, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a consent order with a real estate-related lender’s subsidiary, and affiliated individuals resolving allegations that the company violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by deceptively marketing mortgage-backed “Homeowner Benefit Agreements” to financially struggling homeowners.
According to the complaint, the company offered homeowners relatively small upfront cash payments, typically less than $1,500, in exchange for a 40-year exclusive right to act as the listing broker if the homeowner later sold the property. The Attorney General alleged that the agreements also triggered substantial payment obligations upon other transfers, including death or foreclosure, and that the transactions were secured by recorded mortgages that could interfere with refinancing, home-equity access, or the ability to sell the home. The complaint further alleged that the company marketed the product to vulnerable consumers searching for loans or public benefits while obscuring the true nature of the transaction.
Reprinted courtesy of
A.J. S. Dhaliwal, Sheppard,
Mehul N. Madia, Sheppard and
Maxwell Earp-Thomas, Sheppard
Mr. Dhaliwal may be contacted at adhaliwal@sheppard.com
Mr. Madia may be contacted at mmadia@sheppard.com
Mr. Earp-Thomas may be contacted at mearp-thomas@sheppard.com
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Structural Concerns Force Emergency Closure of Maryland Office Building
August 16, 2026 —
Jim Parsons - Engineering News-RecordA 10-story Baltimore-area office building was evacuated after an underground parking structure was compromised during construction work.
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Jim Parsons, Engineering News-RecordENR may be contacted at
enr@enr.com
Samuel Alhadeff Represents LGI Homes in Acquisition and Re-Entitlement of Maravilla Estates
July 06, 2026 —
Lewis BrisboisTemecula Partner Samuel Alhadeff recently represented LGI Homes in its acquisition and re-entitlement of Maravilla Estates, a 169-lot active adult community located in San Jacinto, California.
The acquisition and re-entitlement of the project provide LGI Homes with the opportunity to deliver much-needed age-qualified housing in one of Riverside County's growing residential markets. The community includes a recorded final map and finished lots, as well as future development inventory and planned amenities, positioning the project for continued development and completion.
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Lewis Brisbois
Congratulations to BWB&O’s 2027 Southern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Honorees!
September 08, 2026 —
Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLPBremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP is proud to announce that Partners
Nicole Whyte,
Keith Bremer,
John Toohey, and
Tyler Offenhauser have been named to the 2027 Southern California Super Lawyers list. Notably, Nicole Whyte was also selected to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers list, an honor reflecting her outstanding work, leadership, and impact in the legal community.
Associates
Kevin Moore,
Sukayna Jaidi, and
Andrew Mathews are also being recognized as 2027 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
Our team is being honored for their distinguished service and dedication in Family Law, Civil, Business, Construction, and Personal Injury Litigation.
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Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLP
Four Payne & Fears Attorneys Named 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars
March 17, 2026 —
Payne & FearsWe congratulate our four Payne & Fears attorneys who have been named 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars. This recognition highlights the next generation of legal talent, honoring attorneys who have made a strong impact in their practice areas early in their careers.
Employment & Labor
Taylor Brown
Bree Oswald
Employment Litigation: Defense
Tyler Runge
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