Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/5/26) – Data Centers Reshape Hotel Demand, AI Changes Construction Workflows and Global Tariffs Raise CRE Construction Costs
August 16, 2026 —
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn our latest roundup, AI creates new real estate play for VCs, Wall Street sells more rental homes, builders capitalize on flood of water projects and more!
- Data center construction has the potential to be a significant opportunity for extended stay hotels in the near and long term, provided sustainable demand patterns exist within a given market. (Jenna Graber, Hotel Dive)
- Artificial intelligence doesn’t represent an “extinction event” for AEC firms, but it will fundamentally change the way construction pros streamline certain tasks. (Matthew Thibault, Construction Dive)
- With the 21st Century ROAD to Housing now law, there are a number of outstanding questions about implementation and compliance for multifamily pros. (Julie Strupp, Multifamily Dive)
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team
Document Everything! Always! No Exceptions! (AKA, Help Your Lawyer Help You!)
April 14, 2026 —
Melissa Dewey Brumback - Construction Law in North CarolinaI had a case last year in which once again I found myself thinking: if only my client had better documented the verbal agreements, we would have had a much easier time defending his work.
I know this is often easier said than done— you are in the middle of building a project, and you get a call, and you need to keep the project moving. No time for written change directives or a special bulletin. And yet—it is simply amazing to me the number of people who develop “litigation amnesia” about things when a lawsuit is involved.
Your documentation system does not need to be perfect. You can use a simple Field notebook and handwritten notations. A text memo to yourself or, better yet, an email confirmation to the owner/contractor/whoever.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Melissa Dewey Brumback, Ragsdale Liggett PLLCMs. Brumback may be contacted at
mbrumback@rl-law.com
World's Longest Immersed Tunnel Passes Milestone, But Faces Delays
August 03, 2026 —
James Leggate - Engineering News-RecordWork on the $8-billion Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which is planned to link Germany and Denmark as the world’s longest immersed tunnel, is progressing as crews achieved a milestone last month with the successful immersion of its first precast concrete element. But Danish state-owned project owner Femern A/S says the plan is now running at least two years behind schedule and the tunnel’s road and rail portions will open in two separate stages.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
James Leggate, Engineering News-RecordMr. Leggate may be contacted at
leggatej@enr.com
The Grenfell & Champlain Towers: Risk Management Considerations in the Wake of Catastrophic Loss — A UK/US Comparison
June 02, 2026 —
Eric M. Clarkson - Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.1. Introduction
As part of the multinational collaborative relationship between Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. and Fenchurch Law, we continually find ourselves in conversations about the sometimes subtle but sometimes drastic differences between risk management and coverage considerations from one country to the next. These differences are often highlighted by the fallout from large catastrophic losses that are widely publicized and illuminate sometimes widespread risks and perils that many others may be facing in the coming years.
The response of governments and their subdivisions to the needs of victims and/or commercial parties, and insurance markets’ evaluation of and reactions to catastrophic losses vary widely from country to country and jurisdiction. In this article, we discuss these responses and reactions in the cases of the Grenfell Tower Fire in London, England, and the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida, within the United States. These two widely publicized losses involved different risk management and insurance considerations based on where they occurred. They also saw substantially different government responses and raised varied questions about what the next steps are for their respective commercial and insurance markets.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Eric M. Clarkson, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.Mr. Clarkson may be contacted at
EClarkson@sdvlaw.com
Insufficient Notice of Commencement and Construction Lien Rights
August 03, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesWhen a party is preserving their construction lien rights, the party will look to the recorded Notice of Commencement. This is the recorded document that provides the lienor with the information for purposes of preserving construction lien rights. A Notice to Owner company will typically rely on the Notice of Commencement to serve Notices to Owners from lower tiers not in contract with the owner. However, when it comes to preparing the lien, a lienor should look beyond just the Notice of Commencement and also look to the property appraiser’s website as a backstop.
In a recent case, a window company had the homeowner sign the Notice of Commencement and then filled in the information. The company naturally did this for the convenience of the homeowner that probably was unfamiliar with the Notice of Commencement process. Regardless, information in the Notice of Commencement was inaccurate. It failed to include all the real property owners. Thus, when a payment dispute arose and a construction lien was prepared, it did not identify all of the real property owners. All of the real property owners were added later during the pendency of a lien foreclosure lawsuit. The trial court denied the lien because of the defective / insufficient Notice of Commencement — the lienor assumed the risk of error by filling out the information in the Notice of Commencement. The trial court further denied the lien holding that because the work did not commence within 90 days of the Notice of Commencement, the Notice of Commencement is void.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Delay Matters: Florida’s Fourth DCA Reverses Hurricane Irma Dismissal
June 08, 2026 —
Andrea DeField, Machaella Reisman & Cary D. Steklof - Hunton Insurance Recovery BlogThe mantra “delay, deny, defend” is frequently referenced in discussions of insurance claims handling, though insurers will invariably disavow these tactics. While it would be facially improper for an insurer to delay a coverage decision to gain a tactical advantage, empirical examples nonetheless exist. This very dynamic was addressed by Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals when it handed policyholders a win in
Hypoluxo Mariner’s Cay Condo. Assoc’n, Inc. v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s London, No. 4D2024‑2250 (Fla. 4th DCA Apr. 1, 2026), reversing a trial court order dismissing a condominium association’s Hurricane Irma coverage lawsuit against its property insurer.
Delay to Run the Statute of Limitations
Following Hurricane Irma, a condominium association suffered roof and exterior envelope damage, reported an insurance claim, and submitted a sworn proof of loss to its property insurer in compliance with Florida Statute § 627.70132 (2020). The statute establishes a timeframe within which a policyholder must submit a claim for hurricane damage.
Reprinted courtesy of
Andrea DeField, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP,
Machaella Reisman, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and
Cary D. Steklof, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Ms. DeField may be contacted at adefield@hunton.com
Ms. Reisman may be contacted at reismanm@hunton.com
Mr. Steklof may be contacted at csteklof@hunton.com
Read the full story...
Legal 500 US Ranks Hunton’s Insurance Coverage Team Among Top Policyholder Practices in 2026 Guide
July 06, 2026 —
Hunton Insurance Recovery BlogHunton’s insurance coverage practice was once again recognized among the nation’s top policyholder insurance practices, receiving a Band 2 national ranking in the 2026 United States Edition of The Legal 500 for Insurance: Advice to Policyholders. The Legal 500 recognizes firms solely based on merit through numerous factors including client feedback and peer input.
Bolstering the team’s national recognition, several coverage lawyers received individual accolades: special counsel
Lorelie “Lorie” S. Masters was named to The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame; team head
Syed S. Ahmad and partner
Michael S. Levine were named Leading Lawyers; and partners
Andrea DeField and
Latosha M. Ellis were named Next Generation Partners. In addition, partners
Walter J. Andrews,
Lawrence J. Bracken II, and
Koorosh “KT” Talieh were recognized as Key Lawyers on the team.
Insured’s Bad Faith Claim Survives Summary JudgmentPennsylvania Supreme Court: Fair Share Act Does Not Preempt Common Law When Apportioning LiabilityCondo Board May Be Negligent for not Filing Construction Defect Suit in a Timely FashionThe Simple Reason Millennials Aren't Moving Out Of Their Parents' Homes: They're Crushed By DebtMcCarthy Workers Test Fall-Protection Harnesses Designed to Better Fit WomenCourt of Appeals Expands Application of Construction Statute of ReposeTruck Hits Warning Beam That Falls, Kills Motorist at Las Vegas Bridge ProjectMotion to Strike Insureds' Experts Denied, Claims under Fair Claims Settlement Act Survives Summary JudgmentFaulty Workmanship Causing Damage to Other Property Covered as Construction DefectCalifornia Insurance Commissioner Lacks Authority to Regulate Formula for Estimating Replacement Cost Value$31.5M Settlement Reached in Contract Dispute between Judlau and the Illinois TollwayCongratulations to Haight Attorneys Selected for the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to WatchTaking the Stairs to Human Wellness and Greener BuildingsConstruction Defect Lawsuits May Follow Hawaii Condo BoomNewmeyer Dillion Named 2021 Best Law Firm in Multiple Practice Areas by U.S. News-Best LawyersThe “Climate 21 Project” Prepared for the New AdministrationChoice of Laws Test Mandates Application of California’s Continuous and Progressive Trigger of Coverage to Asbestos ClaimsNo Duty to Defend Faulty Workmanship Under Hawaii Law, but All is not Lost for Insured ContractorMy Current Love-Hate Relationship with AILimitation on Coverage for Payment of Damages Creates AmbiguitySlip and Fall Claim from Standing Water in Parking GaragePre-Suit Settlement Offers and Construction Lien ActionsReal Estate & Construction News Round-Up (03/01/23) – Mass Timber, IIJA Funding, and Distressed Real EstateDoing Construction Lead Programs the Right WayHurricane Warning: Florida and Southeastern US Companies – It is Time to Activate Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan and Review Key Insurance DeadlinesCourt Finds California FAIR Plan UnlawfulEdison Utility Accused of Igniting LA Fire in LawsuitsOPINION: Stop Requiring Exhibit Lists!Florida Law: Interplay of SIR and the Made-Whole DoctrineHuh? Action on Construction Lien “Relates Back” Despite Notice of Contest of LienJustin Clark Joins Newmeyer & Dillion’s Walnut Creek Branch as its Newest AssociateMDL for Claims Against Manufacturers and Distributors of PFAS-Containing AFFFs Focuses Attention on Key IssuesShould Post Contract Award Tariffs be Reimbursable? Why Public Works Contractors Deserve ClarityReal Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/17/24) – Housing Inflation to Remain High, Proptech Investment to Fall and Office Vacancy Rates to Reach Peak in 20252017 Legislative Changes Affecting the Construction IndustryTaylor Morrison Home Corp’ New San Jose DevelopmentPA Supreme Court to Rule on Scope of Judges' Credibility DeterminationsNew York’s Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act Imposes Increased Disclosure Requirements On Defendants at the Beginning of LawsuitsHousing Starts Plunge by the Most in Four YearsAndrew Gendron Authors D.C., Maryland Damages Compendium Articles for Defense Counsel Journal’s “Damages Compendium – East of the Mississippi”Recovering For Inflation On Federal Contracts: Recent DOD Guidance On Economic Price Adjustment ClausesHome Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Kept Climbing in JanuaryConstruction Termination Issues Part 4: What to Do When They Want to Fire You, the Architect or EngineerConstruction Expert and Judge Living in the Same Hood Is Not Grounds For RecusalFollow the Dispute Resolution Provision(s) in Your ContractRooftop Owners Sue Cubs Consultant for Alleged False StatementsNTSB Cites Design Errors in Fatal Bridge CollapseTermination for Convenience Clauses: Maybe More Than Just ConvenienceNew Proposed Regulations Expand CFIUS Jurisdiction Regarding Real EstateReturn-to-Workplace Checklist: Considerations and Emerging Best Practices for EmployersPaycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Requirements AdjustedSenate’s Fannie Mae Wind-Down Plan Faces High HurdlesFifth Circuit Rules that Settlements in Underlying Action Constitute "Other Insurance"Pandemic Magnifies Financial Risk in Construction: What Executives Can Do to Speed up Customer PaymentsSacramento Team Obtains Defense Verdict for Motel Client in Unruh Act Lawsuit over Trip-and-Fall IncidentCouple Gets $79,000 on $10 Million Construction Defect Claim“You Can’t Make Me Pay!”Subsurface Water Exclusion Found UnambiguousInsurance Tips for ContractorsAckman Group Pays $91.5 Million for Condo at NYC’s One57SCOTUS to Weigh Landowners' Damage Claim Against Texas DOTIntroducing the Updated 2026 Pillsbury Guide to Data CentersWorkarounds for Workers' Comp Immunity: How to Obtain Additional Insured Coverage when the Named Insured is Immune from SuitToronto Contractor Bondfield Wins Court Protection as Project Woes Mount
