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Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (6/24/26) – HUD to Fund AI Grants, Luxury Hotel Deal Investment Activity to Surge, ESPCs to Fund Energy and Infrastructure Improvements

July 06, 2026 — Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
In our latest roundup, data centers are exposed to climate change, commercial tenant sues CoStar, cities see opportunities in emerging sports markets, and more!

• With deferred maintenance growing and capital dollars stretched thin, local governments are using ESPCs to fund energy and infrastructure improvements through future operational savings. (Vicky Uhland, Construction Dive)
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering up to $3 million in grants for local governments to deploy automated permitting and building code systems. (Ryan Kushner, Construction Dive)
• Luxury hotel deals are set to see a surge in investment activity due to strong fundamentals and strengthening capital markets. (Noor Adatia, Hotel Dive)

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team

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Tariffs As Taxes — What Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump Means for Contractors and the WSDOT Specifications

March 17, 2026 — Brett M. Hill - Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
In October 2025, we explored a pressing question for public works contractors: should post-contract award tariffs be reimbursable? The crux of that analysis was whether tariffs imposed after contract award constitute a tax under the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Standard Specifications, triggering reimbursement under Section 1-07.1(5)B (“tax changes”). Since then, a landmark Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump has clarified the legal nature of tariffs in a way that could significantly affect this debate. In Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. (2026), the U.S. Supreme Court addressed whether the President had the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally impose broad tariffs on imports. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Brett M. Hill, Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
Mr. Hill may be contacted at brett.hill@acslawyers.com

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Judge's Order Halts Google Data Center Project in Minnesota

July 27, 2026 — Annemarie Mannion - Engineering News-Record
Construction of a $1-billion Google data center planned by Ryan Cos. on 485 acres in southeastern Minnesota was expected to start in July but is now halted under a judge’s order. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Annemarie Mannion, Engineering News-Record
Ms. Mannion may be contacted at manniona@enr.com

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Nevada’s Mandatory Nonbinding Arbitration Law for Civil Cases is Going Through Changes

May 14, 2026 — Brandon Wright & Manuel Gurule - Lewis Brisbois
Nevada currently operates an expedited litigation program designed to resolve civil disputes with a value up to $50,000 without incurring the “usual” expense of litigating these disputes. Over time, however, the number of civil cases that have been “exempted” from this program based on the claimed damages exceeding $50,000 has grown dramatically. In response, the Nevada Legislature recently enacted a number of rule changes designed to streamline Nevada’s arbitration process and include more cases. Among these changes are increasing the arbitration “cap” from $50,000 to $100,000. By way of background, the Nevada’s Court Annexed Arbitration program is a mandatory, non-binding program for civil cases in judicial districts that have county populations of 100,000 or more [1]. Nevada’s Court Annexed Arbitration was born out of NRS 38.250, which was enacted in 1991 and went into effect in the summer of 1992. The newly enacted NRS 38.250 was regarded as a way to address the problem of increased court caseloads while promoting judicial economy and efficiency in civil cases having a probable jury award of less than $25,000 [2]. Initially, cases that were automatically exempt from the program included class actions, medical malpractice disputes, divorce proceedings, and other domestic relations matters [3]. Reprinted courtesy of Brandon Wright, Lewis Brisbois and Manuel Gurule, Lewis Brisbois Mr. Wright may be contacted at Brandon.Wright@lewisbrisbois.com Mr. Gurule may be contacted at Manuel.Gurule@lewisbrisbois.com Read the full story...

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My Current Love-Hate Relationship with AI

June 08, 2026 — Garret D. Murai - California Construction Law Blog
It’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 LLP
Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

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Labor Shortages in Construction: Managing Legal and Operational Risks

April 14, 2026 — Meghan Douris - Construction Executive
Labor shortages in the construction industry have become more than a scheduling headache—they are a legal and financial risk multiplier. As contractors scramble to meet deadlines with limited manpower, shortcuts in compliance, safety and subcontractor oversight become more likely. These gaps can expose companies to regulatory penalties, contractual disputes and reputational damage. Understanding how workforce constraints intersect with labor laws and contractual obligations is critical to mitigating the risks and navigating these challenges without compromising compliance or project integrity. The construction industry has faced persistent workforce challenges for years, but recent trends have intensified the problem. Factors such as an aging workforce, reduced immigration and post-pandemic recovery pressures have left contractors struggling to find skilled labor. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction workforce shortage surpassed half a million workers in 2024; in the same year, Associated General Contractors reported 88% of construction companies had difficulty finding qualified workers. Reprinted courtesy of Meghan Douris, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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Best Lawyers Honors Hundreds of Lewis Brisbois Attorneys, Names Five Partners 'Lawyers of the Year'

September 08, 2026 — Lewis Brisbois
Best Lawyers has selected 207 Lewis Brisbois attorneys across 45 offices for its 33rd edition of The Best Lawyers in America. It has also recognized five Lewis Brisbois partners on its "Lawyers of the Year" list: Akron Partner John R. Conley (Product Liability Litigation - Defendants); Akron Managing Partner David Kern (Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates); Weirton Managing Partner Michelle L. Gorman (Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants); Portland Partner Megan Cook (Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants); and San Diego
Homeowners Must Comply with Arbitration over Construction Defects

Chambers USA 2020 Ranks White and Williams as a Leading Law Firm

Construction Defect Scam Tied to Organized Crime?

Kumagai Drops Most in 4 Months on Building Defect: Tokyo Mover

Is it the End of the Lease-Leaseback Shootouts? Maybe.

Affordable Housing should not be Filled with Defects

"Your Work" Exclusion Bars Coverage for Contractor's Faulty Workmanship

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Shares Fall on Wind-Down Measure

The Contributors to This Blog Are Pleased to Announce That….

GA Federal Court Holds That Jury, Not Judge, Generally Must Decide Whether Notice Was Given “As Soon as Practicable” Under First-Party Property Damage Policies

New York Court of Appeals Takes Narrow View of Labor Law Provisions in Recent Cases

Recommencing Construction on a Project due to a Cessation or Abandonment

The Woodland Hills Office Secures a Total Defense Award on Behalf of their High-End Custom Home Builder Client!

Do Hurricane-Prone Coastal States Need to Update their Building Codes?

Eighth Circuit Remands to Determine Applicability of Collapse Exclusion

“Freelance Isn’t Free” New Regulations Adopted in New York City Requiring Written Contracts with Independent Contractors

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (2/5/25) – The Effect of Trump’s Policies on the Housing Market, Property Value Loss in the Face of Climate Change, and a Transitional Year for the Apartment Market

Will Protecting Copyrights Get Easier for Architects?

See the Stories That Drew the Most Readers to ENR.com in 2023

New York Court Rules on Architect's Duty Under Contract and Tort Principles

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/6/24) – Construction Tech Deals Surge, Senators Reintroduce Housing Bill, and Nonresidential Spending Drops

Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Rose in June at a Slower Pace

Unwrapped Pipes Lead to Flooding and Construction Defect Lawsuit

U.S. Housing Starts Top Forecast on Single-Family Homes

California Appellate Court Holds “Minimal Causal Connection” Satisfies Causation Requirement in All Risk Policies

Scope of Alaska’s Dump Lien Statute Substantially Reduced For Natural Gas Contractors

Florida’s Fourth District Appeals Court Clarifies What Actions Satisfy Florida’s Construction Defect Statute of Repose

Ortega Outbids Pros to Build $10 Billion Property Empire

Surfside Condo Collapse Investigators Have Nearly Finished Technical Work

Understanding Common Risk-Shifting Provisions in Construction Contracts

Hurdles with Triggering a Subcontractor Performance Bond

Want to Build Affordable Housing in the Heart of Paris? Make It Chic.

California Supreme Court Clarifies Deadline to File Anti-SLAPP Motions in Light of Amended Pleadings

Fifth Circuit -- Damage to Property Beyond Insured’s Product/Work Not Precluded By ‘Your Product/Your Work Exclusion’

The National Labor Relations Board Joint Employer Standard is Vacated by the Eastern District of Texas

Chinese Billionaire Sues Local Governments Over Project Payment

Construction Attorneys: Contract Negotiation Strategy

California Supreme Court Upholds Insurance Commissioner’s Authority to Regulate Replacement Cost Estimates

New Law, Old Risks: Why Colorado’s H.B. 25-1272 May Backfire on Builders

Where Did That Punch List Term Come From Anyway?

Vancouver’s George Massey Tunnel Replacement May Now be a Tunnel Instead of a Bridge

Key Amendments to Insurance Claims-Handling Regulations in Puerto Rico

Margins May Shrink for Home Builders

Insurer Obligated to Cover Preventative Remediation of Construction Defects

Saudi Prince’s Megacity Shows Signs of Life

Maine Court Allows $1B Hydropower Transmission Project to Proceed

Denver Passed the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance

Rikus Locati Selected to 2024 Northern California Rising Stars!

Prompt Payment More Likely on Residential Construction Jobs Than Commercial or Public Jobs

N.J. Appellate Court Confirms that AIA Construction Contract Bars Insurer's Subrogation Claim

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (9/4/24) – DOJ Sues RealPage, Housing Sales Increase and U.S. Can’t Build Homes Fast Enough

Few Homes Available to Reno Buyers, Plenty of Commercial Properties

Rising Construction Disputes Require Improved Legal Finance

Seattle Developer Defaults on Renovated Office Buildings

New Survey Reveals Present-Day Risks of Asbestos Exposure in America - 38% in High-Risk Jobs, 47% Vulnerable through Second-Hand Exposure

Engineering Report Finds More Investigation Needed of Balconies at New Jersey Condo

Lewis Brisbois’ Houston Office Selected as a 2020 Top Workplace by the Houston Chronicle

Federal Court Upholds Uninsured Contractor Endorsement; Finds Duty to Defend Anyway

We've Surveyed Video Conferencing Models to See Who Fits the CCPA Bill: Here's What We Found

Bert L. Howe & Associates to Join All-Star Panel at West Coast Casualty Seminar

Unpredictable Power Surges Threaten US Grid — And Your Home

Contractor Covered for Voluntary Remediation Efforts in Completed Homes

Broken Buildings: Legal Rights and Remedies in the Wake of a Collapse

Consider the Risks Associated with an Exculpatory Clause

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/10/24) – Strong Construction Investment in Data Centers, Increase Use of Proptech in Hospitality and Effects of Remote-Work on Housing Market

Construction Defect Not a RICO Case, Says Court