Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (3/18/25) – Data Center Frenzy, China’s Expanding REIT Market and Tariff-Affected Construction Costs
March 31, 2026 —
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn our latest roundup, relistings reached highest total in a decade, Florida State Legislature passes bill to increase the state’s housing supply, data center construction adapts to changes and more!
- The data center construction frenzy and a new, potentially larger highway bill were top of mind for builders during the latest round of contractor earnings calls and financial reports. (Joe Bousquin, Construction Dive)
- Tariffs and associated policy uncertainty have increased construction costs and delayed leasing and investment choices. (J.P. Morgan)
- Relistings hit the highest January figure since Redfin began tracking this metric a decade ago. (Diana Olick, CNBC).
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team
Fort Lauderdale Associate Secures Summary Judgment in Rare Premises Liability Win
December 22, 2025 —
Lewis Brisbois NewsroomFort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 29, 2025) - Fort Lauderdale Associate Kyle Hollander recently secured a summary judgment victory for his client, Winn-Dixie, in a contested premises liability case.
This was a hotly disputed liability case of water on the floor near an ice cooler with surveillance footage of a customer constantly bringing bags of ice to and from the cooler to the register. The plaintiff unknowingly stepped into the area of dripped melted ice and fell. Kyle successfully argued based on the plaintiff’s own deposition testimony and the surveillance footage that Winn-Dixie didn’t have the requisite actual notice. Additionally, Kyle argued that the brief duration the condition remained on the floor was legally insufficient to establish constructive notice under Florida law. The Court agreed, finding that the evidence would not survive a directed verdict and granting summary judgment in favor of the defense.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Lewis Brisbois
HHMR Attorneys Steve Heisdorffer and Dave McLain Named to 2026 Super Lawyers List
April 08, 2026 —
Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLCHiggins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC is pleased to announce that Steve Heisdorffer and Dave McLain have been selected to the 2026 Colorado Super Lawyers list for construction litigation.
Mr. Heisdorffer has been consistently recognized in recent years for his work in construction litigation and related business disputes. Mr. McLain has been recognized by Super Lawyers each year from 2020 through 2026, following his earlier inclusion on the Rising Stars list from 2009 through 2012.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC
Kahana Feld Secures Discontinuance with Prejudice in Fraudulent Case
January 06, 2026 —
Kahana FeldKahana Feld secured a victory for its client after uncovering evidence that the plaintiff’s alleged trip-and-fall claim was fraudulent. The plaintiff sought $8 million in damages and claimed serious spinal and knee injuries stemming from an incident outside a Bronx retail store.
Through strategic investigation and a crucial non-party deposition, our team established that the plaintiff’s identified eyewitness was out of the country at the time of the alleged accident—contradicting the plaintiff’s testimony and confirming the falsity of the claim.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Kahana Feld
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...
How Mobile Tools Are Capturing Safety Data on Jobsites
April 08, 2026 —
Michael Bruns - Construction ExecutiveTraditionally, construction safety management is “reactive compliance”—reporting on an incident, filling out a form on paper or electronically, taking a picture and filing it away for compliance purposes. Safety management is shifting from reactive to proactive. Forward-thinking companies are using data and leading indicators to identify risks before incidents happen, not just document injuries after the fact.
Mobile tools have completely changed the way safety operations work on construction sites, enabling that transition to proactive safety management.
Reprinted courtesy of
Michael Bruns, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.
Read the full story...
Only A Contractor Can Appeal a Contracting Officer’s Final Decision
April 20, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesA recent decision from the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals confirms that “only a ‘contractor’ may file an appeal of a contracting officer’s final decision.” Wattiker v. General Services Administration, 2026 WL 846001 (CBCA 2026) (citation omitted).
The term “contractor is not an ambiguous term. A ‘contractor’ refers to a party to a federal government contract. Wattiker (citing the Contract Disputes Act). This is why the Contract Disputes Act does not apply to parties that are NOT in contract with the federal government. Id.
In Wattiker, an appellant (appealing party) challenged the dismissal of a co-appellant. The co-appellant was dismissed because he was not a contractor, i.e., a party in contract with the federal government. In other words, the co-appellant had no privity of contract with the federal government.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
California Supreme Court Approves of Annual Civility Oath for Attorneys, Rejects Incivility As Basis for Disciplinary Measures
December 08, 2025 —
Saul Lopez - Lewis Brisbois NewsroomSan Diego, Calif. (October 20, 2025) - Courts and lawmakers in California and across the country are continuing to grapple with the ongoing problem of incivility among lawyers. Nearly every week a new story is publicized in which an attorney is sanctioned or rebuked for sharp rhetoric in filings or combative behavior in the courtroom. The erosion of courtesy threatens not only collegiality but also the fair administration of justice.
On July 20, 2023, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees made an effort to restore respect and decorum within the practice of law within the Golden State. It approved and sent proposed measures to improve the civility of attorneys in California to the California Supreme Court for review and approval. The proposed measures included: (1) changes to California Rule of Court 9.7 that would require attorneys to reaffirm their oath of civility annually; and, (2) amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct that would add acts of incivility as a basis for disciplinary measures against attorneys.
Chicago Makes First Major Update to City's Building Code in 70 YearsMonumental Museum Makeover Comes In For LandingCalifornia Supreme Court to Examine Arbitration Provisions in Several Upcoming CasesNotice of Completion Determines Mechanics Lien Deadline Injured Construction Worker Settles for Five Hundred ThousandThree Payne & Fears Attorneys Named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising StarsCourt Confirms No Duty to Reimburse for Prophylactic Repairs Prior to Actual CollapseBeing deposed—not just for dictators! Depositions in the construction lawsuit (Law & Order: Hard Hat files Part 5)Savera Sandhu Joins Newmeyer Dillion As PartnerN.J. Appellate Court Applies Continuous Trigger Theory in Property Damage Case and Determines “Last Pull” for Coverage$109-Million Renovation Begins on LA's Willowbrook/Rosa Parks StationTraub Lieberman Chair Emeritus Awarded the 2022 Vince Donohue Award by the International Association of Claim ProfessionalsSeven Proactive Steps to Avoid Construction Delay DisputesIndemnity Payment to Insured Satisfies SIRHomebuilding on the Rise in Nation’s CapitolNew Report Reveals Heavy Civil Construction Less Impacted by COVID-19 Than Commercial ConstructionNo Coverage for Subcontractor's Faulty WorkmanshipHOA Has No Claim to Extend Statute of Limitations in Construction Defect CaseRDU Terminal 1: Going GreenWho is a “Contractor” as Used in “Unlicensed Contractor”?California Appeals Court Says Loss of Use Is “Property Damage” Under Liability Policy, and Damages Can be Measured by Diminished ValueNew Jersey School Blames Leaks on Construction Defects, May SueGarlock Five Years Later: Recent Decisions Illustrate Ongoing Obstacles to Asbestos Trust TransparencyTexas Considers a Quartet of Construction BillsReal Estate & Construction News Round-Up (11/30/22) – Proptech Trends, Green Construction, and Sustainable BuildingsIs Arbitration Always the Answer?Feds Used Wire to Crack Las Vegas HOA ScamThe Choice Is Yours – Or Is It? Anti-Choice-of-Laws Statutes Applicable to Construction ContractsIf a Defect Occurs During Construction, Is It an "Occurrence?" Shiloh and Vallejo: The DOI Tale of Two PropertiesDuty to Defend Construction Defect Case Triggered by Complaint's AllegationsUS Moves to Come Clean on PFAS in Drinking WaterD&O Insurer Must Cover Mortgage Broker’s $15 Million Settlement of Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsNovation Agreements Under Federal ContractsEmpowering Success: The Advantages of Female Attorneys in Construction Defect LawToxic Drywall Not Covered Under Homeowner’s PolicyMichigan: Identifying and Exploiting the "Queen Exception" to No-Fault SubrogationWill O'Neill Joins Newmeyer Dillion as PartnerGeorgia Court Reaffirms Construction Defect DecisionCOVID-19 Response: Executive Order 13999: Enhancement of COVID-19-Related Workplace Safety RequirementsAfter the Fire, Should Some Parts of Los Angeles Never Rebuild?Breaking The Ice: A Policyholder's Guide to Insurance Coverage for Texas Winter Storm Uri ClaimsSafety Officials Investigating Death From FallUnderstanding the Details: Suing Architects and Engineers Can Get TechnicalVirginia Chinese Drywall “property damage” caused by an “occurrence” and number of “occurrences”Skipping Depositions does not Constitute Failure to Cooperate in New YorkGive Way or Yield? The Jurisdiction of Your Contract Does Matter! (Law note)Gen Xers Choose to Rent rather than BuyTraub Lieberman Partner Bradley T. Guldalian Wins Summary JudgmentLearning from Production Homes of the Pastsappropriation” of a “Trade Secret”
Baltimore Project Pushes To Meet Federal DeadlineLong-Planned Miami Mega Mixed-Use Development Nears Initial DebutHunton Insurance Practice Receives Top (Tier 1) National Ranking by US News & World Report
