The Dotted Line: Why ChatGPT needs a (construction) lawyer

The suddenly-everywhere tech can spit out a contract lickety-split. But would you trust your $100 million project to it?

By Joe Bousquin • May 30, 2023

Supreme Court narrows WOTUS definition

The high court curtailed the jurisdiction of the federal government under the Clean Water Act while effectively negating a recent Biden administration rule. 

By Joe Bousquin • May 26, 2023

$220B in IIJA funds announced so far

Even as the White House detailed how money is rolling out, contractors and other groups are watching infrastructure act funding during negotiations over the debt ceiling.

By Julie Strupp • May 23, 2023

Debt ceiling breach would sink construction starts by as much as 30%

If policymakers fail to avert the crisis by the June deadline, all types of building activity would slow, including projects boosted by federal funding packages, according to Dodge.

By Sebastian Obando • May 18, 2023

Earth movers, front-end loaders and robots take over the National Mall

Heavy equipment manufacturers are displaying their machines in Washington, D.C., this week to demonstrate the $1 trillion construction industry’s economic might and shine a light on policy priorities.

By Jennifer Goodman , Matthew Thibault • May 16, 2023

Maryland HVAC contractor settles equal-pay suit for $210K

An Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claimed Mechanical Design Systems paid a woman project manager half as much as men.

By Joe Bousquin • May 15, 2023

Business, construction leaders urge quick resolution to looming debt ‘catastrophe’

President Joe Biden and congressional leaders met this week as the threat of a default on the country’s $31.4 trillion debt grows.

By Jennifer Goodman • May 11, 2023

Whiting-Turner settles EEOC suit for $1.2M

The firm allegedly segregated workers into all-Black crews run by White supervisors who harassed them with racial slurs at a $600 million Google data center project.

By Joe Bousquin • May 5, 2023

Tutor Perini wins $2.95B NYC jail contract

The Los Angeles-based firm will design and build the Brooklyn facility for the city’s new Borough-Based Jails System.

By Joe Bousquin • Updated May 2, 2023

First state law banning gas in new buildings likely to pass in New York

Environmental and social justice advocates worry it will include a “poison pill” provision backed by the oil and gas industry.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 1, 2023

DOL: Pennsylvania subcontractor will pay $384K in back wages, penalties for violating H-2B rules

The agency said a swimming pool builder failed to pay H-2B workers at the required wage rate and for their travel to and from the worksite.

By Laurel Kalser • April 27, 2023

The Dotted Line: How to craft contracts to avoid disputes and keep legal fees down

Construction’s litigation claims and costs are among the highest of all industries. Here are strategies to keep damages in check.

By Joe Bousquin • April 25, 2023

Construction costs in 2023 and how your contract can help you get ahead of supply chain risks

Are you doing everything you can to protect against rising material costs and supply chain risk? Let your contract be your secret weapon.

April 24, 2023

Remaining defendants sentenced in Caltrans bid-rigging scheme

William D. Opp and Choon Foo “Keith” Yong will each serve about four years in prison and pay close to $1 million in restitution.

By Joe Bousquin , Matthew Thibault • Updated April 27, 2023

All lanes on Florida’s $440M Pensacola Bay Bridge open

The project suffered a setback in 2020 after Skanska USA’s barges crashed into it during Hurricane Sally.

By Julie Strupp • April 13, 2023

Texas Senate passes $10B plan to develop gas power plants

There is broad opposition to the bill, which some critics say is a “fundamental U-turn away from the competitive electric market.”

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2023

It’s not just you: Construction really is risky business

The sector was among those with the most legal filings last year, resulting in $3.36 billion in losses, according to a new report.

By Joe Bousquin • April 5, 2023

The Dotted Line: How contractors can avoid becoming EEOC’s next target

Construction firms should expect more aggressive enforcement, unannounced visits to project sites and more investigations, a lawyer told Construction Dive.

By Joe Bousquin • March 28, 2023

EEOC obtains $2.6M judgment against construction staffing firm

The agency alleged in a discrimination suit that Maryland-based Green JobWorks refused to hire women for demolition and laborer jobs.

By Joe Bousquin • March 27, 2023

Defunct Katerra sues former CFO for bonus

The failed Softbank-backed startup is alleging its former CFO is obligated to pay back his signing and relocation bonuses amid intensifying scrutiny of executive compensation.

By Grace Noto • March 22, 2023

Tutor Perini had the most OSHA violations among contractors during the past decade

Agency officials cited the company more often than any construction contractor in its database over a 10-year period.

By Matthew Thibault , Julia Himmel , Noelle Knox • March 21, 2023

EEOC puts construction on notice

The agency’s proposed strategic enforcement plan, which will guide its efforts through 2027, called out the industry by name.

By Joe Bousquin • March 14, 2023

Construction site is swarmed, burned at Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’

Police said Sunday’s incident at a Brasfield & Gorrie project site was a “coordinated, criminal attack.”

By Joe Bousquin • Updated March 6, 2023

Buy America provisions can improve construction lead times — for a price

About one-third of materials used in U.S. projects are made overseas. A make-it-here push would further raise already high costs.

By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 28, 2023

The Dotted Line: Reviewing construction contracts with recession in mind

Contractors need to know where they stand on a project long before times get tough.

By Joe Bousquin • Feb. 28, 2023