Aron C. Beezley and Gabrielle A. Sprio | BuildSmart Organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs) continue to be a critical compliance risk in the federal contracting landscape. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) mandates that contracting officers “avoid, neutralize, or mitigate” OCIs to ensure that government decisions are made objectively and without improper influence. For contractors —… Continue reading 6 Tips for Government Contractors to Avoid, Neutralize, and Mitigate Organizational Conflicts of Interest
Month: July 2025
California Court of Appeal Clarifies Right of a Party to Oppose Summary Judgment Motions – Even Without Cross-Claims
Arezoo Jamshidi | Haight Brown & Bonesteel The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two (Riverside) in RND Contractors, Inc. v. Superior Court (2025) issued a significant published decision. The California Court of Appeal addressed a previously unsettled question: can a co-defendant oppose another defendant’s motion for summary judgment when the plaintiff does not oppose it… Continue reading California Court of Appeal Clarifies Right of a Party to Oppose Summary Judgment Motions – Even Without Cross-Claims
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Texas Court Finds Construction Defect Claims Were Inherently Undiscoverable, Tolls Statute of Limitations
Gus Sara | White and Williams In Morningside Ministries v. Koontz McCombs Construction, Ltd., No. 08:23-00332-cv, 2025 Tex. App. Lexis 3584 (Morningside), the Court of Appeals of Texas (Court of Appeals) considered whether the plaintiff’s construction defect claims were “inherently undiscoverable,” thereby tolling the applicable limitations period under the discovery rule. The lower court granted the… Continue reading Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Texas Court Finds Construction Defect Claims Were Inherently Undiscoverable, Tolls Statute of Limitations
Oregon Supreme Court Expands Meaning of “Accident” in Insurance Policy
Blake Robinson | Davis Wright Tremaine Key Takeaways On February 15, 2023, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued a decision holding that a claim for breach of a settlement agreement did not trigger an insurance policy because a breach of contract was not an “accident” under the policy, even though the alleged breach was negligently… Continue reading Oregon Supreme Court Expands Meaning of “Accident” in Insurance Policy
Key Clauses in Construction Contracts: Practical Guidance for Project Success
Matthew Liben, Marianne Smith, Ariel Solose and Tom Wagner | Blake, Cassels & Graydon As the legal and commercial landscape around construction projects continues to evolve, so must the contracts that govern these projects. In recent years, courts and contracting parties have emphasized how agreements allocate risk and define procedural obligations. Careful drafting and informed… Continue reading Key Clauses in Construction Contracts: Practical Guidance for Project Success