Oregon Supreme Court Provides Much-Needed Clarity on the State’s Law Regarding Whether Damage from Construction Defect Constitutes An “Occurrence”

Ali H. Jamwal | Saxe Doernberger & Vita The Supreme Court of Oregon recently ruled that a general contractor’s tort liability for its defective work may constitute a covered “occurrence” within the meaning of the ISO commercial general liability (“CGL”) policy, providing much needed clarity on the issue under Oregon law.[1] However, property damage arising solely… Continue reading Oregon Supreme Court Provides Much-Needed Clarity on the State’s Law Regarding Whether Damage from Construction Defect Constitutes An “Occurrence”

Timing is Everything: Changes to Florida’s ‘Proposal for Settlement’ Rule Inapplicable to Proposals Made Before the Rule Changes Became Effective

Vincent Fernandez and William Lewis | Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig Proposals for settlement are a litigation tool highly favored by Florida courts to resolve cases. They are governed by section 768.79, Florida Statutes, and Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.442. Strict compliance with the governing statute and rule is key to the enforcement of a… Continue reading Timing is Everything: Changes to Florida’s ‘Proposal for Settlement’ Rule Inapplicable to Proposals Made Before the Rule Changes Became Effective

New California Law Caps Retention for Private Construction Projects

John Brucker, Scott Greer and Gregg Jacobson | King & Spalding California has enacted Senate Bill 61 (“SB-61”), a significant piece of legislation that directly impacts owners and developers of private construction projects in the state. Signed into law on July 24, 2025, SB-61 establishes a mandatory cap on retention payments for most private construction… Continue reading New California Law Caps Retention for Private Construction Projects

Colorado American Dream Act: Condominium Construction Defect Procedures

Bob Burton, Will Smith and Kristi Stotts | Winstead Colorado’s housing shortage—particularly in the for-sale condominium market—has been driven in part by the high cost and unpredictability of construction defect litigation. In 2025, the General Assembly enacted House Bill 25-1272, the Colorado American Dream Act, to address these barriers and encourage new condominium development. The… Continue reading Colorado American Dream Act: Condominium Construction Defect Procedures

Exhaustion of Remedies: Owner Defeats Subcontractor’s Unjust Enrichment Claim

John Mark Goodman | BuildSmart A federal judge in Oregon has tossed a subcontractor’s unjust enrichment or “quantum meruit” claim against the owner because the subcontractor did not first exhaust its contractual remedies against the contractor. Exhaustion of remedies is a common legal doctrine that generally requires parties to pursue relief in a particular order.… Continue reading Exhaustion of Remedies: Owner Defeats Subcontractor’s Unjust Enrichment Claim