Bidders Beware! Design-Builders Are at Risk Not Only for Defective Design Documents, But Possibly for Defective Bidding Documents, Too

Robert J. Symon and Owen E. Salyers | BuildSmart Historically, the Boards of Contract Appeals and Courts have reviewed design-builders’ reliance on government-provided conceptual drawings or bridging documents in support of constructive change claims under a reasonableness standard (see M. A. Mortensen Company, ASBCA No. 39978, 93-3 BCA ¶ 26,189).  However, in two recent cases, the Spearin doctrine… Continue reading Bidders Beware! Design-Builders Are at Risk Not Only for Defective Design Documents, But Possibly for Defective Bidding Documents, Too

Collapse Claim Fails Due To Defectively Designed Roof and Deck

Tred R. Eyerly | Insurance Law Hawaii     The insured’s claim for collapse of his roof and deck failed due to defective design and other exclusions under the policy. Dudar v. State Farm & Cas. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52706 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 6, 2024).      The insured submitted a claim to State… Continue reading Collapse Claim Fails Due To Defectively Designed Roof and Deck

The Unexpected And Unwelcome: Defective Design And Changed Conditions Disputes

Christopher D. Cazenave | Jones Walker Last year, my construction colleague Neal Sweeney and I presented on a topic that is still a widely discussed question in the construction industry: who really pays for defective design? Despite contractual mechanisms to deal with them, defective design and changed (or differing site) conditions remain the most unexpected and unwelcome… Continue reading The Unexpected And Unwelcome: Defective Design And Changed Conditions Disputes

Utah Digs Deep and Finds “Design Defect” Includes Pre-Construction Geotechnical Reports

Kyle Rice | White and Williams The Supreme Court of Utah recently found that an incorrect pre-construction geotechnical engineering report is a “defective design.” Thus, actions arising from an incorrect geotechnical report are appropriately governed by Utah’s Economic Loss Statute (Statute), Utah Code Ann. § 78B-4-513(1). Hayes v. Intermountain GeoEnvironmental Servs. No. 20190764, 2021 UT 62,… Continue reading Utah Digs Deep and Finds “Design Defect” Includes Pre-Construction Geotechnical Reports

Ohio Supreme Court: All Claims for Defective Construction or Design Must Be Brought Within 10 Years of Substantial Completion

Peter Hahn | Benesch | July 19, 2019 The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled any lawsuit for defective and unsafe conditions arising from the design or construction of an improvement to real property must be brought within 10 years of substantial completion of the project—regardless of whether the lawsuit arises out of a breach of… Continue reading Ohio Supreme Court: All Claims for Defective Construction or Design Must Be Brought Within 10 Years of Substantial Completion