News & Insights

Practice Area: Construction

Court Of Appeals Of Tennessee Affirms Ruling Precluding Recovery By Developer Due To It Committing A Prior Material Breach Of The Same Contract

In The Manor Homes, LLC v. Ashby Communities, LLC, et al., No. M201701369COAR3CV, 2018 WL 3814981 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 10, 2018), the Court of Appeals of Tennessee affirmed a ruling precluding recovery by the developer due to it committing a prior material breach of the contract. The case involved the construction of a house…
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Alabama Supreme Court Upholds Forum Selection Clause

In Ex parte Consol. Pipe & Supply Co., Inc., No. 1170050, 2018 WL 3083719 (Ala. June 22, 2018), the Alabama Supreme Court overturned an order granting a motion to transfer venue based upon a valid forum-selection clause. The Court held that the doctrine of forum non conveniens cannot be used to frustrate an otherwise valid…
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Alabama Legislature Expands Scope Of Home Builders Licensure Board Act To Clarify Scope Of Licensure Requirement For Home Improvements And Now Governs All Residential Roofing Companies

The Alabama legislature recently amended provisions of the Home Builders Licensure Board Act (the “HBLB Act”) to expand the scope of home building projects and companies required to comply with the HBLB Act.  The HBLB Act was originally enacted to protect individual homeowners when engaging a Construction company to either build a new home or…
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Fourth District Court Of Appeal Of Florida Determines Duty Of Subcontractor To Defend And Indemnify General Contractor Did Not Extend To Project Owner

In Blok Builders, LLC v. Katryniok, No. 4D16-1811, 2018 WL 637399 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. Jan. 31, 2018), the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District, overturned a trial court’s decision requiring a subcontractor to defend and indemnify a project owner based on a reference in the Subcontract which adopted and incorporated by reference…
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Court Of Appeals Of Tennessee Holds It Is Defendant’s Burden To Present Evidence To Limit A Plaintiff’s Damages To Diminution Of Value

In Patrick Durkin v. MTown Construction, LLC, N No. W201701269COAR3CV, 2018 WL 1304922, (Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2018), the Court of Appeals of Tennessee overturned an award of property damages which was predicated in part upon the diminution of property value based upon a finding that the defendant had failed to present sufficient evidence…
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Alabama Court Of Civil Appeals Determines Contractor Is Entitled To An Award Of Prejudgment Interest Despite Factual Dispute As To Amount Due Pursuant Oral Contract

In Ballard v. Lee A. McWilliams Constr., Inc., No. 2160469, 2018 WL 670459, at *1 (Ala. Civ. App. Feb. 2, 2018), the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals determined an award of prejudgment interest is due despite a defense that such damages should not be recoverable given that they were not “certain” at the time of…
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Eleventh Circuit Court Of Appeals Affirms Trial Court’s Interpretation Of What Constitutes Acceptance For Statute Of Limitations Purposes For Actions On Payment Bonds

In Devin B. Strickland v. Arch Insurance Company, No. 17-10610, 2018 WL 327443 (11th Cir. Jan. 9, 2018), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s determination that Strickland’s claim against the bond surety was time-barred due to his waiting more than one year after the completion of the contract and the acceptance…
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Third District Court Of Appeal Of Florida Holds That Parties Are Able To Include A Provsion In A Contract Which Precludes Third Party Beneficiary Status

In Perez-Gurri Corp. v. McLeod, No. 3D15-2590, 2017 WL 5616924, at *1 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. Nov. 22, 2017), the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District, overturned a trial court’s decision to preclude a general contractor from seeking delay damages on the basis that the subcontractors were not intended third-party beneficiaries of the…
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