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Legal - Featured Headline

Lawsuit Targets Contractors over Washington State Wildfire
11/20/12 By Tim Newcomb
Although the cause of the fire has not been determined, the plaintiffs question the safety practices of the contractors in a fire-prone area.

AP/Brian Myrick

After Engineer Declares Roof Sound, A Deadly Collapse
10/09/12 By Richard Korman, with Jonathan Barnes
The engineering firm that inspected the roof parking deck above a southern Ontario retail concourse is one of several defendants in lawsuits by relatives of two women who died.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

More News

06/18/13	Ohio Engineering, Testing Firms Hit With Big DBE-Related Settlement By Erin Richey A whistleblower observed that the purported owner wasn't the owner and eventually collects over half a million dollars.
06/18/13	Survey: International Contract Disputes Take Longer to Resolve By Yue Jiang As complexity rises for projects in the Middle East, so does the time needed to settle differences, a survey shows.
06/05/13	D.C. Cuts Forrester Payment by $1M Over MBE Joint Venture By Richard Korman An unusual settlement costs a contractor big money for allegedly misrepresenting its share of an MBE joint venture.
05/20/13	Maryland's Building Codes Tightened for Storms By Luke Abaffy Maryland's Building and Performance Standards are tightened by a law preventing localities from weakening wind design and windborne debris provisions in the state's building code. Changes take effect Oct. 1.
05/15/13	Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down NLRB Posting Rule By Pam Hunter But issue is still pending in Fourth Circuit.
05/02/13	Some Insurance Exclusions May Surprise Contractors By Kelly Davidson The burden of due diligence ultimately falls on contractors to understand their coverage and its possible exposures.
05/01/13	Federal Appeals Court Hands Foes of Mountaintop Mining a Partial Victory By Pam Hunter But remands decision on merits of the case to the lower court
04/10/13	Analysis: Pittsburgh Neglected Flood Risk And Consultant Is Target By Jonathan Barnes and Richard Korman A lawsuit over flooding deaths in Pittsburgh in 2011 shows years of neglect to a regular problem with river control but is less clear in how a consulting engineer was negligent.
03/13/13	Ex-Corps Engineer Sentenced for Iraq Contract Bribe Plan By Tom Ichniowski Took $3.7 million in bribes on contracts totaling more than $50 million, DOJ says.
03/07/13	CH2M Hill To Pay $18.5M To Settle Federal Fraud Charges By Tom Ichniowski Agreement deals with civil, criminal allegations of time-card fraud for work at DOE Hanford site.
02/27/13	Chicago Man Used EB-5 Visas For Hotel Scam, SEC Alleges By John Gregerson A federal suit accused the developer of a planned Chicago zero-carbon-emission platinum LEED-certified hotel and conference center of fraudulently selling more than $145 million in securities and $11 million in fees to foreign investors.
02/25/13	Day Laborers Sue Nashville Firm for Workplace Practices By Candy McCampbell Workers reported at Trojan Labor offices as early as 4 a.m. to sign in and get a “work ticket,” the suit alleges.
02/20/13	Dispute Intensifies Over Failed Nevada Stadium Deal By Tony Illia in Henderson, Nev. A Nevada city sues the developer of a multi-arena sports complex over alleged fraudulent activity.
02/08/13	Granite Settles With Justice Dept., Repays Alleged Overcharges By Tom Ichniowski Contractor agrees to repay $367,500 for charges on federal projects, calls issue "inadvertent and honest mistake."
01/30/13	Federal Appeals Court Invalidates NLRB Recess Appointments By Pam Hunter Court’s decision raises uncertainty about validity of Board’s rulings since recess appointments were made.
01/28/13	Federal Appeals Court Invalidates NLRB Recess Appointments By Pam Hunter Court's decision raises uncertainty about validity of Board's rulings since recess appointments were made.
01/14/13	High Court Reverses 9th Circuit in Los Angeles Water Pollution Case By Pam Hunter Unanimous decision favors flood control district and is narrowly focused. Industry is pleased court did not expand permitting requirements.
01/08/13	ENR01142013NWS_Cadell_DOJ By Tom Ichniowski
01/08/13	Caddell Construction Pays $2M to Settle Federal Fraud Charge By Tom Ichniowski Contractor alleged to have intentionally made false statements to DOD regarding small firm it worked with under mentor-protege program.
12/04/12	Supreme Court Tackles Three Water Cases By Tom Ichniowski and Pam Hunter Court rules against federal government in 'takings' case
11/28/12	Lawsuit Targets Contractors Over Washington State Wildfire By Tim Newcomb Although the cause of the fire has not been determined, the property owner-plaintiffs question the safety practices of the contractors in a fire-prone area.
11/28/12	In Surprise, Fluor Loses Arbitration Over U.K. Wind Farm Claim By Peter Reina, with Debra Rubin Ruling rejects company’s argument over faulty design and testing by owner; counterclaim hearing is set for 2013.
08/21/12	Federal Court Rejects EPA Air Pollution Rule By Pam Hunter Appeals court strikes down EPA rule aimed at reducing powerplant air emissions that cross state lines.
08/09/12	Judge Denies Tampa Bay Water a New Trial Against HDR By Scott Judy The federal judge who oversaw the trial of Tampa Bay Water v. HDR Engineering has denied the utility's motion for a new trial.
06/28/12	High Court Upholds 2010 Health-Care Law By Pam Hunter with Esther D'Amico In 5-4 majority opinion, court says health care law's "individual mandate" provision is a tax and therefore constitutional.
06/25/12	High Court Issues Split Ruling in Immigration Case By Pam Hunter and Scott Blair Supreme Court strikes down three parts of Arizona law but upholds another section. Construction and other industries now will watch how state officials implement and enforce the provisions left standing.
06/18/12	Odebrecht Sues State of Florida Over Anti-Cuba Law By Scott Judy Odebrecht Construction on June 5 filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida over its new law that bars the awarding of public contracts to firms that have business interests in Cuba. Widely viewed as a target of the new law, the contractor asserts that the act is unconstitutional because it conflicts with federal law and attempts to enact foreign policy.
05/22/12	UPDATE: High Court Declines to Hear Jacobs' Appeal in Minn. Bridge Case By Richard Korman and Tom Ichniowski Will statutes of limitation and repose across the country become vulnerable if the state of Minnesota can continue its lawsuit to collect damages over design work from the 1960s?
05/15/12	Court Strikes Down NLRB Union Election Rule By Pam Hunter Federal district court ruling blocks controversial NLRB regulation that business groups say would have made it harder for them to prepare for union elections.
05/14/12	Florida's Anti-Cuba Law Could Be Trouble for Odebrecht By Scott Judy A new Florida law preventing local and state governments from hiring firms with business in Cuba could impact a major Miami contractor, and could end up in court.
05/07/12	Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Arizona Immigration Law Case By Pam Hunter A ruling in Arizona’s favor could embolden other states, say labor advocates
03/21/12	Nation's High Court Hands Landowners a Victory in Wetlands Case By Pam Hunter Wetlands case has ramifications for the construction industry.
03/19/12	N.Y. Judge Says Labor Pact 'Tainted' Highway Contract Bidding By Esther D'Amico The New York State Dept. of Transportation passed over a low-bidder for another bidder that recognized the project labor agreement for a ramp upgrade in Orange County.
03/14/12	Cleveland Hit With MBE Lawsuit Over Stadium Contract By Jack Buehrer Cleveland-based plaintiff wants a court to void the contract, which went to the slightly higher $5.8-billion bid by a competitor.
02/13/12	Is Trouble at Surety First Sealord a Signal of Trouble Among Small Subcontractors? By Richard Korman A.M. Best sharply lowers First Sealord’s credit rating after doubts about an acquisition and likelihood of the surety’s worsening financial condition.
01/30/12	Construction Briefs: Market Outlook; CH2M Hill; Tidal Power; Dragados USA Exec VP By Debra Rubin ENR news briefs about AGC, CH2M Hill, FERC, Pennsylvania Code reviewers and Dragados.
01/09/12	Supreme Court Hears Wetlands Case By Pam Hunter Several Justices seemed sympathetic to property owners in a case that could affect the construction industry.
12/12/11	Appeals Court Delivers Mixed Ruling in Cement-Kiln Emissions Case By Tom Ichniowski Federal appeals court sides with industry on some issues, but with EPA on others, in case dealing with rules governing air emissions from cement kilns.
11/14/11	Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Health Care Law By Pam Hunter White House expects court to find the law constitutional. But industry officials say justices could strike down one key provision or invalidate the entire statute.
10/31/11	Warning Issued to ACEC Consulting Engineers Over Indebted Clients By Tony Illia in Las Vegas Will financially troubled state and municipal clients stick their consultants and subconsultants with unpaid invoices?
07/27/11	NYC Contractors Face Manslaughter Charges in Safety Cases By Richard Korman and Tony Illia Although contractors have won acquittals in several recent high-profile safety related cases, prosecutors press on with new trials that start soon
06/08/11	Criminal Trial in Painters’ Deaths Begins in Denver Against Xcel On May 31, a jury trial in Denver began prosecuting a criminal case against Xcel Energy Inc., Minneapolis, and its subsidiary Public Service Co. over federal safety violations that led to five worker deaths at a hydroelectric plant site west of the city in 2007. Five painters, ranging in age from 19 to 52, were applying sealant inside a penstock at Xcel’s 1.2-MW Cabin Creek plant, near Georgetown, when a fire broke out and trapped them 1,000 ft underground. Employed by RPI Coating Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., the workers died of carbon monoxide inhalation. RPI executives Philippe Goutagny and James Thompson, also indicted in the accident, will stand trial at a later date. The prosecution claims Xcel picked the cheapest bid and ignored plant safety problems. The defense counters that Xcel fulfilled its legal safety obligation and RPI is responsible. If convicted, the firms could have to pay fines of up to $2.5 million each.
06/01/11	Concrete Firm Guilty of Fraud A ready-mix concrete company in Iowa has pleaded guilty to anti-trust charges. According to the May 18 complaint, GCC Alliance Concrete Inc., Orange City, Iowa, conspired with other competitors to fix prices and rig bids between January 2008 and August 2009. Sentencing is pending. The plea bargain comes after GCC’s former sales manager Steven VandeBrake was sentenced in February to serve 48 months in prison and a criminal fine of $829,715.
05/18/11	Whistle-Blower Trial Set for 2012 In Case Against Bechtel, URS A superior court judge in Benton County, Wash., has ruled that a whistle-blower lawsuit by an employee at the Hanford nuclear site against contractors Bechtel National and URS Corp. can move forward in May 2012. Walter Tamosaitis claims that, last July, he was removed from his role as technology manager for raising safety issues on the $12.2-billion waste vitrification plant project at the U.S. Energy Dept. site. Bechtel is the contractor. He now is employed by URS, its subcontractor, but in a lesser role, he says. Both firms dispute Tamosaitis’ claims and have filed motions to dismiss the case, say published reports. One company official, who requested anonymity, says DOE has already investigated the claims.
05/10/11	IRS Approves One-Year Delay For 3% Withholding Mandate By Tom Ichniowski Industry contends a contract-payment withholding requirement would inflict a financial blow.

05/04/11 BP Agrees to $25-Million Pact To Settle Alaska Crude-Oil Spills
04/20/11 Nation's High Court Hears Global-Warming Arguments
03/23/11 Lawmakers Seek Limits on Wages
02/02/11 Changes to ConsensusDOCS Improve Forms, Lawyers Say
02/02/11 Fluor, MMR Settle With OSHA On Whistle-Blower Claim
12/21/10 California Board Endorses Cap-and-Trade Reg
12/15/10 Subs Seek Payment Protection in Suit
12/14/10 Judge Favors Ohio State U. in Architect's $1-billion Hospital Project Suit; Subs Also Sue
12/09/10 Hearing Hints at Judges' Leanings On Arizona Immigration Case
08/04/10 Federal Action Needed for Comprehensive Reform, Sources Say
07/29/10 Arizona Will Appeal Judge’s Injunction of Immigration Law
07/07/10 Justice Dept. Challenges Arizona Immigration Law
06/30/10 Court OKs Columbia U.'s Controversial Expansion
06/02/10 Florida Agency Countersues Contractor On Expressway Job
05/26/10 Arizona Passes ‘Prompt Pay’ Law
04/21/10 Four Construction Groups Sue New York DOT Over Pay Freeze
04/07/10 Perini-CityCenter Partnership Broken, Headed to Court
03/31/10 Perini Sues MGM Mirage Over CityCenter Hotel-Casino Project in Las Vegas
03/31/10 Deal Reached To Rebuild World Trade Center Towers
03/24/10 URS Settles Minnesota Lawsuit Over I-35 Bridge Collapse
03/24/10 Utilities To Appeal to High Court On Climate-Change Decision
03/17/10 Brooklyn, N.Y., Project Starts After Lengthy Legal Battles
02/24/10 New York Concrete Test Firm Convicted for Some False Filing
02/19/10 State Court Rules CGL Policies Cover Subcontractor Defects
02/10/10 Alabama Landfill for TVA Waste Files for Chapter 11 Protection
12/02/09 Court Dismisses Damage Suits Against Katrina Dredging Firms
11/25/09 Court Says Lender Must Lend To Big Destiny USA Project
09/23/09 Schiavone Firm Ownership Suit Dismissed by Federal Judge
09/02/09 Judge Declines To Dismiss Collapse Case Against Jacobs
08/26/09 Court May Rewrite Liability Coverage
08/19/09 Hundreds of I-35W Collapse Suits Await Trial
08/17/09 Mississippi Insurance Case Could Reshape Contractor Policies
07/22/09 Business-Method Patent Challenge Heads to High Court
07/22/09 Georgia Slapped by Court In Tristate Water Dispute
07/01/09 $75-Million Mediated Settlement Identifies No Cause in Collapse
06/17/09 Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Challenge to U.S. Border Fence
05/15/09 Court Rules in Favor of Atlantic Yards Megadevelopment
05/06/09 High Court Limits Feds in Seeking Superfund Cleanup-Cost Funds
04/29/09 Lawsuit Filed Against Las Vegas Lenders To Restore Financing
04/22/09 Thornton-Tomasetti Is Cleared In Indiana Library Defect Suit
04/22/09 Partial Settlement Announced For 2006 Fatal Crane Collapse
04/15/09 Chinese Crane Welder Lacked Confidence in Its Own Skills
04/08/09 Construction Execs Targeted In Illinois Governor Investigation
04/01/09 Firms Reach New Settlements In Central Artery Fatal Collapse
02/18/09 Extortion Suit Between Alabama Contractor and Utility Settled
02/04/09 Chinese-Made Drywall Is Causing Lawsuits in Florida
01/28/09 Federal Judge Shuts Down Michigan Dealer's 'Gray' Iron
01/14/09 Georgia Loses Appeal Over Ruling That Limited Its Water Use
01/07/09 Grand Jury Probe Scraps Richardson Bid to Serve as U.S. Commerce Secretary

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