Thoughts on construction law from Christopher G. Hill, Virginia construction lawyer, LEED AP, mediator, and member of the Virginia Legal Elite in Construction Law

Category Archives: Business of Construction

Monitor Yourself to Avoid Construction Risk

Originally posted 2014-11-24 08:00:53. As I looked through my weekly piles of mail, an article in Constructor Magazine caught my attention.  The article was in the insurance commentary section of the magazine and is entitled “Avoiding Common Causes of Contractor Failure.”  While this article is written from an insurance perspective, many of the same principles

PSA: Virginia DOLI Amends COVID Workplace Standard

Originally posted 2021-10-05 11:41:25. As the governmental response to COVID-19 evolves, so do the various standards that apply to employers.  Effective September 8, 2021, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry superseded its earlier permanent workplace standard with a new standard. In many ways, the new standard simplifies compliance because it gets rid of what

More Reminders that the Specific Contract Terms Matter

If there is a theme I have pounded upon here at Construction Law Musings in the over 13 years of posting, it is that the specific terms of your construction contracts will make a huge difference.  While there have been reminders galore, a case from the Eastern District of Virginia presented another wrinkle on this

A Lien Change for the Better (Guest Post at ZLien)

Originally posted 2017-04-10 11:00:41. During the recent General Assembly session, the Virginia legislature made a great change to the Virginia mechanic’s lien statute.  I blog about it at the Zlien Blog. Here’s an excerpt of my post. The recent changes to Va. Code §43-3 (effective July 1, 2012) clarify several points regarding the allocation of

If You Think Only Lawyers Preach a Good Contract

Originally posted 2013-07-30 09:00:41. Here at Construction Law Musings, we always preach that a good contract is the best way to start a project off right.  No only do the Virginia courts enforce these contracts to a “T,” a well drafted contract can and does set the expectations for both sides so that those wonderful