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: Mechanic’s Liens

Reminder: Your MLA Notice Must Have Your License Number

Remember a couple of years ago when the Virginia mechanic’s lien rules changed to require inclusion of a claimant’s contractor’s license number (where a license is required)?  If not, then this is a reminder of that particular wrinkle in the strictly interpreted mechanic’s lien statute.  This requirement applies to all mechanic’s lien memoranda and, like

The Anatomy of a Construction Dispute Stage 2- Increase the Heat

Last week we discussed the groundwork and circumstances of a construction claim.  This week’s post will discuss the next steps, hopefully, short of full-blown arbitration or litigation that you, as a construction company, can pursue presuming your claim has been properly preserved. If your contract requires certain steps such as informal resolution attempts or other

Private Project Payment Bonds and Pay if Paid in Virginia

One of the many items of construction law that has always been about as clear as mud has been the interaction between a contractual pay if paid clause and payment bond claims either under the Federal Miller Act or Virginia’s “Little Miller Act.”  While properly drafted contractual “pay if paid” clauses are enforceable by their

Don’t Kick the Claim Until the End of the Project: Timely Give Notice and Preserve Your Claims on Construction Projects

For this week’s Guest Post Friday, we welcome Tara L. Chadbourn. Tara is an attorney with ReavesColey PLLC in Chesapeake, VA, where she concentrates her practice on construction law, litigation and commercial litigation. Tara counsels owners, contractors, subcontractors and materials suppliers in various government and commercial construction matters. Tara can be reached at tara.chadbourn@reavescoley.com. You