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

Considerations in Obtaining a Mechanic’s Lien in Maryland (Don’t try this at home)

Originally posted 2016-01-11 09:19:41. For this week’s Guest Post Friday at Construction Law Musings I welcome Matthew Evans.  Matt is the owner of Law Offices of Matthew S. Evans, III, LLC located in Annapolis, Maryland.  He has practiced construction, real estate and land use law in Maryland and D.C. for thirteen years.  Prior to opening

Just When You Thought General Contractors Were Necessary Parties. . .

Originally posted 2016-09-22 10:32:51. Did you think that a subcontractor had to name a general contractor in a mechanic’s lien suit?  I did.  Did you think that nothing about this changed in the case where a Virginia mechanic’s lien was “bonded off” pursuant to Va. Code Section 43-71?  I did. Well, a recent Virginia Supreme

Changes to Va. Code Section 43-13: Another Arrow in a Subcontractor’s Quiver

As is always the case here in Virginia, our General Assembly has made some legislative changes that affect construction contracting.  One of these changes is an amendment to Va. Code 43-13 found in the mechanic’s lien section of the Virginia Code. This section of the code has always required that any money paid to a

Be Sure to Join Me at this Year’s “Virtual” Construction Law and Public Contracts Seminar

In case you hadn’t heard, there is a virus going around that has thrown us all a “social distancing” curveball.  Most, if not all, large public events have either gone “virtual” or been postponed or canceled.  Luckily, this year’s 41st Annual Construction Law and Public Contracts Seminar is in the former category.

Quick Note: Be Careful with Pay if Paid Clauses (Both Subcontractors and General Contractors) (now with a caveat)

Originally posted 2015-06-15 09:00:38. Aside from waiver of lien rights (something that will be illegal in Virginia after July 1, 2015), the most troublesome contractual impediment to payment for a subcontractor or supplier on a project often is the “pay if paid” clause.  As a general rule, in Virginia, these clauses where drafted in the