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: Construction Law

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

When Is Mandatory Arbitration Not Mandatory?

I have discussed my views on mandatory mediation in construction contracts at other places here at Musings and also discussed how the contract is king here in Virginia.  A recent Charlottesville, Virginia Circuit Court case combined these two concepts to allow a subcontractor to proceed straight to litigation despite various ADR provisions in the contract

Subcontractors Must be Careful Providing Bonds when General Contractor Does Not

After I wrote the title to this post, I thought, “Well, that says it all, doesn’t it?”  I also considered the fact that for those that read this construction law blog on a regular basis, I am likely stating the obvious.  I then thought about the fact that there can be confusion regarding the purpose