The Virginia Public Procurement Act (“VPPA”) governs the contractual relationships between the Commonwealth and its subdivisions and the businesses and individuals that provide them goods and services. It also provides the mechanism for the appeal of certain decisions by public bodies as well as a method by which a county can exempt itself from certain […]
Reminder: Just Being Incorporated Isn’t Enough
Originally posted 2014-08-26 14:32:44. I have discussed why contractors need to incorporate previously here at Construction Law Musings. Among the many reasons to incorporate are possible tax benefits and the protection of personal assets (like your house and your dog) from judgement and collection actions. This latter reason is key in the construction world in […]
Another Twist on Uniwest and Indemnification
Welcome to 2020! I thought I’d start with a case that adds a twist to the Uniwest case that has been discussed previously here at Construction Law Musings. Uniwest essentially held that indemnification provisions in construction contracts that purport to indemnify an indemnitee for its own negligence violates Virginia Code Sec. 11-4.1. In short, Uniwest and […]
Tall and Sustainable Is Not an Easy Fix
Originally posted 2016-10-26 11:35:05. Way back in 2009, I discussed the interaction between taller and taller buildings and sustainable (“green”) building. Back then, the reference was to the construction of skyscrapers in the Middle East and Europe. The initially referenced ENR article was written in the context of an urban retrofit of some of Chicago’s […]
Once Again: Contract Terms Matter
I know, you’ve heard this over and over again here at Construction Law Musings: courts in Virginia will interpret a contract strictly and in a manner that gives meaning to its unambiguous terms. A recent case out of the Eastern District of Virginia federal court, White Oak Power Constructors v. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, reinforces […]