Originally posted 2018-10-03 11:07:55. In 2010, the Virginia Supreme Court held in Uniwest Const., Inc. v. Amtech Elevator Servs., Inc., that Va. Code Sec. 11-4.1 renders completely void and unenforceable any indemnification provision in a construction contract between a contractor and subcontractor that seeks to indemnify the indemnified party from its own negligent acts. In […]
Motions to Dismiss, Limitations of Liability, and More
Originally posted 2023-01-17 15:48:19. Remember BAE Sys. Ordnance Sys. V. Fluor Fed. Sols? I examined that case on two occasions previously here at Construction Law Musings. Previously the discussions were about the mix (or lack thereof) between fraud and contract and about how careful contract drafting is key. In the most recent opinion in this […]
Wow! It’s Been 15 Years as a Solo Construction Lawyer!
I have always found it appropriate that my jump to solo practice and Independence Day are so close in time. Today marks the 15th anniversary of my first day as a solo practitioner of construction law at The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, PC. Time sure has flown by thanks to the great clients and friends […]
Big News for “Smaller” Construction Cases
As a Virginia construction attorney and solo practitioner, I represent many clients that have construction claims that cover the spectrum from $20,000 (and possibly less) to somewhere in the millions. Back in 2011, the Virginia General Assembly updated the General District Court (the court “not of record” that takes less time and costs less in […]
Yet ANOTHER Reason not to Contract without a License
Originally posted 2021-10-14 12:02:08. Remember when I stated that you cannot lawfully perform construction work in Virginia without a contractor’s license? Remember when I said that you risk non-payment if you do so? If you needed another reason, a relatively recent Virginia Court of Appeals decision upholding a criminal conviction for performing construction work without […]