construction law musings – Construction Law Musings- Richmond, VA

Uniwest Rides Again (or, Are Architects Subject to Va. Code Section 11-4.1?)

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 short, the Virginia Supreme Court stated that such overly broad provisions violate Section 11-4.1.

A recent case out of the Eastern District of Virginia Federal District Court examined a provision in a contract between a designer/architect and a contractor or owner on a project. In Travelers Indem. Co. of Conn. v. Lessard Design Inc. the Court examined the application of Section 11-4.1 to the following provision of a design contract where Lessard, the indemnitor, agreed to:

[i]ndemnify, defend and hold the Owner, Owner’s Developer, and Owner’s and Owner’s Developer’s wholly owned affiliates and the agents, employees and officers of any of them harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, expenses, claims, fines and penalties, costs and expenses, including, but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs relating to the services performed by the Architect hereunder . . .

Continue reading Uniwest Rides Again (or, Are Architects Subject to Va. Code Section 11-4.1?)

Six Years as a Solo Construction Attorney! How Time Flies

Originally posted 2016-07-01 09:00:07.

It seems like only yesterday that I ventured out on my own and started my solo construction law practice back in 2010. The reaction and fulfillment since I announced my move on July 1, 2010 has been great. Friends, clients, colleagues and, most importantly, my wonderful family have helped my practice grow beyond what I could have envisioned six years ago. Continue reading Six Years as a Solo Construction Attorney! How Time Flies

Another Exception to Fraud and Contract Don’t Mix

Originally posted 2013-05-27 09:00:37.

Map of Virginia highlighting Loudoun County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here at Construction Law Musings, we’ve discussed the fact that, in Virginia, the “economic loss rule” generally renders claims of fraud and construction contracts like oil and water. This is true in most states, including Florida.

What this means is that as a general rule where any party is supposed to perform under a contract, and fails to do so, the Virginia courts will dismiss a fraud claim out of a desire to avoid turning any breach of contract (read “broken promise”) case into a claim for fraud. As you have likely gathered by the title of this post, there are exceptions. One is a properly plead Virginia Consumer Protection Act (“VCPA”) claim.

Continue reading Another Exception to Fraud and Contract Don’t Mix

Happy Holidays from Construction Law Musings

We are nearing the end of another year and looking forward to the next. For a shorter or longer time, all of the family is home for some Christmas cheer while Musings takes some holiday R&R.

I wish you all Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, PC, and Construction Law Musings. To all of my friends, colleagues, and most importantly, family, I hope you have a safe, warm, and wonderful holiday.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to a great 2024 with you, my readers.

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Thank You for 17 Years of Legal Elite in Construction Law

Thank you once again to those in the Virginia legal community who elected me to the Virginia Business Legal Elite in the Construction Law category for the 17th consecutive year. The 17 consecutive years of election to the Legal Elite in the Construction Category span my entire close to 14 years as a solo construction attorney. The fact that you all have continued to elect “100%” of the lawyers at The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, PC for the last 13 years is most gratifying and only confirms that my decision to “go solo” over 13 years ago was a good one. To be included in this list of top construction attorneys is both humbling and gratifying. For the complete list of the Virginia construction lawyers who were elected along with me, see the 2023 Virginia Business Legal Elite in Construction Law.

So without further ado, thank you to all of you who voted for me. I truly appreciate your continued confidence and support of my construction law practice. Your yearly votes always prod me to learn and continually improve to meet your expectations and keep my practice at this high level. I also couldn’t do this without the great support from friends and family (not to mention clients), so my gratitude goes out to these great folks.

Thanks again,

Chris

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