For this week’s Guest Post Friday here at Musings, we welcome back Douglas Reiser. Doug (@douglasreiser) is a business attorney & LEED AP in Seattle, Washington. He is the principal at Reiser Legal PLLC, co-founder of ClaimKit, and editor of The Builders Counsel. Doug represents green businesses, green builders, contractors, organizations and craft brewers. His […]
A Great VA Supreme Court Opinion on Mechanic’s Liens
Mechanic’s liens are dear to my construction lawyer’s heart, and I write about them often here at Construction Law Musings. I try and cover everything from the General Assembly making changes to the rules, to general discussions of recent cases. Recently, a great case came out of the Virginia Supreme Court that gives great insight […]
No Recoupment Defense to Supplier’s Miller Act Claim
We’re back on the Miller Act train here at Musings. Recently, the Alexandria, VA Federal District Court revisited the issue of whether the failure of a subcontractor to pay its supplier provides a general contractor and its surety with a defense to a Federal Miller Act bond claim. The short answer is “No.” In U.S. […]
Why Contractors Should Notify Bonding Companies Quickly
With the rise in federal and state construction projects, and the need for contractors and other construction professionals to seek out these projects in the present economy, focus on the Miller Act and your state’s “Little Miller Act” is key. As a quick reminder, the Miller Act essentially requires that a general contractor carry a […]
It’s Baaack! The Mechanic’s Lien Cloud Returns (Updated)
Remember during last year’s Virginia General Assembly session when a bill relating to notice and residential projects was introduced? Remember when we thought that it was killed through inaction? Well, like the zombies from The Walking Dead, the bill has resurfaced in essentially the same form as that which was presented to the Virginia Senate […]