Monthly Archives: April 2016

People working in the construction industry, like any other business enterprise, are in it to make money. While some enjoy their work and get “payment” in the form of loving what they do, we don’t need to take a poll to know that participants in the construction industry would all be agreeable to making more money.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced on April 7, 2016, that it was levying a huge fine on New Jersey contractor Berlin Builders. The citations and fines relate to multiple projects, the two most recent of which are the Springford Estates development in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania, and the American House project in Perkasie.

The City of Philadelphia and its people take a great deal of pride in any number of things – and rightly so. From great food and fantastic culture to a history older than America itself, there is so much to appreciate about the place we call home. But ask any Philadelphian what they are most proud of and they will tell you, perhaps in their own way, it’s the City’s indomitable spirit.

Many contracts provide that before a party can arbitrate or litigate a dispute, a mediation must occur. Often a party will choose not to submit a dispute to mediation believing that a mediation will not resolve the dispute. Many parties proceed directly to arbitration or litigation, dismissive of the contract language requiring mediation.

Funding for public school construction and maintenance projects has been delayed by the months- long budget gridlock in Pennsylvania. Although the Commonwealth’s budget was recently approved, a related funding bill providing for more than $306 million in construction reimbursements due to Pennsylvania school districts was vetoed. School districts may now be faced with getting, or extending, financing for past and ongoing construction projects until legislation authorizing the reimbursements is finalized. It is unclear how this may affect future construction projects planned by Pennsylvania schools.