Philadelphia Construction Law Blog

The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority recently filed a federal civil lawsuit against Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters, one of the two unions barred from working at the property, after failing to sign a new, more exhibitor-friendly customer satisfaction agreement. The lawsuit also names individual members of the Carpenters’ union.

OSHA CeritifcationsOSHA CeritifcationsAs part of the reaction to the tragic loss of life when a demolition contractor caused a building collapse at 22nd and Market Streets approximately 2 years ago, Philadelphia City Council passed a new city ordinance imposing licensure requirements for demolition contractors. That law, which was signed by Mayor Nutter, also imposed a new training requirement for some contractors to obtain and keep their contractor’s license.

Hunterdon County Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong has invalidated Readington Township’s taking of the property that is Solberg-Hunterdon Airport and ordered the Township to pay attorney and expert fees, citing “manifest abuse of the power of eminent domain.”

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in General on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

In Pennsylvania, the law currently provides an exception in the criminal code that prohibits the prosecution of the crimes of harassment, stalking, and threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction if those otherwise criminal acts are done as part of a labor dispute. Beginning last year, an effort was undertaken in the state legislature to close that loophole.

It remains early in both Governor Tom Wolf’s term and the 2015 legislative session. Nonetheless, there is already some legislation which would impact the construction industry making the rounds in Harrisburg.

The Green Building Certification Institute, which handles certification for the U.S. Green Building Council responsible for LEED Certification, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Parking Institute and the Green Parking Council. The goal of the cooperation agreement is to encourage sustainability in the transportation network that supports green buildings. The ultimate goal is to create and promote a Green Garage Certification program that will apply the same ideas that drive the LEED Certification process in the parking component of construction.

According to the Raleigh, North Carolina based form FMI Corp., 2014 was a vastly better year than 2013 in terms of total construction in place (CPIP). The total for 2014 was $62 billion more – a 7 percent increase – than the year before. The gross number for 2014 was estimated to be around $972 billion. In even better news, the projected number for 2015 exceeds $1 trillion.

As-built drawings, or renderings of the building as constructed, are common in the industry. Many contracts require that the contractor or subcontractor providing the labor and materials to construct the project provide them as part of the close out documents. This is because there is often variation between the design, specifications, and final constructed product. Sometimes this change is known; while on other occasions it can be an unknown fact until it is measured.

Open shop developers and contractors alike will soon have a new rule to contend with when they work in Philadelphia. The new ordinance mandating paid sick leave for companies with 10 or more employees will go into effect on June 13, 2015. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or working as independent contractors are exempt from the new law.