Philadelphia Construction Law Blog

Alternative dispute resolution was introduced to the legal system years ago as a way to get cases to final resolution faster and contain costs. While these two objectives are not always accomplished with alternative dispute resolution in the modern system, the idea is still inserted into construction contracts and widely used. The concept is seen in two forms: mediation and arbitration.

We pause on this Monday, January 18, 2016, to honor the life and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  A truly great man, Dr. King saw an injustice and sought to make things right.  His leadership and character will endure forever.

Kaplin Stewart’s Spring Seminar Series Presents: Managing Risk with 5 Key Contract Provisions Presented by:   When: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 8-9:15 a.m. Where: Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. 910 Harvest Drive, Suite 200 Blue Bell, PA 19422 Email dborzor@kaplaw.com to register at no charge

Kaplin Stewart’s Spring Seminar Series Presents: Managing Risk with 5 Key Contract Provisions Presented by:  When: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 8-9:15 a.m. Where: Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. 910 Harvest Drive, Suite 200 Blue Bell, PA 19422 Email dborzor@kaplaw.com to register at no charge

From our family to yours…  Happy Thanksgiving to all of our clients, friends, colleagues, and neighbors!

The Kaplin Stewart Construction Law Department is excited to announce its newest program offering. Starting in January, our attorneys will present our Spring Seminar Series to help our clients and friends prepare for the upcoming busy season. Designed to provide invaluable information to help construction firms plan their new projects, the programs will be approximately an hour long and held at Kaplin Stewart’s main offices in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The program list is as follows:

Pennsylvania House Bill 1357 is presently before the Professional Licensure Committee in the House of Representatives. The legislation, which is scheduled for a committee hearing next month, would impose a state wide licensure system on the plumbing trades in Pennsylvania if passed.

Although regular risk assessments and re-evaluations of insurance coverage are generally a good idea, it’s not uncommon for construction companies to take the approach of renewing their existing insurance policy when it comes up for renewal. Some policies – particularly specialty policies – have renewal clauses in them that sophisticated companies should be aware of when renewing their insurance though. A recent decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia sheds some light on this issue.

There is at least one universal truth in businesses of all kinds: no one likes to work for free. The risk of non-payment in the construction industry can be greater than in others because of the significant financial outlay that is required just to perform the work. Reimbursement for labor and material costs are required just to avoid losing money (not profit) on a job. And we all know what happens to companies that don’t at least break even most of the time.

Did you know that the Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 telescopic crane (pictured below) is one of the biggest pieces of construction equipment in the world? With a lifting capacity of up to 1,200 tons, a boom of 126 meters, and a reach of 126 meters more, it gets from place to place on a nine-axle suspension system.