Source: http://www.lexology.com, October 16, 2013 By: Wiley Rein LLP Applying Louisiana law, a federal district court has held that, where an underlying complaint alleges injury exclusively arising from defective architectural design, a professional services exclusion bars coverage. Wisznia Co. v. Gen. Star Indem. Co., Civ. A. No. 11-2657 (E.D. La. Sept. 27, 2013). The insured […]

The Harmon is a highrise building in the CityCenter Las Vegas development in Paradise, Nevada. The tower was designed by Foster + Partners as a non-gaming boutique hotel, and was to be operated by Andrew Sasson’s The Light Group upon completion. The building features an elliptical layout and highly reflective exterior located on the northeast […]

Source: http://southeast.construction.com, May 2005 By: Scott Judy Dealing With Problems, Agency Pushes Accountability One day after a major rainstorm in January 2004, construction crews discovered evidence of cracking on some of the piers of the nearly completed $60 million Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Fla. Further investigation revealed deep cracks penetrating more than halfway through […]

Source: http://www.naylornetwork.com By: Marc Goldman, Director of Strategy, The Blue Book Building and Construction Network Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the hottest topic in the construction industry and for good reason. Architects use BIM tools and process to deliver better designs; engineers use BIM to ensure designs meet codes and performance benchmarks. General contractors are […]

Source: http://myfox8.com, October 20, 2013 By: Winston-Salem Journal On her way to school, Annie Brown climbed the steep hills that now stand anonymously below the surface of Belews Lake, a man-made body of water in Stokes County with 88 miles of shoreline. Brown, 63, saw Duke Energy build the earthen dam in the early 1970s […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, October 18, 2013 By: John O’Connor and Theodore N. Nemeroff, Steptoe & Johnson LLP Noxious fumes emitted from defective drywall are “pollutants” for purposes of applying total pollution exclusions in commercial general liability (CGL) policies, according to a recent decision by a federal court in Mississippi. Based on this conclusion, the United States […]

Source: http://www.constructionexec.com, October 2013 By: Jeff Cavignac An effective construction insurance program requires the dovetailing of several different policies in order to protect each project stakeholder. General liability and workers’ compensation are critical elements of insuring a construction project, but the keystone is builders risk coverage. Builders risk, often called “course of construction,” is a […]

Source: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com, October 17, 2013 By: Danielle Ameden Special Town Meeting on Wednesday approved a $175,000 payout to settle lawsuits stemming from contaminated fill from a town project ending up in a Milford family’s yard. The deal resolves a lawsuit Framingham filed in 2010 against the Walpole contractor that did roadwork for the town on […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, October 8, 2013 By: Philip L. Comella and William R. Schubert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP California is the most recent state to pass a new, comprehensive statute with which to regulate the hydraulic fracturing industry. The California statute is making headlines, and for a good reason: California contains an estimated two thirds of the […]

Source: The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada), October 16, 2013 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com Could a similar pipeline rupture happen here? Opponents and proponents of Enbridge’s Line 9 plan are sharply divided. The National Energy Board will hear from both sides as hearings continue this week in Toronto. Rick Frey keeps a watchful eye on the metal […]

Source: http://www.ibamag.com, October 16, 2013 By: Caitlin Bronson Producers may need to reevaluate how they sell commercial general liability policies to certain clients in the wake of a legal case involving the common absolute pollution exclusion. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. failed to convince a Colorado state court this week that defective Chinese drywall claims made […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, October 15, 2013 By: Brian Margolies, Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP In its recent decision in Prestige Properties, Inc. v. National Builders and Contractors Ins. Co., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146738 (S.D. Miss. Oct. 10, 2013), the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi had occasion to consider the […]