Source: https://www.jdsupra.com/, August 25, 2023 By: James Yand, Miller Nash LLP Important elements of a strong construction contract include implied warranties and design delegation. It is necessary to pay close attention to these concepts to protect against future disputes. When a contractor is confronted by an owner’s claims that the contractor did not adequately construct […]

Source: Distinguished Programs An old office building was demolished as part of a high-rise apartment complex redevelopment project. Following demolition, fill material was observed beneath the building slab of the former office building. The former office building was constructed in the vicinity of a historic riverbed and the area was filled to allow for development. […]

Source: https://www.newsweek.com/, August 25, 2023 By: Aleks Phillips Two renowned hotels and casinos in Las Vegas are being investigated by health authorities after several guests staying at them came down with Legionnaires’ disease, a “serious” form of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) announced it was looking into how […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A vacant riverfront industrial complex was purchased by a developer in order to construct retail, commercial, and residential buildings. During excavation activities, several underground storage tanks were discovered that had not been identified during previous environmental investigations. Soil and groundwater contamination were found on  the property. Contaminated soils were excavated and disposed […]

Source: https://www.michiganradio.org/, August 23, 2023 By: Mike Wilkinson The U.S. military has agreed to install groundwater treatment systems to stop the flow of PFAS contamination around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda — a move hailed by politicians and local advocates. The decision, first announced in Oscoda Wednesday, is seen as a first-in-the-nation […]

Source: https://www.insurancejournal.com/, August 23, 2023 Berkley Assurance Co. is asking a federal judge in Virginia to throw out a $5.8 million jury verdict against it in a case where the insurer maintains a construction firm failed to notify it of its mold claim in a timely manner. The insurer insists that the evidence establishes as […]

Source: https://www.jdsupra.com/, August 23, 2023 By: Mark Stockman, Frantz Ward LLP The Benefits of Collaboration In today’s construction industry, it is no secret that there is always increasing pressure to speed up schedules and to keep costs down. One key factor that can help achieve these goals is to increase the coordination between the various […]

Source: Distinguished Programs Students in a university laboratory accidentally dropped a thermometer containing mercury. Unaware of the imminent danger, the students treated the spill casually, causing the mercury to be tracked throughout the school on the bottoms of their shoes. The mercury vapors contaminated the building and students complained of nausea and headaches. The school […]

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/, August 19, 2023 By: Austin Fast and Cecilia Garzella Toxic “forever chemicals” are far more widespread through the country’s drinking water systems than previously known, according to new EPA data released Thursday. A USA TODAY analysis shows hundreds of community water systems, serving more than 27 million Americans, found at least one of 29 types […]

Source: https://www.wqow.com/, August 21, 2023 By: Felicity Bosk The City of Eau Claire has filed a lawsuit against companies that manufacture PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” In a press release, city officials said that PFAS has been detected in Eau Claire groundwater and wells. Because of this the city has had to shut down nearly half […]

Source: Distinguished Programs A commercial retail center received complaints from tenants about musty odors coming from the basement storage areas. During a maintenance inspection, it was determined that the basement drains were not able to drain properly  due to the buildup of sediments within the pipes causing water to back up into the storage areas. […]

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/, August 18, 2023 By: Tom Perkins The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office responsible for protecting the public from toxic substances has changed how it defines PFAS for a second time since 2021, a move critics say they fear will exclude thousands of “forever chemicals” from regulation and largely benefit industry. Instead of using a […]