Can Construction Defects Be Claimed on Insurance?
When a construction defect occurs, it can be confusing and upsetting. A defect can occur due to a variety of reasons, including poor workmanship, improper materials, negligence, improper site preparation, poor workmanship, defective materials/equipment, or poor site selection. When a defect occurs, a contractor may need to correct the issue, which can be costly. When […]
$1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Introduced
An ambitious $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill has been introduced. The Moving Forward Act, which would focus on investing “in programs, projects and materials that emphasize resiliency while reducing carbon pollution from the transportation sector,” is the latest attempt to address our country’s failing infrastructure. Will the Moving Forward Act bolster the construction industry? Or will […]
Does Builders’ Risk Insurance Cover COVID-19 Project Suspensions?
Builders’ risk insurance is a type of property insurance that covers property, material, equipment, and supplies over the course of construction. Builders’ risk generally covers events such as fire, theft, or vandalism; however, many contractors are now asking if it covers costs stemming from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Below, the Fort Lauderdale construction […]
Does Your Company Have a Prescription Drug Policy?
Certain topics can be sensitive in the workplace. Although you want to respect an employee’s privacy regarding medical issues, contractors also have to ensure that they are providing their workforce with a safe environment. This can be a difficult balancing act for employers, requiring a great deal of attention to detail and strong company policies […]
Why Large Corporations Prefer to be Self-Insured
Your company may benefit from opting out of a traditional insurance plan in favor of self-insurance. Historically, only large corporations implemented their own insurance plans, but the potent combination of changes in health care regulations and rising premiums have enabled small to medium-sized businesses to take advantage of being self-insured. Why do large corporations prefer […]
How OCIPs and CCIPs Encourage Safe Practices Part 2
Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs) and Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIPs) can help reinforce the importance of safety on your project’s job site by incentivizing safety as a means to cut costs and increase profits. In part one of this two-part series, our Knoxville construction attorneys introduced wrap-ups, OCIPs and CCIPs, and explained how increasing […]
How OCIPs and CCIPs Encourage Safe Practices Part 1
Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs) and Contractor Controlled Programs (CCIPs), commonly referred to as “wrap-ups,” provide general liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and excess liability coverage for all major parties involved in a construction project over the duration of the time it takes to complete the project. OCIPs and CCIPs can help foster a culture of […]
Honesty with Policies: Business Tactics Roofers Should Avoid
The demand for roofing work often increases after any natural disaster or, in Texas, after a severe storm. Insurance usually pays for roofing repairs after severe weather which results in roofers, some from out of state, appearing and increasing their advertising efforts to get a portion of the business. Roofers should be aware that improperly […]
Subcontractors Continue to be Plagued by Additional Insureds
Parties who are additional insureds (an entity that has been added to another entity’s insurance policy that do not have to pay premiums) on subcontractor Commercial General Liability policies have little incentive to take any preventive measures to ensure its negligence does not hurt a third party. Subcontractors that are named insureds must accept a […]
Commercial General Liability (“CGL”) Policies and Attorney’s Fees
In a recent case out of Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal, the Court held that attorney’s fees awarded to a Plaintiff in a construction defect action against an insured contractor were covered under a supplementary payment provision in a CGL policy. Specifically, in Mid-Continent Casualty Company v. James T. Treace, 41 Fla. L. Weekly […]