Plaintiff initiated a lawsuit alleging significant personal injuries as a result of a bucket that detached from its coupler on a Komatsu excavator while plaintiff was working on the rehabilitation of the Delta terminal at LaGuardia Airport. Plaintiff sued The City of NY and Delta Airlines in Bronx County under NY’s Labor Law, eventually obtaining summary judgment against the defendants. The City of NY and Delta initiated a third-party action against numerous defendants, including our clients, who designed, manufactured and distributed the coupler, Miller UK Ltd., Miller Internat
Construction & Building Management
The construction industry is dynamic, and that dynamism can give rise to disputes. Workers navigate active and ever-changing environments, abuzz with machinery and other workers in motion. Disputes arise over materials, products, trade sequencing, delays,and compliance with specifications. Complex contract and insurance risk-sharing agreements attempt to determine who will bear what risks. Demand and supply cycles create collection issues.
Construction Injuries
Counsel for injured construction workers often try to avoid the workers’ compensation bar to suits against their employers by suing manufacturers of construction-related products. These can include:
- Materials handling equipment
- Construction elevators
- Scaffolds
- Electrical equipment
- Plumbing
- Gas lines
- Building controls
- Construction chemicals
- Solar arrays
- Roofing products
- Insulation
- HVAC systems
The Scaffold Law
In some venues, there is a statutory regime for construction injuries, For instance, New York Labor Law section 240, also known as the “Scaffold Law,” requires an owner, contractor, or agent provide “adequate workplace safety measures” to protect workers who work at an elevation. Section 240 imposes liability regardless of control, supervision, or direction of the work.
Post-Construction Liability
After the construction of a structure, the builder or owner remains liable to subsequent purchasers for construction defects after the structure is completed.
Environmental Concerns
Developers often face lawsuits regarding environmental issues such as mold, use of toxic materials, disturbing or releasing preexisting toxins such as lead, PCB’s or asbestos, or improper ventilation.
Contract Concerns
Before they begin a project, developers finalize a contract with a buyer. Often, these contracts contain gray areas that become litigation points. For instance, a developer insists on a clause that allows material changes to be made to the structure if circumstances require such changes. In the event of a dispute, the two sides debate what constitutes a material change and what constitutes a circumstance that requires such a change.
Insurance and Risk Transfer
Similarly, risk transfers and insurance are significant parts of a construction project. Developers may want or be mandated to purchase construction insurance and surety bonds.
Creditor’s Rights
Creditor’s rights are a common issue in the volatile construction business. Projects are designed and built to serve markets that may shift before completion. When the end payments for the completed project are slowed, diminished or fail to materialize, the developer, financiers, contractors and suppliers may need to protect and pursue their collection rights.
If you’re involved in the construction business, partner with a law firm that understands your business. Speak with the lawyers at the firm of Littleton Joyce Ughetta & Kelly LLP.