Article

Construction Corner - April 2019

 
 
CONSTRUCTION CORNER
Michael E. Catania
Legal News and Updates for the Design and Construction Industry
 

OSHA UPDATE: THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF FALSE TESTIMONY

 

 

Last year, a New Jersey construction company was cited on two separate occasions after its employees fell through a roof on a commercial project. After each incident, as was its prerogative, OSHA investigators took sworn testimony from the company’s owner. Specifically, he was asked whether he had directed any of his construction workers, at any time, to perform repairs on the roof.[1] The owner, again under oath, denied giving and such direction.

 

Unfortunately for the owner, he forgot that he had sent text messages to his workers specifically ordering them to perform roof repairs! In light of this alleged perjury, the Owner now faces 5 years prison time and a fine of $250,000. 
 

 

Takeaway

 

Besides the obvious, i.e., never lie under oath- regardless of the forum- there is another lesson to be learned here. OSHA investigations are serious matters. Counsel should be involved. Your attorney has the right to be present during most portions of any OSHA investigation and such a resource should not be ignored. Early and proactive advocacy can save time and money. Here, an attorney likely would have warned the owner of the seriousness of the situation, asked whether there was any paper trail re: roof repairs and, hopefully, persuaded the Owner to be as honest as his memory would allow. The worst-case scenario would not have involved prison time, but instead fines and citations which counsel could have negotiated. That opportunity evaporated the second the owner decided to (allegedly) perjure himself.

 

[1] United States v. Riley, No. 19-MJ-3515 (D.N.J. Feb. 14, 2019).  

 

Insurance Law Update

The recent Federal Court case of Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Axia Contracting, LLC, 2019 WL 1002939 (D. Colo. Mar. 1, 2019) serves as a potent reminder to Owners and Contractors on the importance of complying with their Builder’s Risk policy conditions. Praetorian involved a 3 million dollar fire loss at a construction site. The Owner and Contractor submitted the claim under their builder’s risk policy but the claim was denied - a denial upheld by the Court. Why? In exchange for a 10% savings on the policy, the Owner and Contractor agreed to implement certain "Protective Safeguards" on the job site. These safeguards included the erection of a six-foot perimeter fence with locked gates during non-working hours. The policy further disclaimed coverage for any losses that were a result of the Owner/Contractor’s failure to meet and maintain the safeguards. 

 

 

 

As you might have guessed, the Owner and Contractor never erected a 6-foot fence around the entire perimeter. The ensuing fire, which destroyed the construction site to the tune of 3 million dollars, was determined to have been caused by arson. Based on this finding, the insurance company denied coverage and filed a lawsuit seeking judicial approval of its denial. The Court found that the failure to erect the fence was a material breach of the insurance contract and, as a result, confirmed the insurance company's right to deny coverage for the loss.
 

 

Takeaway

 

Obviously, we all want to save money on premiums. However, where these savings are linked to additional obligations Owners and Contractors need to treat such obligations seriously. Regardless, all policies should be carefully reviewed on a regular basis. This is even more so when dealing with a new carrier. Experienced construction can help you with such review. 

 

 
 

 
CONSENSUS DOCS vs AIA

Many players in the construction industry contend that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Construction forms are biased towards design professionals and owners. Specifically, they feel the form contracts place heavy liability burdens on the shoulders of contractors while at the same time diminish the design professional and owners' overall responsibility for project failures. As a result, a group of contractors, subcontractors, owners and estimators created Consensus DOCS in 2007. Over the past decade, Consensus Docs have gained popularity here on the East Coast.

 

           While there are numerous differences between the two sets of documents, one crucial variance is in how each deal with indemnification. The AIA, through its most recent updates, enforces one-sided indemnity obligations upon the Contractor. (See sec 3.18 of A 201). Moreover, the indemnification language itself is fairly broad. In addition to requiring indemnification for claims arising out of the negligent acts or omissions of the Contractor, Subcontractors or their employees, AIA further requires indemnification even where the owner or the architect is equally at fault.

 

Conversely, Consensus Docs provide a mutual indemnity obligation between the Contractor and Owner. Further, Consensus Docs do not require indemnification where the Owner or Architect is alleged to have had a part in the claim.

 

This is just one example of how these two sets of Agreements differ. Other examples include payment terms, HazMat responsibility, termination procedure, claims and disputes and consequential damages.

 

 
 

 
 
This Newsletter is meant to provide general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. The viewing of the information contained in this newsletter should not be construed as, and should not be relied upon for, legal advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained herein and we disclaim all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this newsletter to the fullest extent permitted by law. An attorney should be contacted for advice on specific legal issues.

Other Posts By Michael E. Catania

Construction Corner : Fall Edition

More than a Load of Rubbish: Contractor awarded over 100k from DOT following County’s Waste Disposal Law

Construction Corner - March 2021

LEGAL NEWS AND UPDATES FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Several pieces of legislation