Case Summaries – Page 15 – Construction Law

No Summary Judgment Where Counterclaim is Equal To or Greater Than Amount Demanded in Complaint

Apr 04 2008

Pronti v. Grigoriou, 853 N.Y.S.2d 718 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)

In this case, a construction company filed a mechanic’s lien foreclosure action against a homeowner. The parties had executed a written contract providing that Pronti would find an independent contractor to install vinyl siding on Grigoriou’s residence. After Grigoriou paid the full contract price of $11,000, she refused to pay a $500 cleanup fee provided for in the contract. Grigoriou alleged that Pronti performed the work in an “unworkmanlike manner” and counterclaimed for $10,520 in damages. Read More

Economic Loss Doctrine may not Preclude Claims Against Building Contractors for Negligent Construction that Results in Foreseeable Damage to Property

Mar 30 2008

Harris v. Suniga, 344 Or. 301, 180 P.3d 12 (Or. 2008)

In this case, the defendant general contractors constructed an apartment building for a California investment company. The California investment company sold the completed apartment building to the plaintiffs, trustees for the Harris Family Trust. Following the sale, plaintiffs found the apartment building had problems with leaking water and dry rot and filed a claim for negligent construction against the defendant contractors. Prior to suit, the plaintiff and defendants were “strangers.” The plaintiffs did not purchase the apartment building from the defendants, did not contract with the defendants, and did not have any previous contact with the defendants. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants’ failure to install required flashings in the building caused the dry rot damage, and that the failure constituted negligence.

Suit Can Proceed Against General Contractor Based on Claims of Subcontractor’s Negligence and Public Nuisance

Mar 27 2008

New York v. Shaw Contract Flooring Servs., 853 N.Y.S.2d 694 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)

State university brought claims against a general contractor and subcontractor for asbestos released as a result of tile work performed by the subcontractor. The trial court denied the general contractor’s motion to dismiss the negligence and public nuisance claims. The Appellate Division affirmed. Read More

General Contractor Waives Right to Challenge Settlement by Surety

Mar 19 2008

Kennerson v. LaBarbera, 536 F. Supp. 2d 305 (W.D.N.Y. 2008)

In this case, a subcontractor sued a general contractor and a surety for failure to make payments for work performed on a construction project for a county water authority. The surety filed cross-claims against the general contractor pursuant to an indemnification agreement. The water authority asserted indemnification claims against the surety. The surety subsequently settled the claims against the general contractor and moved for summary judgment as to all cross-claims. The district court granted the motion. Read More

Bond Issuer Lacks Authority to Release Claims Related to Construction

Feb 26 2008

Eaton Elec., Inc. v. Dormitory Auth. of New York, 852 N.Y.S.2d 363 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)

In this case, plaintiff contracted with Dormitory Authority of New York to perform electrical work in the renovation of a library. Plaintiff experienced delays and financial problems, eventually forcing it to assign its payment interest in the construction contract to AXA Global Risks U.S. Insurance Company in exchange for financial assistance. Later, in return for payment from Dormitory Authority, AXA executed a release to discharge Dormitory Authority from any claims of liability in relation to the underlying construction project. That release later became problematic when plaintiff sought an additional $12 million from Dormitory Authority as reimbursement for unanticipated and unforeseen additional costs incurred on the project. Dormitory Authority moved for summary judgment, arguing that AXA had released it from any such liability. The Supreme Court denied Dormitory Authority’s motion, reasoning that AXA lacked authority to release any such claims. Read More

Builder Liable for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Consumer Protection Act Violations Based on Verbal Abuse of New Home Purchasers

Feb 15 2008

Lepp v. V.M.S. Realty Trust, 2008 WL 375971 (Mass. App. Div. Feb. 8, 2008)

This is a per curiam decision by the Massachusetts Appellate Division that addresses the liability of homebuilders and vendors. In Lepp, the purchasers of a newly built home sued the vendor of the home for breach of contract for failure to install the agreed upon insulation. The purchasers also sued the builder, who was an employee of the vendor, for breach of contract, breach of the implied warranty of good workmanship, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of M.G.L. c. 93A — the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. The trial court found for the plaintiffs on all counts in a jury-waived trial and the defendants appealed.
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Kitchen Contractor Potentially Liable Under New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act

Feb 13 2008

CZAR, Inc. v. Heath, 939 A.2d 837 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2008)

In this case, a homeowner brought claims against a custom kitchen contractor under New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. During the construction of a new home, the homeowner had contracted directly with a custom kitchen contractor for the installation of custom kitchen cabinets, interior doors, a front door, and certain moldings. The trial concluded that the home improvement practice regulations found in N.J.A.C. 13:45A-16.1 to 16.2 were not applicable to plaintiff and, therefore, dismissed the CFA claims. The trial court reasoned that the kitchen contractor’s work was not a “home improvement” within the meaning of the regulation because the construction and installation of the doors, cabinets, and moldings were part of the construction of a new residence and, therefore, excluded from the definition of “home improvement.”

General Contractor Cannot Bring Direct Action Against Subcontractor’s Insurer Regardless of General Contractor’s Status as Additional Insured Under Subcontractor’s Policy

Feb 13 2008

Ohio Cas. Ins. Co. v. Time Warner Entm’t Co., L.P., 244 S.W.3d 885 (Tex. App. Feb. 6, 2008)

In this case, a general contractor brought a declaratory judgment action against its subcontractor’s primary and umbrella insurers to recover the cost of removing and replacing fiber optic cable that the subcontractor installed improperly. Although the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the general contractor, the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed.
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Texas Statute Bars Property Owner’s Liability for Injury to Independent Contractors

Feb 07 2008

Vanderbeek v. San Jacinto Methodist Hosp., 246 S.W.3d 346 (Tex. App. 2008)

A plumber working on a remodel project for San Jacinto Methodist Hospital cut and capped a drainage pipe from a sink in an adjacent room. Although he instructed a hospital employee that the sink was out of order and should not be used, hospital employees poured a drain cleaner into the sink when it wouldn’t drain. When the plumber returned to remove the drainage line cap, a caustic liquid came out of the pipe, causing him chemical burns. He sued the hospital for negligence for allowing caustic drain cleaner into the sink when he had given notice it was not to be used. Read More

Owner Potentially Liable for Fraud and Consumer Protection Act Violations Based on False Promises of Payment

Feb 06 2008

Atlantis Int’l Constr. Servs., Inc. v. Sluggo, LLC, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 1106 (2008) (Unpublished)

In this unpublished decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held that an owner could be held liable for fraud, breach of contract and violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 93A) for inducing a general contractor continue work based on the promise that the general contractor’s numerous disputed change order requests would be paid in full. After completion of the project the owner refused to pay many of the general contractor’s change orders. Read More

Catagory:Case Summaries