It is imperative that subcontractors and material suppliers seeking payment for completed work on federal-level public construction projects be aware of the paradigm of laws and policies that exist governing such matters. To start, The Miller Act, codified as 40 U.S.C. §§ 3131-3134, exists to provide subcontractors on federal-level public construction projects a means by […]...
Our recent articles addressing commercial lease provisions included discussions about the parties’ relationship, rental provisions and important elements to understand about the “premises.” In this article we address the term of a commercial lease (i.e. the length of the lease), as well as how most landlords and tenants address extensions.Initial Term of the Commercial Lease. […]...
In a recent bid protest decision the Massachusetts Attorney General allowed a protest contesting a bidder’s right to submit Minority Business Enterprise (“MBE”) or Women’s Business Enterprise (“WBE”) qualifications after the bid opening. The opinion deemed MBE and WBE goals to be statutory and therefore not waivable by the awarding authority. The decision also found that […]...
Email is an indispensable tool for contractors that can streamline communication regarding the many facets of a construction project that aren’t strictly found in a project’s plans and specifications, or in the relevant contract documents. When used well, email can be invaluable to document the course of a project. When it’s disregarded or treated haphazardly, […]...
President Obama recently signed the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”), which provides a federal private right of action for the misappropriation of trade secrets. Previously, trade secret claims were handled only at the state level. The DTSA does not preempt state law, but instead provides another avenue for recovery. Trade secret owners may pursue federal […]...
By Jennifer Lynn Subcontractors commonly inquire as to what they can do to ensure they receive payment on a project. For federally-owned construction projects, subcontractors can look to the Miller Act as a source of security. The Miller Act, codified as 40 U.S.C. §§ 3131-3134, requires general contractors on federal projects to provide performance […]...
Non-competition agreements (“non-competes”) often contain clauses referred to as “non-solicitations.” These provisions are sometimes viewed as synonymous to a non-competition clause but there are important distinctions between the two. Massachusetts courts use a similar analysis on the two types of provisions, non-solicitation provisions serve a different function. The usual purpose of a non-solicitation is to […]...
Given the growing popularity of the condominium market in Massachusetts and an awareness of not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the past, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently issued a ruling giving condominium associations the power to more easily collect withheld and overdue monthly condominium fees. Specifically, in Drummer Boy Homes Association, Inc. […]...
We recently posted articles about rental provisions and the interplay of the parties in a commercial lease setting. This week, we address common issues involving the description and usage of a commercial space. Commonly overlooked, but critically important to both tenants and landlords, are commercial lease provisions pertaining to the description of the premises, the condition […]...
New Hampshire has enacted a dispute resolution statute for residential construction defect claims made by homeowners that, among other things, provides contractors notice and opportunity to resolve alleged construction defects prior to a disgruntled owner instituting litigation against them. Despite its obvious benefits to residential contractors, many contractors fail to preserve the right to rely […]...