Legal/Regulation

  • Deere and Co.
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    Permission granted by Deere and Co.
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    Deere to pay $1.1M over racial discrimination allegations

    The company was cited for allegedly discriminating against 277 Black and Hispanic job applicants at facilities in Illinois and Iowa.

    By Kate Magill • June 27, 2024
  • New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin speaks at a lectern.
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    Courtesy of Office of New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin
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    Racism in Construction

    New Jersey attorney general sues Iron Workers’ chapter for discrimination

    Bloomfield-based Local 11 skipped over Black workers for jobs in favor of White members and promoted a hostile work environment toward women, a lawsuit claims.

    By • June 26, 2024
  • Two technicians work on a solar panel as a drone flies overhead.
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    whyframestudio via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing cybersecurity at heart of new White House guidance

    The increased priority on security comes as more clean energy supply chains face the threat of a cyberattack.

    By Kate Magill • June 26, 2024
  • A photo of construction workers walking around a jobsite at a tall, stone building during a bright, blue-skyed day. There are lines of tape separating walkways.
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    Portland Public Schools. (2024). "IMG_7570" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Family of worker crushed by forklift sues Oregon contractor

    The estate of deceased ironworker Samantha Deschenes claimed that Portland, Oregon-based Andersen Construction violated the state’s Safe Employment Act in a lawsuit filed June 10.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A thin white roof extends over scaffolding and train tracks.
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    Courtesy of LINXS
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    LA approves $200M for dispute with people mover builders

    Fitch, the bond rating agency, noted a "strained relationship" between the owner and contractors on the delayed LAX project.

    By • June 25, 2024
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    Danielle Ternes/Ellajon
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    The Dotted Line

    Why CMAR is on the rise for public construction projects

    As the construction manager at risk delivery method grows in popularity, there are key ways for contractors to ensure they’re getting a good deal.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A stock photo shows two construction workers having a difficult conversation.
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    kali9/E+ via Getty Images
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    CONSTRUCTION DIVE EXCLUSIVE

    EEOC releases anti-harassment guide for contractors

    The federal agency wants to empower the industry to make the jobsite safer for all workers, Vice Chair Jocelyn Samuels told Ellajon.

    By • June 18, 2024
  • A worker assembles Volkswagen's ID.3 electric car at a factory in Germany.
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    Jens Schlueter via Getty Images
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    Trump could roll back Inflation Reduction Act tax credits if reelected

    Volkswagen and Samsung SDI leaders expressed concerns at a conference last week about the stability of the IRA should the administration change.

    By Kate Magill • June 18, 2024
  • New York City Mayor Eric Adams fields questions during a press conference.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    NYC approves second set of zoning changes

    The updates remove a decades-old rule that barred certain commercial building uses, among the changes that aim to boost commercial corridors, promote life sciences activity and bolster manufacturing in the city.

    By Joe Burns • June 17, 2024
  • Chicago skyline with high rises
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Worker sues Turner, subcontractor after deadly Chicago fall

    Ironworker Jeffrey Spyrka survived after plunging eight stories from a scaffold last week. His coworker, technical engineer David O’Donnell, was pronounced dead at the scene.

    By • June 13, 2024
  • The Salt Lake City skyline
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    Denis Tangney Jr. via Getty Images
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    Executive Moves

    Big-D taps construction law vet for chief legal officer

    Melissa Beutler Withy, who has written and edited two books on construction law, first represented the company as a partner at a private law firm.

    By • June 7, 2024
  • Three people in dark suits sit at a table with a black curtain in the background and people in chairs in front of them.
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    Julie Strupp/Ellajon
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    Code compliance not enough to protect builders from lawsuits

    Building codes haven’t kept up with climate change, exposing contractors and engineers to liability even when they follow the rules, said a NIBS panel.

    By • June 3, 2024
  • A Caterpiller excavator machine in use.
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    Courtesy of Caterpillar
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    Caterpillar to pay $800K discrimination settlement

    The Department of Labor found the manufacturer discriminated against 60 Black applicants at its Decatur, Illinois, factory.

    By Joelle Anselmo • June 3, 2024
  • SEC headquarters
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    "U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., near Union Station" by AgnosticPreachersKid is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    SEC clarifies intent of cybersecurity breach disclosure rules after initial filings

    The rules require notification of “material” breaches, but some early filers have reported incidents that appear to fall short of the regulatory threshold.

    By Alexei Alexis • May 29, 2024
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    Danielle Ternes/Ellajon
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    Column

    The Dotted Line: Avoiding common construction disputes on Key Bridge rebuild

    While projects of this scope and size often get mired in litigation, knowing the process from the get-go can help minimize conflicts, attorneys say.

    By • May 28, 2024
  • Workers on a roof on a sunny day.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Safety Week 2024

    OSHA heat standard clears regulatory hurdle

    A committee has unanimously recommended that the agency advance the proposal for a heat safety rule.

    By • May 10, 2024
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    Danielle Ternes/Ellajon
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    Column

    The Dotted Line: What DOT’s final DBE rule means for civil contractors

    New guidelines released this month streamline certification, raise personal net worth limits and strengthen monitoring and prompt payment requirements.

    By • April 30, 2024
  • Construction crews work on a freeway overpass along Highway 101 on March 26, 2012 in Novato, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    State transportation projects need better oversight: DOT audit

    Delays could increase the risk of infrastructure act funding not achieving its intended benefits, cautions the Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General.

    By Dan Zukowski • April 9, 2024
  • Building contractors analyzing blueprint at construction site
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    Drazen via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Merchants Bonding Company

    What’s really at risk? Davis-Bacon Act changes could expose contractors to new liability

    Are you paying prevailing wages correctly? Understanding the updated DBRA regulations is more important than ever.

    By Chris McElroy, Claims Attorney, Merchants Bonding Company • April 8, 2024
  • The Autodesk Office at San Francisco --- featuring the company's name on green foliage.
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    Courtesy of Autodesk
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    Autodesk to audit financial practices, delay annual report

    The contech giant said it doesn’t believe that the investigated areas will affect any previously issued financial statements, or its most recent earnings release.

    By • April 5, 2024
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    sabthai via Getty Images
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    Former AECOM exec reportedly sues over alleged ageism, profit inflation

    Jay Badame’s lawsuit claims the Dallas-based mega-contractor fired him due to his age and for questioning the firm’s earnings statements, according to The Real Deal.

    By • April 2, 2024
  • Workers on a roof on a sunny day.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Phoenix passes heat safety ordinance for outdoor workers

    The new requirements stipulate that local employers with outdoor workers must have a heat safety plan on the books.

    By • March 28, 2024
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    Danielle Ternes/Ellajon
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    The Dotted Line: Tips to de-risk chip factory projects

    The federal push to onshore semiconductor manufacturing has opened up big opportunities for contractors, as well as unique challenges.

    By • March 26, 2024
  • Judge’s gavel, Themis sculpture and collection of legal books on the brown background.
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    Zolnierek via Getty Images
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    Developer sues Minnesota contractor after $735K payment disappears

    Court documents point to “one or more insiders” who allegedly diverted funds by accessing an executive’s email and doctoring a notary's stamp of approval.

    By • March 19, 2024
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    Zolnierek via Getty Images
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    Balfour Beatty, C.J. Coakley sued for alleged wage theft on Virginia jobsite

    A class action lawsuit alleges that Coakley failed to pay its workers on time and in some cases not at all, while Balfour Beatty was aware of the issues.

    By • March 14, 2024