Construction Contract Statute of Repose
When does the statute of repose begin to run for construction contracts in Florida?
In Cypress Fairway Condominium v. Bergeron Construction, 2015 WL 2129473 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015), the Fifth District Court of Appeal held that the statute of repose commenced to run on the date of completion of the contract -- which was the date that final payment was made under the terms of the contract.
Under Florida's statute of repose (section 95.11(3)(c)), an action founded on the design, planning, or construction of an improvement to real property must be commenced within 10 years after the latest of: (a) actual possession by the owner; (b) the date of issuance of a certificate of occupancy; (c) the date of abandonment of construction if not completed; or (d) the date of completion or termination of the contract between the engineer, architect, contractor and his or her employer. ...
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Contractor Rights Against Construction Lender
Contractor Rights Against Construction Lender
When does a contractor have rights against a construction lender where the lender stops funding a project without fully disbursing all funds?
In Jax Utilities Management, Inc. v. Hancock Bank, the First District Court of Appeal held that a contractor only has rights against the lender for statutory claims under section 713.3471 for failing to provide the required notices to the contractor and not for common law claims. 40 Fla. L. Weekly D948 (1st DCA 2015).
Jax, the general contractor, sued Hancock Bank, the construction lender for equitable lien and unjust enrichment. Hancock was the assignee of the construction lender on a failed housing development project. When the project's developer defaulted on the construction loan, Hancock Bank stopped funding the loan and foreclosed on the project. In the litigation filed by Jax, the trial court entered summary judgment in favor of Hancock Bank on both claims. ...
Enforcement of Arbitration Provisions in Construction Contracts
When will a court enforce arbitration provisions in construction contracts?
A court will enforce arbitration provisions in construction contracts only when the provision is mandatory and not permissive.
In Advance Industrial Coating, LLC v. Westfield Insurance Company, the Middle District of Florida, answered the above question on Westfield's motion to stay pending arbitration. 2015 WL 1822510 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2015). Advance Industrial sued Westfield Insurance to recover on a 255.05 public construction bond relating to a construction project. Westfield was the surety for the project's general contractor, RTD Construction. The Westfield bond secured all of RTD Construction's required payments to its subcontractors and suppliers on the project.
RTD Construction entered into a subcontract with Advance Industrial to provide surface preparation work on the project. Advance Industrial finished its work and RTD Construction breached the subcontract by failing to make payment. Advance Industrial sued Westfield, and Westfield moved to stay the...
When Does a Contractor’s Liability to Third Parties Expire
When Does a Contractor's Liability to Third Parties Expire?
The recent case of McIntosh v. Progressive Design and Engineering, 2015 WL 1422590 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015), answered this question as follows: A contractor is not liable to third parties for patent defects once the project owner accepts the work.
In McIntosh, a fatal car accident occurred. The victim's son sued the company that designed the traffic signals at the intersection. At trial the jury held that the design company was negligent in its traffic signal design which caused the plaintiff's faither's death. The jury also found that the negligent design was accepted and discoverable by FDOT with the exercise of reasonable care. Therefore the trial court entered a judgment in favor of the design company.
On appeal, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's ruling, and applied the Slavin doctrine. Under Slavin, the liability of a...
Construction Lien and Arbitration Provision – How to Recover Attorney Fees
Construction Lien and Arbitration Provision - Can a contractor recover attorney fees in a lien foreclosure action where the contract contains an arbitration provision?
Yes, however it is critical for the contractor to file its lien foreclosure action in court. In Snell v. Mott's Contracting Services, Inc., 141 So. 3d 605 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014), Snell hired Mott's to perform remodeling working. The contract contained an arbitration provision but no provision for prevailing party attorney fees. A dispute arose and Mott's recorded a construction lien. Snell filed a complaint in county court to contest the validity of the lien. Mott's moved to stay the action and compel arbitration - but never filed a lien enforcement action. The county court granted the motion to stay and compelled arbitration.
The arbitration award was in favor of Mott's and held that Mott's was entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee award. Mott's filed the...
Construction Lien Survives Mortgage Foreclosure
Can a Construction Lien Survive a Mortgage Foreclosure?
In the recent case of CDC Builders, Inc. v. Biltmore-Sevilla Debt Investors, LLC, 151 So. 3d 479 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014), the Third District Court of Appeal found one instance where a construction lien would survive a mortgage foreclosure.
In this case, CDC Builders, the contractor, entered into a contract with the Riviera entities, the developers, to build twenty five luxury homes. The Riviera entities obtained financing from SunTrust. The Riviera entities failed to pay for the last eight homes constructed and CDC Builders recorded two construction liens.
The principal of the developers formed a new corporation, BSDI, which purchased the Riviera entities' loans from SunTrust. BSDI then filed a lawsuit to foreclose the construction loans against the Riviera entities and seeking to wipe out CDC Builder's liens. The trial court granted final summary judgment of foreclosure in favor of BSDI and wiped...
Venue Selection Clauses in Construction Contracts
The Enforcement of Venue Selection Clauses in Construction Contracts
Parties to a construction contract may agree where any disputes are to be litigated. However, there are certain situations where a court may not enforce this type of provision. In the recent case of Love's Window & Door Installation, Inc. v. Acousti Engineering Company, Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal illustrated one such scenario where it would not enforce the venue selection clause. 2014 WL 4471631 (Fla. 5th DCA Sept. 12, 2014).
This case involved a multi-party litigation that began in Osceola County regarding construction of the Artisan Club Condominium. At the end of the project, the Association filed a construction defect action against the general contractor. The general contractor sued Dunn Corporation for improper installation of the aluminum windows. Dunn then sued Love's - it's subcontractor that performed the installation. Love's, based on a provision in its contract with Dunn,...
Arbitration Provisions in Construction Contracts
ARBITRATION PROVISIONS IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
Are Arbitration Provisions in Construction Contracts Ambiguous Where the Contract Also Contains a Waiver of Jury Trial Provision?
In Bari Builders, Inc. v. Hovstone Properties Florida, LLC, Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal answered "No" and ruled in favor of enforcing the arbitration provision. In Bari Builders, a condominium association sued the developer for construction defects. The developer brought a third-party complaint against its subcontractors - including Bari Builders. The subcontract with Bari Builders contained two conflicting provisions:
1. The first provision stated that the parties agreed to binding Arbitration of any controversy or claim arising out of the contract;
2. The second provision stated that in all actions the parties waive the right to jury and agree to determination of all facts by the court.
Hovstone argued that the jury waiver provision rendered the arbitration provision ambiguous and unenforceable. The Fourth District Court...
Architect Standard of Care
Architect Standard of Care
What is an architect's standard of care to an owner? A recent case gave guidance on this standard of care and liability for change order items caused by incomplete or incorrect plans.
In School Board of Broward County v. Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville, the Fourth District analyzed the architect's responsibility for change order items caused by incomplete or incorrect plans. 137 So. 3d 1059 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014). The school board hired an architectural firm to perform design services for a school renovation project. After construction was completed the school board sued the architect for the extra costs of change order items generated due to changes in the initial design plans to meet building code requirements after construction commenced. At trial the jury held that the architect did not breach its standard of care as to the most expensive change order; and awarded damages as...
Contractor Damages Calculations
Contractor Damages:
In Hibachi Grill v. Arki Construction, Inc., Florida's Third District Court of Appeal was faced with two important questions that arise in construction disputes:
1. Can an owner setoff the general contractor's claims by amounts paid to subcontractors? and
2. What is the proper measure of damages for a contractor that obtains substantial completion.
Answer 1: The answer to question #1 is yes, where the contractor pleads that its damages include reductions due to the owners direct payments to subcontractors. Arki Construction filed an amended complaint alleging that its damages were "the total sum of $32,104.36, less whatever amounts paid directly by the [Owner] to other subcontractors."
Arki filed a motion for summary judgment seeking the entire amount of the unpaid contract balance. The owner filed an affidavit in opposition detailing payments to project subcontractors in the amount of $14,810.80. Even though the owner's affirmative defenses of set off for sums...