Jennifer Johnson

Pick up a contract for any good-sized commercial or industrial project and you’ll be holding 50 to 100 pages. I’ve never seen a contract for a significant public works project shorter than 50 pages. Even the most popular A.I.A. model contract (A201) is 40 pages. Why so long? That’s easy. Both sides are trying to […]

Nearly every state requires notices and disclosures in construction contracts, especially residential contracts. What’s required varies from state to state. But most states require at least several of the following: A signed and dated written contract Contractor license or registration number Date when work will start and be finished Payment schedule Mechanics’ lien warning A […]

You’ll see the words “defend, indemnify and hold harmless” in many construction contracts. That’s an indemnity clause – and it can be toxic for contractors. I’ll explain. One common form of indemnity gives an owner or a designer the right to recover from a contractor for every loss on the job, even losses caused 100% […]