Best Law Firms - Construction National Tier 1 Badge

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP’s Construction Law Practice Group has been ranked as a National Tier 1 practice for Litigation – Construction in the 2022 “Best Law Firms” report, which was released today by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®.

“This national recognition is a testament of the hard work of every member of our growing construction team,” said Rob Remington, Hahn Loeser’s Construction Law Practice Group Chair. “We are proud to receive this high praise for our standout work and our deep commitment to providing the highest level of client service to our clients across the construction industry.  I am fortunate to work with this incredibly talented team of attorneys and construction professionals.”

In addition to this national ranking, Hahn Loeser is listed in Tier 1 in four construction-related categories in the report’s metropolitan rankings in the 2022 “Best Law Firms” report, including recognition in both Construction Law and Litigation – Construction for both the Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio markets.

The 2022 “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process, which includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas based on its abilities, its professionalism, and its integrity.

In addition to this recent honor, Hahn Loeser’s Construction Law Practice Group was recognized earlier this year in the Top 50 Construction Law Firms by Construction Executive magazine for 2021 as the only Ohio-based firm to be included in the top 30 spots for the second straight year. Hahn Loeser is also recognized as having one of the leading Construction Law Practices in Ohio by Chambers USA in its 2021 edition.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law an amendment to New York Labor Law that holds prime and general construction contractors jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages, benefits, and wage supplements owed by a subcontractor at any tier to the subcontractor’s employees.

Read more about this new law in this legal alert from Hahn Loeser’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.

Over the past few months, the COVID-19 vaccine has dominated news coverage and is at the forefront of the current administration’s agenda. In this recent legal alert, our employment team considers several important vaccination questions for employers to consider as they navigate the rapidly evolving issues that COVID-19 presents to the workplace.

Read the full legal alert here.

Ohio Appellate Court Victory

Earlier today, the 11th District Court of Appeals for the State of Ohio upheld a judgment for $1.1 million in compensatory damages in favor of Hahn Loeser’s client — TRAX Construction Co. — against OHM Advisors, Inc., and Eugene Esser, the former Engineer for the Village of Reminderville, as well as an award of $375,000 in punitive damages and attorney fees and expert fees in the amount of $483,870.53.  The decision can be found here.

Please read more about this decision and its impact on the construction industry on our website.

 

Yesterday, June 14, 2021, Ohio Senate Bill 13 went into effect. This bill shortens the statute of limitations for breach of written contract actions from eight years to six and, for oral contracts, from six years to four.

As Greg Thompson and Alayna Bridgett shared earlier this year, while S.B. 13 amends the statute of limitations for contract claims in general, it is important for construction project stakeholders to consider provisions within their own contracts that limit contract claims periods. Nearly every construction contract will include provisions shortening the time frame in which a party may bring a claim (oftentimes to just days). These provisions provide a period much shorter than the enumerated statute of limitations. It is important to remember that, regardless of whatever appears in the Ohio Revised Code, parties must comply with the claims provisions provided in their contracts.

2021Top50ConstructionLawFirms_HahnLoeser_Large

Hahn Loeser is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized by Construction Executive magazine in the Top 50 Construction Law Firms™ for 2021, ranking number 30 out of the 50 firms included in this year’s list. This year’s list marked the second straight year of Hahn Loeser’s Construction Team being the only Ohio-based law firm in the top 30 spots.

Based on research through a proprietary survey of hundreds of U.S. law firms with construction law practices, the 2021 list was published in Construction Executive’s June issue.

To read more, visit our website.

Yesterday, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill (H.B. No. 68) that would amend Ohio’s Prompt Pay Act (ORC Section 4113.61) to provide general contractors with payment protection akin to that currently enjoyed by subcontractors under the Act.  HLP construction attorney Sonja Rice discusses the details of this bill in a recent Legal Alert.

A strong and clear financial foundation is crucial for every construction company.  During this webinar, you will learn strategies to help involve your whole team in ensuring your job accounting is accurate and understand best practices to make claims for delays and extra work.  These pieces work together to help build on the value of your business that you have worked so hard to create over the years.

Tuesday, June 8 – 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. ET

Please click here to register.

 

The Biden Administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) recently paused a highway widening project in Houston, Texas. The project, known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, would widen Interstate 45. The DOT decided to halt the project so that it could evaluate whether it violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This move comes after an outpouring of complaints from local activists that African American and Hispanic communities would be disproportionately harmed by this project.

Download our full Legal Alert by Aaron Evenchik and Caroline Hamilton here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) federal moratorium for residential evictions, which was set to expire on March 31st, was just extended through the end of June. A recent trend in federal cases may put an end to this moratorium on the basis that the CDC exceeded its authority by extending the eviction moratorium.

The federal eviction moratorium was first implemented legislatively through the CARES Act in March 2020. Since then, it has been extended both by Congress and the CDC. Congress clearly has the authority to issue a national eviction moratorium, but the last two extensions were implemented by the CDC. This begs the question, does the CDC have the authority to implement a national eviction moratorium? At least two district courts say no.

Read our full Legal Alert here.