Related Links: U.S. Dept. of Justice press release Text of Caddell statement Text of Justice Dept. agreement In an agreement with the Justice Dept., Caddell Construction Co. has paid a $2-million penalty to settle criminal fraud charges that the company intentionally made false statements to the Dept. of Defense concerning a small firm with which Caddell worked on three military construction projects.Under the agreement, announced on Dec. 27, Justice will not prosecute Montgomery, Ala.-based Caddell for its allegedly improper pay requests to DOD that included the false information. Justice noted Caddell’s “substantial cooperation,” voluntary disclosures and improvements in its reporting
Related Links: Link to opinion in Arkansas Game and Fish Commission v. U.S. on Supreme Court website High Court Hears Property Takings Case The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4 against the federal government in a property “takings” case involving water releases from an Army Corps of Engineers Dam. The court also heard oral arguments in two Clean Water Act cases on Dec. 3 and 4.Although none of the cases touched on the broader question of federal versus state jurisdiction in issuing permits, construction groups are keeping a watchful eye on all three. Nick Goldstein, American Road & Transportation Builders
Related Links: Ill Winds Blow Through Huge U.K. Wind Farm Project Proposals for Massive Irish Wind Farms Rankle Some A U.K. arbitration panel surprised Fluor Corp. and its investors last month with a ruling against the contractor's $480-million claim for additional compensation from owners of the Greater Gabbard wind farm off the coast of England. As a result, Fluor said on Nov. 17 it will take a $400-million charge in the fourth quarter but says the action will not materially affect cash flow."Fluor delivered a quality project, and we are extremely disappointed with this unexpected decision," said company Chairman and
Photo by AP Wideworld August fire in Washington state burned thousands of acres and more than 60 homes. Small contractors replacing the deck on a small bridge last August may have started a big fire in the dry hills of eastern Washington state. No one was killed, but property damage costs are steep, and the contractors and their liability insurers could face big claims.A dozen property owners in Washington state have filed a lawsuit that blames the bridge's general contractor and steel erector for a fire that consumed 23,500 acres and more than 60 homes in the area of Cle
Small contractors replacing the deck on a small bridge last August may have started a big fire in the dry hills of eastern Washington state. No one was killed, but property damage costs are steep and liability insurers could face big claims.A dozen property owners in Washington state have filed a lawsuit blaming the bridge general contractor and steel erector for a fire that consumed 23,500 acres and over 60 homes in the area of Cle Elum, about 75 miles from Seattle. Initial assessments of the property damage put the total at more than $8 million, but the final cost
Related Links: 2010 Disciplinary Action Against M.R. Wright & Associates Co. Aggressive, Owner-Oriented Approach to Liability for Inspection Mistakes New lawsuits target the engineering firm whose principals wrote the owner of a southern Ontario hotel and retail concourse that the roof parking deck above the shops was structurally sound two months before part of it collapsed June 23, killing two women.The families of Doloris Perizzolo, 74, and Lucie Aylwin, 37, filed suit Oct. 1 in Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie for about $5 million against engineer M.R. Wright & Associates Co. Ltd., Sault Ste. Marie, and
Related Links: U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit Aug. 21 ruling In a long-awaited decision, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has struck down an Environmental Protection Agency rule that aimed to cut powerplants' emissions or air pollutants that move across state lines. The cross-state air pollution regulation (CSAPR) would have required 28 states in the East, Midwest and South to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that cross state lines and cause air-quality problems in downwind states. EPA finalized the rule in July 2011, but the court blocked
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 ruling that was a blow to business groups and is certain to become part of the election-year debate.
Related Links: Text of court's opinion in Arizona v. U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down three key provisions of Arizona’s tough immigration law but upheld one of its most controversial sections, which requires police to check the legal status of anyone they detain whom they suspect is in the United States unlawfully.In the court's opinion, handed down on June 25, the three provisions were invalidated on a 5-3 vote and the fourth provision was upheld unanimously.Arizona companies in construction and other industries now will be watching how the state begins to implement the parts of the law left
Image courtesy Fla. Dept. of Transportation Odebrecht Construction states that the new law would prevent the firm from further pursuing the $2.1-billion Interstate 4 reconstruction project planned for Orlando. Photo courtesy Odebrecht USA Odebrecht says the final completion for its $1.1-billion North Terminal contract at Miami International Airport is set for February 2013. Related Links: Florida's Anti-Cuba Law Could Be Trouble for Odebrecht Gov. Scott's Signing of Anti-Cuba Legislation Ends With Curious Twists Odebrecht Construction on June 5 filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida over its new law that bars the awarding of public contracts to firms
RSS
