Uncategorized

By Kathlynn Smith and Shahirah Salem (as published in the May/June issue of California Constructor) With single- and multi-family residential construction on the rise, there are opportunities around every corner for homebuilders. In California, one of the most significant post-construction obligations for homebuilders (and homeowners, for that matter) is the Right to Repair Act (the […]

JoLynn M. Scharrer, a Shareholder at Hunt Ortmann, was recently mentioned in AGC of California Constructor Magazine’s March/April Edition regarding her recent elevation to Shareholder. With AGC of California noting that, “Scharrer has 30 years of experience, most recently focused on employment and insurance matters, Scharrer will also lead the firm’s practice in these areas, […]

Be Green, Not Green with Envy: Research Confirms Green Home Building Is On The Rise by Jennifer Tung   According to a recent study conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics, in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders, the percentage of “green” multifamily and single family homes is on the rise.  While not specific […]

For over forty years, California contractors and tradesmen have been protected from perpetual exposure to liability for their work.  Code of Civil Procedure section 337.15 was clear:  with rare exceptions, there is no liability for construction defects beyond 10 years after substantial completion of a project.   A recent California Court of Appeal decision re-affirmed that […]

Attys Get $4.6M In Fees For ‘Happy Birthday’ Copyright Suit Share us on: By Bonnie Eslinger Law360, New York (August 17, 2016, 5:42 PM ET) — A California federal judge Tuesday approved a $4.6 million fee request for attorneys who secured a $14 million settlement of a copyright class action placing “Happy Birthday To You” […]

By Paul Rogoff California’s prompt payment statutes aim to penalize untimely payments to contractors and their subcontractors.  While the laws try to provide clear time frames for when payments must be made, how these dates are triggered in the life of a project is far from black and white.  A recent Court of Appeal decision […]

Project Contract Variations: Mitigating Risks of Cost Overruns, Scope Creep and Breaches in Delivery Obligations Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A Conducted on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Recorded event now available This CLE webinar will address the cost, delivery and other commercial risks inherent in drafting and executing change provisions in a complex […]

March Madness: Is Your Office Betting Pool Illegal? By Lisa Lawrence, Esq. It’s that time of year again.  Unless your alma matter is one of the perennial favorites, employees seem to enthusiastically give away their hard earned dollars by pouring cash into an office March Madness pool, hoping that this year their Cinderella team will […]

Omel A. Nieves and Lisa M. Lawrence of the Hunt Ortmann Employment Law Group recently won summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court for the City of Pasadena on a lawsuit brought by a long-time employee for discrimination and retaliation based on race, gender and age.  The former employee, who had recently returned from paid […]