Construction Contract Law

by William K. Berg

There was a time when a constructor needed only balls to take the risk, equipment to do the job , a handshake, a scrape of paper and a stub pencil for estimating; and, if he got in trouble, a check book for the lawyers who fought over things he didn't need to know. Not any more. Now, constructors operate in a more sophisticated environment. Projects are more complex, both from a technical standpoint and often by the involvement of several layers of contractors and subcontractors, each with his own agenda. PC-assisted contract management techniques have matured to the great benefit of those who have kept pace and to the detriment of those who have not. Most recently, a wave of efficiency moves have led to the downsizing of administrative and management functions in the interest of cost efficiency. Impact in this move is a necessity for more legal sophistication in the construction management team. The modern construction manager, and at least an echelon above and below him, needs to know more about the law within which he works. There are many books telling lawyers how to work the constructor's problem. This book, on the other hand, focuses the constructor on the fundamentals of contract law with a purpose to prevent disputes,assist settlements, and facilitate owner/constructor/lawyer communications.

Paperback

First published October 29, 2004