CHAPTER 1
THE PARTIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS
1.a The Owner
1.b The Landlord
and the Lessee
1.c The Architect,
the Engineer and the Surveyor
1.d The Prime
Contractor
1.e The
Subcontractor
1.f The
Construction Manager
1.g The Material
Supplier
1.h The Laborer
1.i The Sureties
1.j The
Construction Lenders
1.k The
Prospective Purchasers
CHAPTER 2 WHO CAN DO
THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
2.a The Regulated
Professions
2.b Licensing
Violations by Contractors
CHAPTER 3 THE GENERAL
RULES OF CONTRACT FORMATION
3.a The General
Rules of Contract Formation
3.b Offer and
Acceptance
3.c Acceptance
Varying from Offer
3.d Beyond Formal
Assent: Acceptance by
Conduct
3.e
Consent
3.f The Vices of Consent
3.g Quantum
Meruit
Recovery
3.h Requirement of
a Definite
Object
3.i Interpretation
of
Agreements
3.j Performance
to the Owner’s
Satisfaction
3.k Approval by
Governmental
Agencies
3.l Approval by
Architects or
Engineers
CHAPTER 4 CONTRACT
INTERPRETATION MODIFICATION, ISSUES AND OPTIONS
4.a The Basic
Rules of Contract
Interpretation
4.b Conflict of
Laws
Provisions
4.c The
Undefinable Requirement: “Workmanlike
Manner”
4.d The
Relationship of Plans and Specifications to the
Written Contract
4.e Change Order
Provisions
4.f The “Changes”
Clause
4.g Change Orders
Under the Louisiana Public Works
Act
4.h Changes Under
Federal
Contracts
4.i Extra
Work
4.j Excessive
Change
Orders
4.k Authority to
Issue Change
Orders
4.l Oral Change
Orders
4.m Notice
Requirements
4.n Contract
Issues and
Options
4.o Key Contract
General Condition
Clauses
4.p Subcontract
Agreements, Claims and
Strategies
4.q The Variables
in Contract and Price
Formats
4.r Payment From Public Entities
4.s Special
Contract Problems with Fast-Track
Projects
CHAPTER 5 THE
LOUISIANA CIVIL CODE AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
5.a
Time Limitations for Filing Suit (Prescription and Peremption)
5.b What Law
Governs: “Conflict of Laws” in the Prescription
Context
5.c The Duty of
Good
Faith
5.d Statute of
Frauds
5.e Express
Warranties
5.f Implied
Warranties
CHAPTER 6
BIDDING OF A CONTRACT
6.a
Generally
6.b Responsibility
of
Bidder
6.c Irregularities
in
Bids
6.d Louisiana
Supreme Court deals serious blow to public entities’
ability to disregard deviations in public bid
6.e Other
Louisiana Public Bid
Requirements
6.f Owner’s
Rights to Reject Any and All
Bids
6.g Unsuccessful
Bidder’s
Remedies
6.h Mistakes in
Bid
6.i Unbalanced
Bids
CHAPTER 7 SURETYSHIP
7.a The Concept of
Suretyship
7.b Surety Bond
Claims under the Louisiana Private Works Act
7.c Surety Bond
Claims under the Louisiana Public Works
Act
7.d “Bonding Out”
of Public and Private Act
Claims
7.e Surety Bond
Claims on Federal
Projects
7.f Limitations
on Surety Liability Under the Various
Acts
7.g Who’s
Protected Under the Various
Acts
7.h Effect of
Change in the Scope of the Contract Under the
Various Acts
7.i Noncompliance
with the Contract by Owner Under the Various
Acts
CHAPTER 8
INSURANCE
8.a The
Basics
8.b Builders’ Risk
Policies
8.c Commercial
General Liability
Policies
8.d Worker’s
Compensation
Policies
8.e Professional
Negligence
Policies
8.f Notice to the Insurer
8.g An Insurer’s Duty to Defend
8.h Bad Faith Claims
CHAPTER 9 ACCEPTANCE
9.a
Generally
9.b The Test for
Substantial Completion and Substantial
Performance
CHAPTER 10 MECHANICS’
LIEN AND CONSTRUCTION BONDS UNDER LOUISIANA LAW
10.a
Subcontractor and Supplier Liens
10.b Statutory Bonds
10.c Conventional Bonds
10.d Lien
Bonds
10.e Subcontractors
10.f Material
Suppliers
10.g What Improvements and items Are Covered
CHAPTER 11
IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING A CLAIM
11.a
Can the Claim Be Proven?
11.b Documenting the
Claim
11.c Claim Strategy
and Tactics
11.d Following
Proper Claims Procedure: Contract and Statutory
Requirements
11.e Pricing The
Amount of The Claim
11.f Recent Changes to Time for Filing Suit to Enforce Private Works Act Lien
CHAPTER 12 DEFECTIVE
PLANS, SPECS AND SHOP DRAWINGS
12.a Legal Analysis
of Owner/Architect/Contractor Rights and Duties
Regarding the Contract
Specifications
12.b Types of
Specifications -- Performance v. Design
Specifications
12.c Plans and
Specifications Guaranteed by the
Owner/Architect
12.d
Impossibility/Impracticability
Doctrines
12.e Remedies for
Defective
Documents
CHAPTER 13 SITE
CONDITION CLAIMS
13.a Differing Site
Conditions in
General
13.b A Brief
History
13.c The
Contractor’s Right to Rely and Duty to
Investigate
13.d The Owner’s
Duty to Disclose Material
Information
13.e
Notice
13.f Contractual
Remedies in Government or Public
Contracts
13.g Contractual
Remedies in Private
Contracts
13.h Relief in the
Absence of a Differing Site Conditions
Clause
CHAPTER 14 DELAY AND
ACCELERATION
14.a Delay by
Contractor: Putting in Default and Liquidated
Damages
14.b Anticipatory
Breach
14.c Waiver of
Breach
14.d Delay by
Owner
14.e Proof of Delay
Damages
14.f Acceleration
-- Actual and Constructive -- Owner-Caused
Delay
14.g Other Schedule
Impact
Claims
CHAPTER 15
ALTERNATIVE CLAIMS RESOLUTION PROCESSES
15.a Background
15.b Options for Claim
Resolution
CHAPTER 16
LOUISIANA NEW HOME WARRANTY ACT
16.a Introduction
16.b Key Definitions
16.c Scope: Exclusivity and Other Causes of Action
16.d Warranties and Exclusions
16.e Timing
16.f Notice
16.g Damages
