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Coronavirus creates legal, supply and HR issues in construction field

By Stephanie M. Chaissan

Construction projects in Florida are now feeling the effect of the coronavirus outbreak, which is rippling through the supply chain, raising contractual issues and creating questions about how to protect workers.

The U.S. imports a significant amount of construction materials from China, including doors and windows, flooring, countertops, drywall, insulation, cement, metal roofing, plastic pipes, and steel.  One economist, Richard Branch with Dodge Data & Analytics, estimates that nearly 30 percent of the U.S.’s building materials come from China, making China the largest single supplier in the U.S. Moreover, China is home to seven of the world’s ten busiest container ports, Singapore and South Korea also each maintain a mega port. With over 80,000 confirmed cases in China, the impact of the illness and quarantine on the supply line is felt and the ability to ship and import construction materials and other good declines.

Stephanie M. Chaissan is the construction practice co-lead at Berger Singerman

For owners and contractors, the question will become, “how does this affect my project?”  Several outcomes are possible: projects may be suspended or shut down due to unavailable materials, insufficient workforce, or “social distancing;” contracts may be terminated if the delay is long enough; and extensions of the time to complete a project will likely be necessary. Issues such as the inability to obtain materials or delays in scheduling can likely be dealt with contractually. For example, AIA Document 201-2017 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction provides that the contract time shall be extended for a reasonable time if the work is delayed due to “unusual delay in deliveries, unavoidable casualties… or other causes beyond the Contractor’s control.”  (Section 8.3) (emphasis added). One question is: What is a “reasonable time”? In addition, Section 8.3 does not preclude the recovery of damages for delay by either party.  (Section 8.3.3).

If the construction contract contains a force majeure clause, a party may not be liable for a failure or delay in performance if the failure or delay is beyond the party’s reasonable control and could not have been foreseen or provided against.  This generally includes natural disasters, such as hurricanes, and, in this author’s opinion, should include at least most, if not all, delays due to COVID-19.

All participants in the construction industry need to be aware of the need to balance the obligation to stay on schedule and maintain the health and welfare of those working on the project.  Section 14.3.1 of the AIA General Conditions allows an owner to suspend the Work for “convenience” (i.e., any reason or no reason) upon written notices for any period the owner may so determine.  Section 14.1.1 of a contractor can terminate the contract if work is stopped for 30 consecutive day through no fault of the contractor, their agents, etc., upon the “[i]ssuance of an order of a court or other public authority having jurisdiction that requires all Work to be stopped” or “[a]n act of government, such as a declaration of national emergency, that requires all Work to be stopped.”  Both the governor of Florida and the mayor of Miami have declared states of emergency, however, as I write this column neither has ordered the suspension of construction works.  On March 16, 2020, the Mayor of Boston announced that all construction projects in the city will be suspended. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation took similar measures and suspended all projects in the state.

Using statistics from a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor that describes various physical aspects of different occupations, The New York Times gave construction laborers a score of 73, out of 100, in terms of how close in proximity they work to each other.

Although construction projects have not been ordered to cease in Florida or any of its political subdivisions, the industry will be hampered by closures of public agencies, for example, the Miami Beach Building Department.  Coupled with the supply line disruptions and material shortages due to a slowdown in imports, there will undoubtedly be issues of delay, suspension, or even termination of projects.

All construction projects should abide by the CDC’s health guidelines for COVID-19 and the recommendations of OSHA, including frequent hand washing, installation of temporary plastic “sneeze barriers,” and social distancing.  While these guidelines may be an added expense or cause a delay in the work, the less we do as a society and in the construction industry to slow the transmission of the virus, the longer we can expect more detrimental effects.

With numerous companies considering or instituting quarantining, social-distancing, and other measures to prevent further spreading of the virus, COVID-19 is likely to have a major disruptive effect on construction projects for the foreseeable future. Coupled with the outbreak, the situation may be considered a force majeure event, beyond the reasonable control of any party with delays, contract suspensions and time extensions reasonably expected.

Stephanie M. Chaissan is a member of Berger Singerman’s Dispute Resolution Team based in Miami. She practices primarily in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on business and construction litigation.

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.