Florida Construction Law

Venue for the breach of an express warranty of goods is where the goods were delivered.  Express warranties are limited to the parties to a contract and intended (identified) third party beneficiaries.   Affiliates for Evaluation and Therapy, Inc. v. Viasyn Corp ., 500 So.2d 688 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987). Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified in Construction Law Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, P.A. 100 S. Ashley Dr., Suite 1300 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 229-3333 www.glennrasmussen.com

Section 489.129(1)(d), Florida Statutes prohibits renting your license.  It states: (1)  The board may take any of the following actions against any certificateholder or registrant: place on probation or reprimand the licensee, revoke, suspend, or deny the issuance or renewal of the certificate or registration, require financial restitution to a consumer for financial harm directly related to a violation of a provision of this part, impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation, require continuing education, or assess costs associated with investigation and prosecution, if the contractor, financially responsible officer, or business organization for which the contractor is a primary qualifying agent, a financially responsible officer, or a secondary qualifying agent responsible under s.  489.1195  is found guilty of any of the following acts: (d)  Performing any act which assists a person or entity in engaging in the prohibited uncertified and unregis

A contract provision that directly shrinks the statute of limitations for a claim is void.   Section 95.03, Florida Statutes.   Instead, many contracts use notice provisions or other clauses to create waiver arguments.   Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

The standards apply to: All contractors who enter into contracts which are for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating [ 29 CFR 1926.10(a) ].   All subcontractors who agree to perform any part of the labor or material requirements of a contract [ 29 CFR 1926.13(c) ].   All suppliers who furnish any supplies or materials, if the work involved is performed on or near a construction site, or if the supplier fabricates the goods or materials specifically for the construction project, and the work can be said to be a construction activity [ 29 CFR 1926.13(c) ].  www.osha.gov Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified in Construction Law Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, P.A. 100 S. Ashley Dr., Suite 1300 Tampa, FL 33602 ( 813) 229-3333 www.glennrasmussen.com

To succeed on summary judgment, you need to address and refute all of the affirmative defenses asserted by the other party.  Helping Hand Private Foundations, Inc. v. Ocean Palms Beach Club, Inc .,  2011 WL 4647472 (Fla. 5th DCA 2011). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

The statute of repose for latent defects is 10 years in the State of Florida.   95.11(3)(C), Fla. Stat. Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

713.15, Fla. Stat. provides: " If for any reason the completion of an improvement is abandoned or though the improvement is completed, materials delivered are not used therefor, a person who has delivered materials for the improvement which have not been incorporated therein and for which he or she has not received payment may peaceably repossess and remove such materials or replevy the same and thereupon he or she shall have no lien on the real property or improvements and no right against any persons for the price thereof, but shall have the same rights in regard to the materials as if he or she had never parted with their possession."  Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act exemptions do not apply where developer makes material misrepresentations or attempts to evade the disclosures required under the Act.  Gentry v. Harborage Cottages-Stuart, LLLP , 2011 WL 3904087 (11th Cir. 2011). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

The Court in Rodriguez-Faro v. M. Escarda Contractor, Inc .,  2011 WL 4467385 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011), held that on an equitable lien claim, the submittal of a contractor's affidavit was insufficient to prove the amount of unliquidated damages and required an evidentiary hearing.   Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

A Motion to Dismiss may form the basis of Section 57.105, Florida Statutes sanctions if the facts upon which it is based render the motion without merit.   Gahn v. Holiday Property Bond, Ltd ., 826 So.2d 423 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002).   Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

I will be speaking at the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF) on October 19, 2011 in Pembroke Pines on OSHA.  The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Grand Palms Resort.  Attendees will receive 1 hour of CILB credit.   Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

"Actual notice that a materialman is providing materials to a project, therefore, is insufficient to satisfy the notice requirements of Section 713.23(1)(c) . A subcontractor is not excused from the notice requirement of Section 713.23(1)( c) even where the owner, surety or contractor did not fully adhere to the requirements of chapter 713, Florida Statutes. See Prof'l Plastering & Stucco, 940 So.2d at 448 (“[E]ven if the Subcontractor is correct that the Owner, the Surety, and the Contractor did not fully adhere to the requirements of chapter 713, the Subcontractor [is] not excused from complying with the requirements of Section 713.23  that it provide notice ....” (quoting Bridgeport, Inc. v. Tampa Roofing Co., 903 So.2d 306, 309 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005) )." Stock Building Supply of Florida, Inc. v.  Soares Da Costa Construction Services, LLC , 2011 WL 2694522 (Fla. 4th DCA October 5, 2011). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Tren

The fraudulent lien statute is contained in Section 713.31, Florida Statutes and discusses the penalties for recording a fraudulent lien.   Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

When asked to repair or remodel an existing structure, contractors should take photographs or video of the job site prior to starting work to preserve evidence of pre-existing conditions such as water intrusion, dry rot, mold or termite damage. Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

Post-suit, a settlement agreement can provide for the entry of an ex parte final judgment upon default.   Weinberg v. Lozman , 364 So.2d 841 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

The Supreme Court held that local contractor licensing boards do not have jurisdiction over Federal government construction projects.   Leslie Miller, Inc. v. State of Arkansas , 352 U.S. 187 (1956). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

New OSHA safety materials on trenching for underground utility contractors: http://www.abc.org/Newsroom2/News_Letters/2011/Issue_41/New_Safety_Publications_on_Trenching_Operations_Issued_by_OSHA.aspx Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

On Federal USPS project, local building codes and building permit requirements cannot be enforced because of lack of proper jurisdiction.   USPS v. City of Hollywood , 974 F.Supp. 1459 (S.D. Fla. 1997). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

To set aside a clerk's default for not answering a complaint, a party must show excusable neglect, a meritorious defense and due diligence in seeking the removal of the default.   Harrison v. Harris , 448 So.2d 25 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

A party in a case can issue a Request for Admissions asking the other side to admit or deny certain facts.  Failure to answer the Request results in those requests being deemed admitted and can be used as evidence against the other party.   Hooten v. Lake County , 177 So.2d 696 (Fla. 2d DCA 1965). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

Short video regarding the FRSA Public Relations Committee Meeting at the Westin in Lake Mary, FL.  Here is the direct link: http://www.youtube.com/user/FLConstructionLaw#p/u/10/kVnTD4zQLFI Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

If design documents contain a latent ambiguity or conflict, those documents are construed against the drafter.   See U.S. v. Seckinger , 397 U.S. 203 (1970). Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com

This is part IV to the Florida Construction Lien Law seminar.  The seminar continues the discussion of perfecting lien claims and lienable services.  Here is a direct link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il_tOwsp_G8 Trenton H. Cotney Board Certified in Construction Law Trent Cotney, P.A. 1207 N Franklin St, Ste 222 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 579-3278 www.trentcotney.com