Monthly Archives

September 2021
  • September 24, 2021

Excellent Training Opportunities on Core Concepts of Construction Law and Construction Fundamentals

Construction Training/Education
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Many of us in Pierce Atwood’s Construction Law team are active members of the ABA Forum on Construction Law.  The Forum provides excellent business development, networking, and educational opportunities for its 5,000+ members. If you want to learn more, please contact me (rtdunn@pierceatwood.com).

I wanted to highlight one unique program that is happening at the end of this month. In my 10+ year history with the Forum, this opportunity has not arisen for attorneys interested in learning about or developing a practice in construction law.  On September 30th and October 1, the Forum is offering the following two programs in six locations (Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Nashville, Seattle) throughout the country and on a virtual basis:

  • Fundamentals of Construction Law – core concepts of the practice of construction law including topics on bidding, scheduling, differing site conditions, changes, termination, insurance, bonding, payment, and dispute resolution.
  • Sticks & Bricks – construction overview
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  • September 23, 2021

Rhode Island’s Amended Joint Tortfeasor Causes Increased Certainty in the Settlement of Multi-Party Negligence Matters

Litigation, RI Statute Update
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Anyone who has handled tort claims in Rhode Island, including personal injury and negligence matters, knows that the resolution of these claims is complicated by the presence of multiple defendants.  These complications come by way of parties arguing for differing levels of responsibility—if any, conflicting theories of defense, and the classic “deep pocket” defendant who is often asked to carry the weight of the “judgment-proof” one.  Handling these claims was not made any simpler or less confusing by reviewing Rhode Island’s previous version of its enactment of the Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act, G.L. 1956 § 10-6-1 et seq.; however, recent amendments have made Rhode Island’s law more consistent with liability practices in other states.  This should make handling tort claims in Rhode Island more familiar to construction companies, insurance carriers, and their legal counsel.

The law recently changed with the passage of two bills through both houses of Rhode Island’s General Assembly, which became effective July 14, 2021.  In short, after these

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