One of the difficult issues in construction law is the duty owed, if any, by the owner’s consultant to the contractor. In particular, does the consultant owe any such duty in respect of subsurface conditions? In North Pacific Roadbuilders Ltd. v. Aecom Canada Ltd., the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench recently held that it did. […]
Continue Reading →When Is A Consultant Liable To A Contractor For Subsurface Information In Tender Documents?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
The Traps And Perils Of Limitation Of Liability Clauses
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
In Swift v. Eleven Eleven Architecture Inc., the Alberta Court of Appeal recently considered the impact and scope of a limitation of liability clause in a consultant’s contract between an owner and the architects on a building project. The court arrived at three important conclusions. First, the clause did not apply to and did not […]
Continue Reading →Does An Interim Lender To A Construction Project Owe A Duty of Care?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
Construction projects don’t often proceed without a lender. And often there is an interim lender which provides financing pending the advancement of funds by the final lender. In this circumstance, two questions arise: First: Does the interim lender owe a duty of care to the owner or purchaser of the project? Second: If the interim […]
Continue Reading →Can An Agent Claim Damages As An Owner Under A Building Contract?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
Agents of contractors and subcontractors often play a role and assert rights during construction projects. This is because contractors often use agents to perform the work, and construction lien legislation recognizes their right to assert a lien for the improvement of the land. But agents of owners do not often assert rights under a building […]
Continue Reading →Construction Liens: Two Thorny Issues: Can non-lienable work be sheltered? Can off-site work be liened?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
In John Barlot Architect Ltd. v. 413481 Alberta Ltd, the Alberta Court of Appeal has recently dealt with two thorny issues relating to a consultant’s services and construction liens: Can a lien shelter non-lienable work? And can a consultant’s services provided to one project be liened on a second project if they were also used […]
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