For general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in Michigan, the construction lien is one of the most powerful legal tools they have to get paid for their work. Knowing how to enforce a construction lien is key. Here are the ways a subcontractor can preserve a...

Construction Law & Surety Law

Business & ComplexCommercial Litigation

Real Estate Transactions
Troy MI Construction Law Blog
Epps vs. 4 Quarters Restoration
In Epps v 4 Quarters Restoration, LLC et al, No 147727, 2015 WL 5684196 (Mich Sept 28, 2015), the Michigan Supreme Court had occasion to provide additional guidance upon the application of MCL 339.2412(1), which limits an unlicensed builder's ability to sue to collect...
Windrush, Inc, v Lee Van Poppering, Shagbark Development, Inc, and Northland Management, Inc
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently affirmed personal liability for violations under the Michigan Builders Trust Fund Act, MCL 570.151 et seq. ("MBTFA") in Windrush, Inc, v Lee Van Poppering, Shagbark Development, Inc, and Northland Management, Inc, unpublished...
Miller-Davis v Ahrens
Subcontractors could face protracted liability for work performed on prior projects according to a recent decision of the Michigan Supreme Court, where a contractor sought and obtained indemnification from its subcontractor, even though the court held the statute of...
Lawrence M Clarke, Inc v Draeger et al
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued an unpublished opinion that gives guidance to construction law practitioners and contractors.In Lawrence M Clarke, Inc v Draeger et al, Plaintiff was a general contractor engaged to construct a public sanitary sewer...
Residential Structure Determined by Owner’s Intent
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently provided guidance on how to better determine whether a private construction project should be considered a "residential structure" for purposes of construction lien rights under the Michigan Construction Lien Act.The Lien Act...
Professional Malpractice Verdict Overturned
Injured parties claiming professional malpractice against licensed design professionals must present expert testimony to establish breach of the standard of care which would permit a reasonable inference of causation according to the Michigan Court of Appeals in a...
Construction Contract Change Order Clause Upheld
Contractors faced with the common dilemma of accelerating performance at additional cost versus facing liquidated damages due to late delivery must adhere to their construction contract's change order clause according to the Michigan Court of Appeals. In Field...