Chris Olsen, a partner in P&A’s Washington, DC office, was featured in The Construction Broadsheet‘s latest “Legal Q and A” to answer questions about schedule delays.

The questions include:

1. We are a subcontracting firm struggling to keep to the schedule in our contract. The general contractor has warned us that they could replace us on the project or supplement our labor. We have provided payment and performance bonds for the project. How could this impact our bond, and should we contact our bonding company and let them know what is happening?
2. We are a general contracting firm, and our project is behind schedule due to a scope disagreement with the earthwork subcontractor. We prevailed in that dispute, but the owner tells us that we are responsible for any financial penalties resulting from the delays. Shouldn’t that burden fall to the subcontractor responsible for the delays?
3. Our material supplier’s transportation chain, both overseas shipping and domestic trucking, saw significant delays resulting in a delay of key materials to the project. We will likely be subject to liquidated damages. Can we recover money from the supplier?
4. We are drywall subcontractors, and the electrical subcontractor on one of our projects is behind on its schedule, which is impacting our schedule, as well as those of other trades. What should we do to protect ourselves against being blamed and possibly fined for delays over which we had no control?

To read Chris’s responses, click HERE.