Recently, Robert August suggested that I pick up a copy of Conflicts With Interest, a novel by Michael Ruddy. Having now read the book, I understand why he made the suggestion. Michael Ruddy is not just an author, he is a Colorado homebuilder who wrote a book about residential construction defect litigation. The biographical information from the […]
Colorado Construction Litigation Blog
In an order by Judge Marcia Krieger, the homeowners in a recent construction defect case caught a lucky break. By way of background, Mark A. and Mark L. Hildebrand were the plaintiffs in a construction defect lawsuit against their builder, New Vista, and one of its principals, Richard Reeves. The claims against Mr. Reeves were […]
I am happy to have been asked to speak at a Colorado Construction Defect Law Seminar on February 25th. The seminar, sponsored by MC Consultants, Inc. and Esquire Solutions, will be held at the Brown Palace Hotel from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, followed by a networking cocktail reception. The first panel, from 3:00 to 4:00, […]
In a February 1, 2010 Order on Plaintiff United Fire’s Second Motion for Reconsideration, Judge Brimmer, of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, dealt yet another blow to coverage for construction defect claims in Colorado. The court issued the order in the case of United Fire & Casualty Company v. Boulder Plaza […]
In Greystone Const., Inc. v. National Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 649 F.Supp. 2d 1213 (D. Colo. 2009), a contractor and one of its insurers brought an action against a second insurer after the second insurer refused to fund the contractor’s defense in construction defect actions brought by homeowners. Relying heavily upon the reasoning of […]
In General Security Indemnity Co. of Arizona v. Mountain States Mut. Cas. Co., 205 P.3d 529 (Colo. App. 2009), a framing subcontractor’s insurer brought a contribution and indemnification action against a sub-subcontractor’s commercial general liability insurers. The framer’s carrier sought relief for the sub-sub’s insurer’s failure to fund the framing subcontractor’s defense costs related to […]
In Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. Holmes, 193 P.3d 821 (Colo. 2008), a homeowner brought an action against the manufacturer of a defective Entran II hose used in an embedded heating system. The homeowner sought to recover the cost of replacing the entire heating system. The rubber hose that was part of the system […]
In Thermo Development, Inc. v. Central Masonry Corp., 195 P.3d 1166 (Colo. App. 2008), the developers brought an action for contribution and indemnity against masonry and plaster subcontractors upon settling a water intrusion claim asserted by a condominium owner and condominium association. The developers argued that C.R.S. § 13-80-104(1)(b)(II)(B) permitted them to file claims against […]
The 2010 Construction Litigation Desk Reference, published by DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, is now available. DRI is the international organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. DRI provides numerous educational and informational resources to DRI members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial […]
As we near another legislative session, I am in the process of refining the manner in which I communicate with those interested in construction defect legislation in Colorado, including builders, subcontractors, design professionals, insurers, and attorneys. Instead of ham and egging my communications through a combination of my own Outlook e-mails and co-opting the CDLA […]
