The Lien Zone Podcast: Construction Law, Contracts, Liens, Bonds & Collections

We update you on what we are hearing on the SoFla construction market, from police inspection of jobsites, some suggestions for keeping your jobsite CDC compliant, updated DOL rules on the now effective Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act (FFCRA) and the new CARES Act and forgivable loans. OSHA COVID-19 Resources – https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/ Updated Interview with Jorge Rivero,...

What if there was a way to see the construction bidding activity before and after the Coronavirus hit the United States? There is, because the good folks at PlanHub have analyzed their terabytes of bidding data to tell us what they see. Kevin Priddy, the CEO of PlanHub, gives me the good, the bad and the ugly on what the data says about where we were and where we are going, as well as why he think...

With jurisdictions stepping up enforcement of CDC guidelines on construction projects, adding wash stations, keeping 6 feet of social distance, and limiting groups to 10 or less has become critical. Today we talk to Peter Dyga, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida East Coast Chapter, about his efforts to keep construction essential. Peter will tell us about his interaction...

Confusion is still swirling around the New Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), so the DOL issued new guidelines. Today, I again talk to Jorge Rivero of HR Management. Jorge revisits the key parts of the FFCRA and explains the clarifications from the DOL, focusing on how it impacts your construction business. You can contact Jorge at https://hrmcs.com/team_member/jorge-j-rivero/ Make s...

With construction still progressing in most jurisdictions, the construction surety bonding market is starting to tighten due to the Coronavirus.  Today we speak with Jonathan Bursevich of Alter Surety about what he is seeing and hearing from underwriters on their continued willingness to issue bonds.  At least for now, the word is positive.  You can contact Jonathan at jonathan@altersurety.com or ...

With counties and cities shutting down under various orders from government officials, how do you keep your construction projects, men and materials moving?  One way may be a hall pass.  Today we talk to Justin Tolley of The Barthet Construction Law Firm about various orders in South Florida, why construction has been deemed essential, and how to use a “hall pass” so your workers can p...

Today we have a summary update on how the Coronavirus is impacting construction.  In this episode, we cover what we are seeing on the ground with project and government offices, some tips to avoid delays in payment and securing your lien rights, some contract provisions to look out for, and some financial aid and loan programs you can access.  Check the show notes for details on more of these reso...

We all know you have 45 days to serve a Notice to Owner and 90 days to record your lien, but how has the Coronavirus changed these deadlines?  Today I talk to Nick Fernandez of The Barthet Construction Law Firm about some of the side effects the Coronavirus is causing on timely securing your rights to be paid.  We discuss some best practices on ways to avoid having to lien (like a written payment...

What are contractors in Miami seeing and feeling?  We interview Oscar Morejon of John Bell Construction about how he is dealing with the Coronavirus in the current Miami Construction market.  From adapting in the field, to making difficult decisions for his company, to his backlog, to job shutdowns, we cover it all.  You can learn more about Oscar and his company at https://www.johnbellconstructio...

How is OSHA dealing with the Coronavirus on construction projects?  We talk to Brent Huffman, a safety and OSHA expert and trainer.  Brent walks us through the issues contractors are facing on site, from masks to gloves to “keeping your distance”.  He also tells us about what he is seeing happening on the ground from the perspective of his clients and students .  You can reach Brent wi...

SEE OUR MORE RECENT INTERVIEW WITH JORGE RIVERO FOR UPDATES ON THE FFCRA Even if your jobs have not stopped, you need to get ready to deal with the impact of the Coronavirus COVID-19 on your business.  Today, I interview Jorge Rivero of HR Management .  Jorge tells us the up-to-the-minute information on how the new federal Family First Coronavirus Response Act will impact your construction busines...

One of the top expenses of any contractor or subcontractor is the purchase of construction supplies and materials.  Be it plumbing fixtures, roofing shingles, or rebar, managing how you buy materials can make or break your company.  In this episode, we talk to Jesse Weissburg or Billd on some simple techniques you can employ to save money the next time you have to buy materials. Billd purchases co...

Having well-drafted construction contracts in place is a necessary first step for all parties involved in the construction process – from the owner to the design professional, the general contractor to the subcontractors and the suppliers on the job.  On this episode, Alex goes over the benefits of having a written agreement. Make sure to follow us on our dedicated construction site as well as our...

How can you avoid bookkeeper theft and minimize your risk? Alex Barthet interviews Daniel Nieda and Keungling Lee, CPAs at Lee & Nieda, to get some insider knowledge. Make sure to follow us on our dedicated construction site as well as our podcast , YouTube videos and social media including Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter . Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Flori...

Your rights, especially your lien rights, when dealing with work in tenant space are very limited. Listen to your options. Make sure to follow us on our dedicated construction site as well as our podcast , YouTube videos and social media including Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter . Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. H...

A construction lien is a right available to those who provide materials, services or labor to real property. If one who provides these services or materials is not paid, he or she may be able to force the sale of the real property on which the improvement was made in order to recover monies owed. On this podcast, we will talk about the specific deadlines associated with most construction liens and...

We all want to get paid for our work.  Listen to how getting paid on a public project is actually done. Make sure to follow us on our dedicated construction site as well as our podcast , YouTube videos and social media including Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter . Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barth...

Do you know where the construction market is headed in South Florida? Alex Barthet interviews Peter Zalwski, to get some insider knowledge. Make sure to follow us on our dedicated construction site as well as our podcast , YouTube videos and social media including Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter . Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanic...

Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barthet Firm, a ten lawyer construction law firm in Miami, and maintains a construction law blog at www. TheLienZone.com. He can be reached at 305-347-5295 or  alex@barthet.com

On this podcast, Alex explains the importance of having your agreement in writing, but the truth is you don’t need a written contract to secure your lien rights. Alex also answers the question: “Is my estimate, proposal or invoice an enforceable contract?”. This week’s episode is full of important information, don’t miss it. Alexander Barthet is a board certified cons...

On this episode, Alex goes back to basics, covering how to handle shop submittals and the applicable lien laws. This is an important podcast that even the most seasoned construction professional should listen to. It’s always wise to brush up on the fundamentals. Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The...

Do you know how to prevent construction project disputes? Alex Barthet interviews Sue Dyer of OrgMetrics, LLC, to help you out. Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barthet Firm, a ten lawyer construction law firm in Miami, and maintains a construction law blog at www. TheLienZone.com. He can be reached a...

Contractors are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe job site. Learn which contract provisions are designed to keep the construction site organized and your workers safe. Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barthet Firm, a ten lawyer construction law firm in Miami, and maintains a construction la...

Assigning responsibility in your contract documents is critical. So is obtaining the right insurance coverage. Listen to how you can deal with both of these important construction issues. Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barthet Firm, a ten lawyer construction law firm in Miami, and maintains a constr...

Listen to a  board certified Miami construction lawyer Alex Barthet, explain what you can do to get paid once you’ve sent a bond claim or notice of non-payment. Alexander Barthet is a board certified construction attorney in Florida and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He manages The Barthet Firm, a ten lawyer construction law firm in Miami, and maintains a construction law blog at ww...