Adam is a member of the firm's Architectural, Engineering & Construction Defect Litigation Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in complex construction defect matters, which include the defense of contractors, architects, engineers, surveyors and other professionals. He also defends claims of bodily injury, property damage, delay damages and other claims related to the construction industry.
In complex multiparty litigation, Adam has developed significant experience. He has successfully represented clients in matters involving wrongful death, school construction defects, condominium construction defects, public entity construction projects, and geotechnical engineering, including inaccurate surveying claims, improper dynamic compaction claims, and various other claims of deviations from architectural and engineering standards of care.
Adam earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Stockton State College and his juris doctor from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Results
Thought Leadership
Case Law Alerts
The Lack of a Retainage Payment to General Contractor Did Not Bar Payment to the General Contractor's Subcontractors, Regardless of a Condition Precedent Requiring that the General Contract be Paid Before the Subcontractors
July 1, 2023
As addressed in the unreported case of J &M Interiors, Inc. v. Centerton Square Owners, LLC, (A-2536-19, 2021 WL 1976648 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. May 18, 2021), the lack of a retainage payment to a general contractor (GC) did not bar payment to the GC’s subcontractors, regardless of a condition precedent requiring that the GC be paid before the subcontractors. This “condition precedent” has been dubbed a “pay-if-paid” provision. Seeing such a provision as a matter of first impression in this case, the court has confirmed that “pay-if-paid” provisions in construction contracts are enforceable “as long as the contract on its face contains clear and unequivocal language that unambiguously sets forth the parties’ intention and agreement that owner payment is a condition precedent to the general contractor's obligation to pay the subcontractor.” Thus, the risk of payment is shifted to the subcontractors, unless the GC has “prevented or hindered” the owner’s payment, which would shift the onus back to the GC. Case Law Alerts, 3rd Quarter, July 2023 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. Copyright © 2023 Marshall Dennehey, all rights reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm.
Case Law Alerts
New Jersey Extends the Statute of Limitations in Construction Cases Involving Planned Real Estate Development Associations
July 1, 2022
N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 has been amended to add a new subsection. The addition provides that the timing of a claim filed by a planned real estate development association is tolled “until an election is held and the owners comprise a majority of the board.” This extends the prior statute of limitations for a construction defect claim (not arising from an unsafe condition) which was calculated at six years from the date of substantial completion of the planned real estate development project. The new law tolls the time for an association “acting through, on behalf of, or at the behest of the developer,” but it does not expressly toll it for claims against subcontractors. In a practical sense, the expiration of the statute of limitations for claims against a general contractor and/or its subcontractors can thereby occur before accrual of an association’s claims. Regardless, a developer would not be able to take advantage of the tolling of time to bring related claims (contractual and/or tort) against its own contractors if the association does not sue the contractor/subs directly. Case Law Alerts, 3rd Quarter, July 2022 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. Copyright © 2022 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, all rights reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm.
