Either Independence Day or the Fourth of July, it’s often celebrated with fireworks, friends, and barbecue. While you’re enjoying this weekend, you may find yourself discussing what makes the best barbecue: gas, charcoal, or wood; smoking or grilling; sauce and/or dry rub; sweet or spicy; and the like. (Are you hungry yet?)
Most people have their own idea of what’s necessary for the best barbecue. Combining ideas of what’s best is the recipe for a mouth-watering result or successful project. Differing ideas of what’s best often leads to a dispute. Resolving that dispute depends on what the recipe (the agreement or contract) required.
While barbecue recipes can be short and simple, contracts can be long and complicated. Fundamentally, though, recipes are very much like contracts: what’s required, how much of each part/ingredient, in what order should they be assembled/added, when, and for how long?
Recipe for a Successful Construction Project
- Purpose (end-user, goal, and/or need);
- One each: owner, designer, and contractor (pre-mix (design-build) or mix later (design-bid-build));
- Adequate Funding;
- Dash of Legal Advice; and
- A Fair Amount of Reasonableness.
Roads & Bridges
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Jon is a monthly contributor to Roads & Bridges magazine. He has been writing the law section for the magazine since January 2020. The link below will take you directly to the Roads & Bridges […]
Pay-If-Paid Unenforceable in Virginia Starting Jan. 1, 2023
As of Jan. 1, 2023, pay-if-paid clauses are unenforceable, regardless of whether a surety/payment bond claim is involved. This is only for subcontracts created on/after 1/1/23.
Also for subcontracts created on/after 1/1/23, the prime must specifically […]
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On a flood control project near Nogales, Arizona, severe flooding […]
Claim Certified with Digital Signature Deemed OK
The law is not a trend-setter. It doesn’t readily change or adapt to tech. So, a commonplace practice in business became a dispute when a claimant digitally certified a claim under the Contract Disputes Act.

Jonathan J. Straw
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Partner | KraftsonCaudle.com
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