Monthly Column
Jon Straw, Partner at Kraftson Caudle, PLC, in McLean, Va., specializing in heavy highway and transportation construction law, is a monthly contributor to Roads & Bridges magazine. Jon has been writing the law section for the magazine since January of 2020.
2023
MARCH
MOMMY DEAREST
The story of an ESA without a MOM
FEBRUARY
RESHAPING AGREEMENTS
Oral agreements must be written in stone
JANUARY
WHERE DOES THE BUCK STOP?
A shallow concrete pour leads to an interesting lawsuit
2022
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
How a contractor sued the government and won
OCTOBER
DELAYS VS. ACCELERATION
Opposite sides of the same coin that can be mistakenly mixed
SEPTEMBER
THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST
When buying land for a new road or house, public information can be a powerful tool.
JULY/AUGUST
PAYMENT DUE
How every word–and day–count under prompt payment laws
MAY/JUNE
BROKEN PROMISES
Examine the duties within a contract
APRIL
MADE IN AMERICA
Infrastructure law broadens federal domestic preference policies
MARCH
THE RISK OF UNCERTAINTY
New infrastructure law broadens Federal Miller Act Protections
FEBRUARY
DEFINING SCOPE
Dispute over subcontractor’s obligations complicates roadway project
JANUARY
IT’S GOOD TO BE KING
Few exceptions found under the doctrine of sovereign immunity
2021
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
NAVIGATING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND OTHER UNFORESEEABLE EVENTS
This column published as “New Problems, Old Solutions” in November/December 2021 issue
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
TURNING TO THE CONTRACT FOR GUIDANCE CAN HELP SETTLE DISPUTES
This column published as “The Best Map” in October 2021 issue
JULY/AUGUST
PASS-THROUGH
Case in Maryland Asks If Suppliers Need a Go-Between to File Claims
MAY/JUNE
THE BETTER FORUM
When Public Policy Preempts Agreed-Upon Contract Terms, Does Certainty Suffer?
APRIL
AS THE SAYING GOES…
Tax Withholding in Conn. Case Not It Initially Appeared to Be
FEBRUARY
ON RESPONSIBILITY
Court Weighs In On New Mexico DOT’s Employment of Prequalification System
JANUARY
TAKE NOTICE
Notice Procedures Should Mitigate Conflict and Aid Resolution
2020
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
REMOTE LEARNING
Your Physical Location Could Matter When Entering a Contract
OCTOBER
FINGER-POINTING
A Case in Massachusetts Concerned a Flawed Design from the DOT
SEPTEMBER
ON MISREPRESENTATION
A case in Pennsylvania where the court got it wrong
JULY/AUGUST
ON (UN) REASONABLENESS
Our April Law Column’s Focus VS. An Even More Recent Appellate Court Decision
MAY/JUNE
CAN I GET SOME RELIEF?
How Contracts Can Reduce Risk in the Face of COVID-19 Related Delays
APRIL
RISK BUSINESS
On Apportioning Risk in Design-build Contraction
MARCH
NOT TOO LATE AFTER ALL
On a Case Where Traditional Statute of Limitations Did Not Apply
FEBRUARY
The Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity Can Aid Savvy Contractors, Too
Jonathan J. Straw
Blog Author
Contact Jonathan
Partner | KraftsonCaudle.com
Download Jon’s Bio
Roads & Bridges | Reshaping Agreements
RESHAPING AGREEMENTS | Oral Agreements Must Be Written in Stone Reuse, reshaping, and/or reapplication of existing materials was the goal in this roadway rehabilitation story. The intermediate Texas Court of Appeals aptly stated, “[r]oad construction [...]
IIJA | Does Closing a “Giant Loophole” Cost Contractors?
A recent article published by Roads and Bridges magazine reports that the Office of Management and Budget is working to broaden the scope of the Buy America and Buy American Acts. Some of these efforts were intended by [...]
Roads & Bridges | Buy American Plan Gets an Update
Buy American Plan Gets an Update | Roads & Bridges The Office of Management and Budget is developing standards to replace the current Buy American Act standards. View article.
Roads & Bridges
Where Does the Buck Stop?
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 [...]
How Short is Too Short
A limitations period is too short when it’s unreasonably short.
Construction Contracting Without Relief Clauses During COVID-19
What to do if your contract lacks the parts to handle COVID-19? Considerations for creating new contracts during COVID-19.
Your Contract Can Handle COVID-19
Uncertainty and risk are not new or novel to contractors. Contracts reduce uncertainty and share the risk of doing or providing something. COVID-19 may have contributed to, but it has not single-handedly created, uncertainty and risk.