Author: Kmestevez

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The Next Chapter: Holden Willits, PLC

I am excited to announce that I have joined a new law firm – Holden Willits, PLC. Holden Willits is ranked by US News & World Report as a Tier 1 law firm in Phoenix for construction law and construction litigation. And as you may be able to tell from this blog, construction law and construction litigation are the main focus of my practice. For this reason and others, I am happy that Holden Willits is the next chapter in my legal career.

While this is a big change for me professionally, it will not change this blog. As new developments relating to Arizona construction law arise, I will continue to write about them. Thank you and stay tuned! read more

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“Knowing is Half the Battle” – What to Expect During an OSHA Inspection

Via the United States Department of Labor

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was one of my favorite television shows as a kid. Each episode of the cartoon concluded with a character stating that, “Knowing is half the battle.” To this day, I think that is a solid maxim on a number of levels. So, in the spirit of G.I. Joe, I have linked to the video above concerning the OSHA inspection process. The video, which was posted to YouTube by the U.S. Department of Labor on October 17, 2019, details the steps of, and procedures for, OSHA inspections. read more

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“Give it 130%” – Threshold at which Preliminary 20-day Notices must be updated is increased from 120% to 130% of estimated total cost.

You often hear of people claiming to give 110% effort.  Whether someone can truly give more than a 100% effort is a philosophical question that is outside the scope of this blog.  Arizona mechanics’ lien laws are, however, something in my wheelhouse.  And, as many of you may know,  120% has historically been an important figure with respect to mechanics’ liens.  This is because Arizona has long provided, and currently provides, claimants with lien rights of up to 120% of the estimated price stated in their preliminary twenty-day notices.  Practically speaking, this means that those looking to preserve their lien rights need not provide additional preliminary notices unless and until the price for the labor and material furnished exceeds 120% of the amount in their original notice.  But with the passing of SB 1304 earlier this year, this threshold for providing additional preliminary notices was increased to 130% of estimated total costs, and this increase applies to all projects where lienable activities are “first commenced to be furnished from and after December 31, 2019.”  As a result, the effects of this change are right around the corner. read more

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That was Quick: SK Builders, Inc. v. Smith is Legislatively Overruled by Amendments to Arizona’s Prompt Pay Act.

Back in April of this year, I authored this post concerning the Arizona Court of Appeals’ recent decision in SK Builders, Inc. v. Smith. In SK Builders, the court held that Arizona’s Prompt Pay Act (the “PPA”) did not apply to billings containing work furnished outside the preceding 30 days because the PPA stated that “billing[s] or estimate[s]” must be based on “work performed and…materials supplied during the preceding thirty day billing cycle.” In other words, the court found that payment applications submitted at the end of a billing cycle were limited to work performed or materials furnished within the preceding 30 days. But, as I briefly noted in a July update to my earlier post, the sun set on SK Builders rather quickly. The decision was legislatively overruled by an amendment to the PPA and is no longer good law. read more

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OsHa No! – 9th Circuit Holds that Installation of Solar Panels Is Not Roofing Work for Purposes of Fall Protection

Pexels. No Attribution Required.

It is hopefully no secret that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations require employers to provide fall protection systems in certain circumstances. The type of protection required depends primarily on: (1) the nature of the work being performed; and (2) the environment in which it is performed. In Bergelectric Corp. v. Secretary of Labor, 925 F.3d 1167 (9th Cir. 2019), the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was recently charged with deciding whether the installation of solar panels constituted “roofing work” for purposes of determining the applicable safety standards. The Court ultimately held that installing solar panels was not roofing work, and, as a result, affirmed a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (the “Commission”) that a contractor violated OSHA fall protection requirements by not complying “with the stricter safety standards governing work on unprotected sides and edges.” Given the growth of the solar industry, the decision in Bergelectric Corp. is significant. read more

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