Congratulations Steve Thornton! Jose Rodriguez, Assistant Director for Field Services and Public Safety for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (the “Department”), announced in the Electrical Currents newsletter from the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector, Vol. 18, No. 11 (Nov. 2014), the appointment of Stephen Thornton as…
Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
Just Say “No” To Others Using Your Contractor’s License Number
In a recent press release, California Contractors State License Board Registrar Steve Sands reminds contractors that “[c]ontractor licenses are not transferrable between anyone: associates, friends – family members included.” In California, all home improvement jobs valued at $500 or more, which includes both labor, material costs and other item costs…
Mexico’s Guidelines for Clean Energy Certificates Will Support Renewable Energy Development
Yesterday, Pillsbury attorneys Michael Hindus, Eric Save and John McNeece published their advisory titled Mexico’s Guidelines for Clean Energy Certificates Will Support Renewable Energy Development. The Advisory discusses, as part of a historic restructuring of its electrical power sector, Mexico’s creation of a market for tradable Clean Energy Certificates, which…
DC Circuit Rejects Challenge to the Revised OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard
On October 24, 2014, the D.C. Circuit rejected a challenge to the revised OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard insofar as it applies to “combustible dust”. The case is National Oilseed Processors Association, et al., v. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, et al. The Standard was substantially revised in 2012 to conform…
MD Federal Court Holds State Ground Water Permit Excludes RCRA Liability
On July 16, 2014, the U.S. District Court of the District of Maryland issued an important Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq. (RCRA), ruling in the case of Sherrill, et al. v. The Mayor and the City Council of Baltimore, 2014 WL 3555956. The City…
TX Amends Admin Code To Update Air Conditioning And Refrigeration Contractor Codes & Modifies Continuing Education Requirements
The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation’s (Commission) recently amended the existing rules governing air conditioning and refrigeration contractor applicable codes, 16 Tex. Admin. Code, Chapter 75, § 75.110. Revised Section 75.110 states: “(a) The commission adopts the following as the applicable codes as referenced in the Act and this…
Arbitration Clause: Consider enforcement implications before signing
The practice of including an arbitration provision in all types of contracts has become quite common. Including such a provision in a contract should, however, always be a considered choice, based on sound advice, to avoid any misunderstandings about the breadth, scope and consequences of including such a provision. Yesterday,…
NH: Most Common Electrical Installation Deficiencies (2014 NEC)
The Joint Board of Licensure and Certification, State of New Hampshire compiled a list of the most common electrical installation deficiencies in the State of New Hampshire in 2014, formatted to the 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70-2014) as follows: Use of electrical equipment without following the…
CA CSLB Welcomes New Board Member ~ Susan Granzella
On October 13, 2004, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed Susan Granzella of Sacramento as a new (public) member of the California Contractors State License Board. Prior to the appointment, according to the Governor, Granzella “held several positions at Visa Inc. from 1996 to 2014, including senior director and…
10th Cir. Rejects Claim That Pollution Exclusion In Liability Policies Are Ambiguous and Inapplicable
On October 20, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit unanimously affirmed the lower court’s ruling that the commercial liability insurance policies purchased by Headwaters Resources, Inc. contained unambiguous “pollution exclusion” provisions which excluded Headwaters’ demand that its insurers reimburse its litigation defense costs. The case is…