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Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog

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New York Times Article Spotlights “Solar Power Craze on Wall St.” … Others Are Weighing In As Well

In their article Solar Power Craze on Wall St. Propels Start-Up, authors Diane Cardwell and Julie Creswelljan remark on the “solar power craze that is sweeping Wall Street,” acknowledging the companies “riding a wave of exuberance over the industry.” “The broad stock market is coming off its best year since…

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Owner-Operated Businesses With No Employees May Be Surprised By Recent Cal AG Opinion

UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee, E-cigarettes face restrictions as cities update smoking ordinances (Mar. 10, 2014) Recently, the California Office of the Attorney General (“AG”) issued its Opinion No. 12-901 (Dec. 20, 2013), answering the question: “Under what circumstances does an owner-operated business with no employees nevertheless constitute a ‘place of…

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Forum-Selection Clauses Are Here to Stay … and to Be Enforced

The U.S. Supreme Court recently showed strong support for enforcing forum-selection clauses in Atlantic Marine Construction Co., Inc. v. United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 571 U.S. ___ (2013). The Court’s decision discusses forum-selection clauses in contracts generally, but lays the foundation and support for enforcing…

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License Qualifiers Under Greater Scrutiny For Direct Supervision Of Construction Operations

UPDATE: CSLB, CSLB to Get Tough on RMO Abuses (Summer 2014) Starting on January 1, 2014, amended Section 7068.1 of California’s Contractors State License Law, Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7200 et seq., requires licensees’ qualifiers to exercise direct supervision and control over the licensees’ operations to ensure compliance with…

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Court Issues Statement of Decision on Public Nuisance Claim, Ordering $1.1 Billion Lead Paint Contamination Abatement Program

Thirteen years after the complaint was filed, on Monday, December 16, 2013, California Superior Court Judge James P. Kleinberg, in People of the State of California v. Atlantic Richfield Co. et al., Santa Clara Superior Court Case No. 1-00-cv-788657, issued a proposed statement of decision (SOD) after a 23-day bench…

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2014 Solar Decathlon Europe – Solar Home Stretch For Participants

Six months from now, on June 27, 2014, the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe will kick-off. The Decathlon will be held in Versailles, France and run from June 27 through July 14. The participating teams are: * Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts – School of Engineering and Architecture *…

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CSLB Announces 2014 Pilot Program Focused On HVAC Contractors

UPDATE: CSLB Message From the Board Chair: “… I am troubled by the increasing number of complaints CSLB is receiving about predatory C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) contractors who are targeting vulnerable consumers after being called out for simple repairs or routine maintenance….” (Summer 2014) In its 2013…

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Revised Effective Date For 2013 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards

UPDATE: CSLB industry Bulletin No. 14-02, Compliance Dates Delayed For Some Energy-Related Regulations in CA Building Standards Codes (Feb. 10, 2014) — New Effective Date Jul. 1, 2014 UPDATE: California Energy Commission, Blueprint (Jan. 23, 2014) – The California Energy Commission has established an “early adopter” program for compliance with…

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Maryland Purple Line Update: Six Consortia Compete to Be Private Partner

We previously reported that, in August, Maryland announced plans to utilize a public-private partnership (“P3”) to build and operate its $2.2 billion light rail project known as the Purple Line, which will run between Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. This past Tuesday marked the deadline for companies competing to be…