Louisiana Legislature Grants Sureties the Right to Raise Contractor Defenses, Including “Pay-If-Paid”

Mark Frilot, Max Hadley and Mark Mercante | Baker Donelson Governor Landry recently signed into law two legislative acts that should allow Private Works Act and Public Works Act payment bond sureties to rely on defenses available to their general contractor principals in defense of sub-tier payment claims, including “Pay-If-Paid” provisions contained in the general… Continue reading Louisiana Legislature Grants Sureties the Right to Raise Contractor Defenses, Including “Pay-If-Paid”

LA Supreme Court Clarifies Contract Controls Prescriptive Period For First-Party Bad Faith Claims

Caroline F. Crosby and Hunter Williams C. | Phelps Dunbar The Louisiana Supreme Court recently ruled that an insurance policy’s two-year limitation on the institution of suits by a policyholder creates a two-year prescriptive period for a policyholder’s bad faith claim against the insurer, even though the claim otherwise would have a 10-year prescriptive period. In 2023,… Continue reading LA Supreme Court Clarifies Contract Controls Prescriptive Period For First-Party Bad Faith Claims

Construction Litigation Roundup: “We Will Get You Paid!”

Daniel Lund III | Phelps Dunbar The Louisiana legislature enacted several years ago a mandamus statute geared at promoting payment to contractors engaged in public works projects in the state. Louisiana Revised Statute 38:2191 provides for mandamus – a summary procedure – for an aggrieved contractor to pursue payment plus attorney’s fees and interest when… Continue reading Construction Litigation Roundup: “We Will Get You Paid!”

Construction Litigation Roundup: “Sudden Death”

Daniel Lund III | Phelps Dunbar It’s not football, though. Rather, just when you thought it was safe in Louisiana to wait to file a garden-variety construction contract payment claim, an appellate court slams the door on it – applying a statute of “repose” to your claim. “Personal actions” – such as an action on… Continue reading Construction Litigation Roundup: “Sudden Death”

Construction Litigation Roundup: “Muddled Results?”

Daniel Lund III | Phelps Dunbar Muddled results? After milling about the site for quite some time, a subcontractor on an Army Corps of Engineers excavation project in Louisiana filed a Miller Act claim against the general contractor’s bond. According to the subcontractor, the 1,000,000 yd.³ project – which was slated for 15 months –… Continue reading Construction Litigation Roundup: “Muddled Results?”

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