Handling Construction Defect Claims: Western States, Fourth Edition

Chapter 1. EVOLUTION OF CONSTRUCTION DEFECT LITIGATION

• § 1.01 Historical Development
• § 1.02 Current Status
• § 1.03 Commercial and Residential Theories of Recovery

Chapter 2. PRELITIGATION CONSIDERATIONS

• § 2.01 In General
• § 2.02 What Constitutes a Construction Defect?
• § 2.03 Types of Defects
• § 2.04 Evaluating the Case
• § 2.05 Seeking Professional Assistance
• § 2.06 Developer-Builder Considerations
• § 2.07 Venue Considerations

Chapter 3. STATUTORY PRELITIGATION STEPS

• § 3.01 In General
• § 3.02 Arizona
• § 3.03 California
• § 3.04 Colorado
• § 3.05 Hawaii
• § 3.06 Nevada
• § 3.07 Oregon
• § 3.08 Washington
• § 3.09 Certificates of Merit

Chapter 4. STANDING TO SUE

• § 4.01 Real Party in Interest
• § 4.02 Class Actions

Chapter 5. CAUSES OF ACTION

• § 5.01 Overview of Causes of Action
• § 5.02 Arizona
• § 5.03 California
• § 5.04 Colorado
• § 5.05 Hawaii
• § 5.06 Nevada
• § 5.07 Oregon
• § 5.08 Utah
• § 5.09 Washington

Chapter 6. INSURANCE CONSIDERATIONS

• § 6.01 Fundamental Issues
• § 6.02 Third-Party Coverage
• § 6.03 First-Party Coverage

Chapter 7. DEFENSE CONSIDERATIONS AND RESPONSES

• § 7.01 Introduction
• § 7.02 Statutes of Limitation and Repose
• § 7.03 Mitigation of Damages and Additional Defenses
• § 7.04 Indemnity and Contribution

Chapter 8. DISCOVERY

• § 8.01 Introduction
• § 8.02 State-by-State Overview
• § 8.03 Right to Conduct Discovery
• § 8.04 Scope of Discovery
• § 8.05 Developing an Initial Understanding of the Case
• § 8.06 Use of Special References and Case Management/Pretrial Orders in Defect Litigation
• § 8.07 Arizona’s Unique Disclosure of Information Rule
• § 8.08 Limitations on Discovery
• § 8.09 Methods of Discovery
• § 8.10 Discovery Sanctions

Chapter 9. EXPERTS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• § 9.01 Introduction
• § 9.02 Organizing the Investigation
• § 9.03 Architectural Defect Analysis
• § 9.04 Geotechnical Distress Analysis
• § 9.05 Soil Conditions
• § 9.06 Structural Complications
• § 9.07 Indicators of Problems
• § 9.08 Additional Considerations
• § 9.09 Civil Engineering Analysis
• § 9.10 Relocation Analysis
• § 9.11 Role of Real Estate Appraiser

Chapter 10. DAMAGES

• § 10.01 Introduction
• § 10.02 Statutory Damages
• § 10.03 Compensatory Damages
• § 10.04 Consequential Damages and Costs
• § 10.05 Punitive Damages
• § 10.06 Damages for Emotional Distress
• § 10.07 Limitation on Damages

Chapter 11. SETTLEMENT AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES IN TRIAL

• § 11.01 Introduction
• § 11.02 Plaintiff’s Settlement Strategies
• § 11.03 Defendant’s Settlement Strategies
• § 11.04 Universal Settlement Considerations
• § 11.05 Alternative Dispute Resolution Appendixes

APPENDICES:

• Appendix 1 - Homeowners’ Association Confidential Questionnaire
• Appendix 2 - Checklist of Documents Needed from Each Homeowners’ Association
• Appendix 3 - Sample Letter Rejecting Case
• Appendix 4 - Sample Survey Cover Letter
• Appendix 5 - Sample Letter Regarding Confidentiality
• Appendix 6 - Attorney Fee Article
• Appendix 7 - Homeowners’ Association Contingency Fee Agreement
• Appendix 8 - Expert File Index
• Appendix 9 - Typical Services Experts Perform
• Appendix 10 - Preliminary Estimated Expert Investigation
• Appendix 11 - Sample Consultant Retention Agreement
• Appendix 12 - Sample Board of Directors Resolution to Establish an Executive Committee
• Appendix 13 - Sample Letter of Agreement in Retention of a Joint Expert
• Appendix 14 - The Calderon Flow Chart
• Appendix 15 - Sample Case Management Statement
• Appendix 16 - SB 800 Building Standards: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 896 and 897
• Appendix 17 - Sample SB 800 Flow Charts and Timeline for Prelitigation Procedures
• Appendix 18 - Sample SB 800 Notice to Builder
• Appendix 19 - Summary of SB 800 Limitations Periods
• Appendix 20 - Sample Certificates of Merit
• Appendix 21 - Sample Reserve Study Postponement Letter
• Appendix 22 - Sample SB 800 Complaint
• Appendix 23 - Sample Complaint: Individual Homeowners v. Developer
• Appendix 24 - Sample Complaint: Homeowners’ Association v. Developer
• Appendix 25 - Insurer’s Declaratory Relief Action Form
• Appendix 26 - Sample Direct Tender Letter
• Appendix 27 - Sample Additional Insured Tender Letter
• Appendix 28 - Answer to Complaint
• Appendix 29 - Sample Cross-Complaint
• Appendix 30 - Sample Answer to Cross-Complaint
• Appendix 31 - Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion to Sever
• Appendix 32 - Sample Motion and Memorandum for Determination of Good Faith Settlement
• Appendix 33 - Sample Case Management Order
• Appendix 34 - Sample Pretrial Orders
• Appendix 35 - Sample Complex Civil Case Flow Chart
• Appendix 36 - Complex Litigation Standards
• Appendix 37 - Sample Motion and Application to Deem Matter Complex
• Appendix 38 - Sample Request for Admissions
• Appendix 39 - Interrogatories Propounded to Plaintiff Homeowners’ Association from Builder
• Appendix 40 - Interrogatories Propounded to Defendant and Cross-Defendant Re: Insurance Coverage
• Appendix 41 - Interrogatories Propounded to Cross-Defendants (Design Professional, Contractor, Subcontractor) by Defendant Builder
• Appendix 42 - Interrogatories Propounded to Builder by Plaintiff Homeowners
• Appendix 43 - Sample Form Interrogatories
• Appendix 44 - Demand for Production of Documents Propounded by Plaintiff Homeowners’ Association on Defendant Developer
• Appendix 45 - Demand for Production of Documents (from Plaintiff Homeowners' Association) to Defendant Original Builders of Condominiums
• Appendix 46 - Demand for Exchange of Documents from Cross-Defendant (Design Professional, General Contractor, Subcontractor, Material Supplier) to Original Builders of Condominiums
• Appendix 47 - Demand from Cross-Defendant (Relating to Allegations of Cross-Complaint) to Original Builders of Condominiums
• Appendix 48 - Demand from Developer-Builder to Subcontractor
• Appendix 49 - Demand from Builder to Plaintiff Homeowners’ Association
• Appendix 50 - Standard Request for Entry on Land
• Appendix 51 - Stipulation and Order Re: Site Inspection and Testing (Complex–Condominium Project)
• Appendix 52 - Stipulation Re: Site Inspection and Testing (Simple— Single-Family Residence)
• Appendix 53 - Exchange of Expert Witness Information
• Appendix 54 - Expert Witness Declaration
• Appendix 55 - Sample Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement
• Appendix 56 - Sample Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement—Developer in Bankruptcy
• Appendix 57 - Sample Board Resolution Re: Settlement
• Appendix 58 - Sample Policy Limits Demand Letter to Defendant Insured
• Appendix 59 - Sample Policy Limits Demand Letter to Insurer
• Appendix 60 - List of Construction Defect Mediators
• Appendix 61 - Sample Mediation Timeline
• Appendix 62 - Destructive Testing Agreement

Table of Cases

Index