Brian Rickert

Quick Ways to Help Protect Your Construction Project Against Delays and Damages due to the Coronavirus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is dominating the news right now. Its true impact is yet to be determined. In the construction industry, we know how things that are out of our control can impact a project’s cost or schedule. These include a government shutdown, reduction in supply of workers or available supplies, delayed delivery of supplies, or many... Read More

Recent Iowa Supreme Court Case Changes Rules Regarding Mechanic's Liens on Leased Properties

Article written by BrownWinick 2019 Summer Associate, Mackensie Graham, and BrownWinick attorney, Brian Rickert The Iowa Supreme Court recently issued an important ruling for the construction industry. In Winger Contracting Co. v. Cargill, Inc., the Iowa Supreme Court held that a contractor in Iowa cannot file a mechanic’s lien against an... Read More

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Releases New Contract Documents

If you were not aware, the American Institute of Architects ("AIA") updates its family of contract documents every ten years. This is why you may hear AIA’s documents referred to as the 1997 set or its 2007 set of documents. Consistent with its past practice, in April 2017, AIA released its new core contracts, which includes the following... Read More

Factors in Choosing Between Arbitration and Litigation

In drafting contracts, one provision that must be considered for inclusion is the way disputes are resolved. Some parties, especially those in the construction or financial industries, have a preference for using arbitration to resolve disputes, while others prefer the traditional route of resolving disputes in a courtroom. There are potential... Read More

Choosing Your Own Defense Counsel, And Why You Should Consider Adding A Choice Of Counsel Endorsement To Your CGL Policy

Litigation is costly and time consuming. Preparing for this risk, you purchase an insurance policy thinking that you can work together with your insurer to help protect your business from any claims. However, when insurance steps in to defend a claim filed against you, your insurer dictates many of the steps taken in that lawsuit and you may feel... Read More

New Construction Contract Rules Take Effect January 1, 2014

During the 2013 legislative session, Iowa House File 211 was passed and signed into law changing the way certain provisions in Iowa construction contracts will be governed. Starting on January 1, 2014, all provisions in an Iowa construction contract that require application of another state's laws (one other than Iowa) will be held void and... Read More