Contract Terms

UPDATE: Michigan Marketable Record Title Act Amendment Deadline to Preserve Interest and Restrictions Looms as Unanswered Questions Remain

On December 28, 2018, the Michigan legislature passed Senate Bill 671 (“Bill”) which amends the Marketable Record Title Act (“MRTA”). The Bill took effect on March 29, 2019. The “Amendment” to the MRTA provides for a 2-year grace period (until March 29, 2021) for...

Reading Between the Lines: An Avoidable Insurance Coverage Issue Revealed in Skanska USA Building v. M.A.P. Mechanical

Insurance coverage is an integral part of the construction process. The contract documents rely on insurance to facilitate the risk allocation and risk transfer needs of the project. These contractual specifications lay out the types of coverage, policy limits, and...

Even Billy Joel Didn’t Own the Copyright to His Architectural Plans – Don’t Make This Mistake When Building Your Dream Home

Billy Joel was recently sued for copyright infringement when he terminated the contractor he hired to perform renovations to his Oyster Bay mansion and hired a new one to carry out the job instead. Although what typically comes to mind when one thinks of copyright...

Solutions to Nonpayment Defaults for Commercial Landlords and Tenants in the Wake of COVID-19

Whether you are a commercial landlord or tenant, COVID-19 has likely impacted your business. And in many cases here in Michigan it has specifically impacted the ability of tenants to pay rent while unable to operate their businesses. As such, many commercial landlords...