Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Basement Waterproofing Company Ripping Off The Elderly?

From the Star-Ledger, read and learn...

Arlene and John Dolce wanted to get rid of the damp smell in the basement of their Roseland home.
After seeing an ad, they called Aqua-Dri Waterproofing.
``We thought they'd be reputable,'' said Arlene Dolce, 65. ``We were lied to."
The senior citizens said the company was dishonest about contract provisions and refused to refund a $3,000 deposit. Here's how it happened.

During the initial inspection on Oct. 5, Arlene Dolce said the salesman declared there was black mold -- the dreaded stachybotrys chartarum -- which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can lead to fungal infections in those with compromised immune systems.
Given that they'd both had health issues in the past, the Dolces wanted it gone.
The cost? $20,000.
They were shocked at the quote to treat the 878 sq. ft. space, so the salesman quickly started to drop the price, they said. $12,000. Finally, $10,000, but only if the couple would sign the contract that day. They'd have three days in which they could cancel the contract if they changed their minds, Arlene Dolce said the salesman explained.  READ THE REST BY CLICKING HERE

Warning, when a salesman starts dropping his price, they are probably trying to rip you off!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

National Business Institute Presents Construction Defect Seminar

Saw this seminar on my Google alerts...legal professionals in the Mid-West may want to consider attending...

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE
Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z $329.00


$319 Each Additional

Date: Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Time: 9:00 am-4:30 pm
Location: Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel
1800 50th Street
West Des Moines, IA
Facility Phone: 515-223-1800
Product ID#: 55048ER


Program Description



Discover the Key Elements That Can Make or Break a Construction Defect Case

The field of construction defect litigation is growing and changing at a rapid pace. Get updates on new rulings and laws from experienced professionals in the field, and walk through the profoundly complex and often emotionally-charged construction defect dispute – from defining a defect, determining liability, uncovering insurance nuances and taking your case to trial. Register today!

•Stay in-the-know on the quickly changing legislation, new rulings and reinterpretations of construction defect laws.
•Argue your case with confidence: Know the nuances of the regulations that define and govern construction defects.
•Combine your intimate understanding of defect regulations with building code and construction plan analysis to determine standards of care, one of the keys to winning your case.
•Protect your client's legal and financial interests by understanding the obligations behind equitable and contractual indemnification.
•Become familiar with plaintiff and defense perspectives on the legal responsibilities of all parties involved in construction.
•Learn how to effectively manage liability risk by knowing insurance coverage variations and limitations.
•Discover how to lower liability risks with easy-to-administer tips from a professional in the field.
•Examine how OCIP and CCIP can be valuable insurance options in today's construction lawsuit environment.
•Grab the competitive advantage during defect disputes by knowing what the opposing side typically argues.
•Discover what pretrial preparation will pave the way for a successful verdict.

Who Should Attend

This intermediate level program will provide a comprehensive overview of construction defects, regulations, liability and litigation for:
•Attorneys
•Contractors
•Subcontractors
•Developers
•Engineers
•Architects
•Insurance Claims Managers

Course Content

I.Anatomy of a Defect: What it is and the Rules That Apply
II.Indemnity Provisions: Is the Subcontractor Responsible? What About the Design Professional?
III.Case Law Updates: Rulings That Affect Your World
IV.Insurance: Covered vs. Uncovered?
V.Litigation: Allegations, Defenses and Proving Your Case
VI.Ethical Considerations

Continuing Education Credits:
Continuing Legal Education – CLE: 6.00
International Association for Continuing Education Training – IACET: 0.60

* denotes specialty credits
Learn More – View Credit Detail

Agenda / Content Covered:

ANATOMY OF A DEFECT: WHAT IT IS AND THE RULES THAT APPLY
9:00 - 10:00, Stephen R. Eckley
•What Constitutes a “Defect?”
(Includes: Construction Defect vs. Nuisance Claim, Defect Categories, Common Types of Patent and Latent Defects) •Federal, State, and Local Regulations Regarding Construction Defects

(Includes: Building Codes and Standards, Warranties and Magnuson-Moss, Miller Act, “Right to Repair/Right to Cure” Law, Statute of Limitations and Repose, Assignment of Claims, State and Local Regulations) •Determining Standards of Care INDEMNITY PROVISIONS: IS THE SUBCONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE? WHAT ABOUT THE DESIGN PROFESSIONAL?

10:15 - 11:15, Robert L. Johnson

•Key Contract and Subcontract Provisions, Including AIA and Consensus DOCS •The Difference Between "Defend," "Hold Harmless" and "Indemnity" •The Role of "Additional Insured" •Common Law Indemnity •Economic Loss Rule •Waiver, Variation and Estoppel •Standards of Care for Design Professionals •Joint and Several Liability CASE LAW UPDATES: RULINGS THAT AFFECT YOUR WORLD

11:15 - 12:00, Stephen R. Eckley

INSURANCE: COVERED VS. UNCOVERED?

1:00 - 2:15, Thomas P. Murphy

•Commercial General Liability Insurance – Coverage Issues •Duties of Defense •Indemnity •Insurance Debates

(Includes: Fortuity Principles, Known Loss, Occurrence Definitions, Four Corners Rule, Contra Proferentem Rule, Rule of Reasonable Expectations, Illusory Coverage Doctrine) •Surety Bonds •Wrap Insurance Options: OCIP or CCIP •Case Law: Class Action Suits LITIGATION: ALLEGATIONS, DEFENSES, AND PROVING YOUR CASE

2:30 - 3:30, Robert L. Johnson

•Common Allegations and Defenses •Notice of Claim •Discovery •Jury Instructions •Essential Evidence: Preservation and Extrapolation •Expert Depositions •Procedural Issues •Damages: What can be Recovered? •Alternative Dispute Resolution ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

3:30 - 4:30, Thomas P. Murphy

•Joint Defenses •Conflict of Interest •Representing Multiple Parties •How Lawyers can Avoid Being Witnesses



STEPHEN R. ECKLEY is an attorney with Belin McCormick, P.C. Mr. Eckley has more than 25 years’ experience as a litigator. His specialty is civil trial practice. Mr. Eckley has first-chaired dozens of civil jury trials and has won favorable verdicts for plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of cases involving business torts, breach of contract, personal injury, general negligence, professional negligence, property damage, construction defects, products liability, insurance coverage, indemnity, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and fraud. In addition to trying cases, he has a strong background in mediation, arbitration, complex civil litigation, and appellate work. Mr. Eckley has served as national litigation counsel for a manufacturer of cleaning products. He enjoys advising clients with respect to the avoidance of litigation as much as helping clients who find themselves in litigation. Mr. Eckley is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He currently serves as vice president of the 1200-member Polk County Bar Association and has previously served as president of numerous civic organizations. Mr. Eckley earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Drake University and his J.D. degree from Harvard University.

ROBERT L. JOHNSON is an attorney with Finley, Alt, Smith Scharnberg, Craig, Hilmes & Gaffney, P.C., where his main areas of practice are civil trial, legal malpractice, and construction and design law. Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Mr. Johnson was with the firm Wingert, Grebing, Brubaker & Goodwin, LLP in Las Vegas, Nevada and San Diego, California. He was a member of the University of San Diego Law Review. Mr. Johnson's primary practice area is professional negligence, including the defense of attorneys, architects and engineers. He is a member of the Iowa State and Polk County bar associations. Mr. Johnson earned his B.A. degree from the University of Iowa and his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego.

THOMAS P. MURPHY is an attorney with Hopkins & Huebner, P.C., where his main areas of practice are insurance and litigation. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Polk County, Iowa State and American bar associations. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Iowa. Mr. Murphy earned his B.A. degree from Marquette University and his J.D. degree, with honors, from Drake University.


Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am – 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com

ACCREDITATION DETAILS:
Continuing Legal Education
IA CLE: 6.00

"Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z" is an accredited program under the regulations of the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education. It is planned that this program will provide a maximum of 6.0 hours of regular credit toward the mandatory continuing legal education requirements under the Iowa rule, including 1.0 hour of ethics credit.

International Association for Continuing Education Training
 IACET: 0.60

NBI, Inc. has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102. NBI, Inc. DBA National Business Institute has awarded 0.6 CEUs to participants who successfully complete this program. (Provider #4558)







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Deck Expert Not Welcome at John Bridge Forums-Tile Setters Take Offense That I Said Most Can't Waterproof Decks For Tile, Then One Proves It With Pics

I like to roam the websites of other companies; searching for and gathering relevant information to point you to. Articles, How To, forums, etc., I find what I think will interest my readers and post it here and at our DeckExpert.com website.

One forum I thought was interesting is http://www.johnbridge.com/ a website/forum on tiling. I signed up, made a few posts and had some lively discussions with some of the members, and then wham, without any notice, I got banned...

seems that JB can't take criticism or have a discussion on waterproofing without their feelings getting hurt. On one series of discussions on waterproofing decks, several tile setters took issue with my statement that waterproofers should waterproof a deck, then tile setters should set tile on the deck.

Here's a post of mine at their site
Judging From the Numerous Artilces From Dave Gobis and Michael Byrne, I'd Beg To Diff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceramictec says any good tile setter know how to waterproof...I beg to differ.
Dave Gobis in a recent article (Sept/Oct 2009 issue of Tile Magazine, which I'm sure you all get...) predicted that "There's no end in sight to leaky decks."


he continues on saying further in the article..."Decks and patios are fraught with obstacles to a successful installation. ..I have yet to see a product failure, however it was alleged that there was a product failure on every job. So far all have been inappropriate product selection, and/or poor workmanship.


Manufacturer's have done an outstanding job of developing products to address waterproofing in particular. With the blurring of the traditional tile setter into the realm of floor cover-er, waterproofing has seen a disproportionate amount of failures. It is generally accepted and well known that a floor layer can get into big trouble in this specialized area without proper training..."


jeez, we better let Bart Bettigia, Dave Gobis and Michael Byrne know they are gonna be out of a job writing about tile failures and waterproofing issues soon then...


they must be writing articles on bad tile waterproofing and tile application jobs for the 3-4 guys who don't know how to waterproof and tile and if those 3 or 4 are reading this thread, well then they'll clue in too
or maybe it's just in California that the tile guys don't know how to waterproof???
 
Then I get a guy on the forum who says he as a tile setter can waterproof and posts pics to prove it...and so I studied his pictures. Here's one above-from his post I quote
" If I had to choose one specialty trade to install a waterproof tiled deck I would hire a 'good' tilesetter.
Like Brian said emphasis on good.
Can qualified tile setters waterproof a exterior deck properly? Flood test of deck over finished garage. The owners Mercedes stayed nice and dry. This was a repair of a an improperly installed deck that was leaking.
This is the secondary membrane on top of the mortar bed.
And I agree exterior decks are some of the most difficult and detailed jobs a tile setter will generally encounter. But shower pans typically get a lot more water on them than any exterior deck or roof. Unless you live out on the Hana side of Maui. (where it rains alot)
There are plenty of so called tile setters that don't know how to waterproof, they are called carpetlayers."

So lets go back and study his picture of the deck above...look closely and you'll notice a membrane run up the wall over the stucco. Notice the lack of a weep screed/materials break.
This tile setter may have "waterproofed" the deck, but he's screwed the owner over by not allowing the stucco to weep any water in the wall out...he's effectively trapped it. Not understanding the effect of wrapping a membrane up the wall is POOR WORKMANSHIP!
 
I say Tile setters set tile, waterproofers waterproof for tile...so keep that guy away from my house!
 
John Bridge invited me to send visitors to their site for free advice...the only advice I can give is be careful...most tile guys in my opinion don't know diddly about waterproofing. Click to Check out their website here... and tell them that The Deck Expert should be on their forum and not to be afraid!

From Porter Law Group-New Mechanic Lien Laws Take Effect Jan 1 In California

From Porter Law Group comes this infromation for property owners and contractors on the new lien laws effective Jan 1 2011 in California-New Rules-they are important to play by or as a contractor you can lose your rights to collect if you don't follow them carefully.

Mechanic’s Lien Laws, Forms and Procedures



to Change at the End of this Year







Under the new law, after December 31, 2010, California Civil Code sections 3084 and 3146 are amended to require service of a mechanic’s lien on the owner of the property at the time the mechanic’s lien is recorded. If for some reason the owner cannot be served with the mechanic’s lien then the original contractor or the lender can instead be served. This new process provides owners with notice that a mechanic’s lien has been recorded on their property and it gives them an opportunity to quickly address the situation.  The form of the mechanic’s lien document itself is also changed to include a “Notice of Mechanic’s Lien” which provides a brief explanation of the nature of a mechanic’s lien and options the property owner might pursue to address the situation.

READ ALL OF THIS BULLETIN AT PORTER LAW'S WEBSITE BY CLICKING HERE

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Press Release From Associa-Associa Promotes Education Via Facebook, Community Management Leader to Give FREE Copies of The Best of Association Times, Volume 2

Associa Promotes Education Via Facebook, Community Management Leader to Give FREE Copies of The Best of Association Times, Volume 2

Book Provides Education and Encourages Dialogue About Community Association Management
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Associa, the leader in community association management, announced today a new promotion designed to spread community association management education and information to its friends and homeowners. As a reward for signing up to “Like” Associa on Facebook, the company is giving away FREE copies of The Best of Association Times, Volume 2 to all of its new “Likes” and to individuals who already follow Associa and submit their contact information.
“We believe that educating not only our employees, but also our homeowners, fosters better communications, community culture, and ultimately, efficiently run associations”
“We believe that educating not only our employees, but also our homeowners, fosters better communications, community culture, and ultimately, efficiently run associations,” said Associa CEO John Carona. “Through this Facebook promotion, Associa opens the door for learning and dialogue about the community association industry.”
The Best of Association Times, Volume 2 is a 200 page book full of information for community associations, providing readers with articles and answers to common questions about association management. Written by industry experts from Associa, the book offers information on the latest trends, laws and other topics affecting the community association industry. The book can be used as a handy resource on how to maximize the community association management experience.
To “Like” Associa’s Facebook page and receive a FREE copy of The Best of Association Times, Volume 2 please visit www.Facebook.com/Associa and follow the instructions on the “Welcome” page. Individuals who already “Like” Associa’s page can send their information (name, mailing address, phone number) to pr@associaonline.com to receive their copy.
Building successful communities for more than 30 years, Associa is the leader in community association management and serves its clients with local knowledge, national resources and comprehensive expertise. Associa® and its 8,000 employees operate more than 100 branch offices in the United States and Mexico. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com and www.associacares.com. Find us on Facebook or follow us on twitter.

Contacts

Associa
Carol Piering, 214-953-3009 x5680
cpiering@associaonline.com
Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101220006327/en/Associa-Promotes-Education-Facebook-Community-Management-Leader

Pomona Based SPECTRA Is Searching For Waterproofing Estimator/Project Manager

Saw this on a Google alert for waterproofing-passing it on from Monster.com

Full Time Waterproofing Estimator/Project Manager

About the Job

JOB TITLE:            senior estimator /​ project manager
                             (waterproofing)
LOCATION:         Southern California



Spectra Company, http://www.​SpectraCompany.​com , is seeking Full Time Waterproofing Estimator/​Project Manager.​  Individuals must have at least 7 years experience in Estimating and Project Management.​  Must have excellent customer relation skills and solid experience in WATERPROOFING and RESTORATION.​  Management skills required.​

 

Candidate must possess the following qualities: 

  • Strong inter-personal skills
  • Ability to manage staff, other estimators, and crews
  • Commitment to professionalism exhibited through previous job successes
  • Efficient
  • Strong computer skills include Outlook, Word and Excel.​  Master Builder a plus.​
  • Ability to read blueprints required
  • Extensive knowledge of industry products
  • Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously
  • Experience in managing and coordinating multiple subcontractors
  • Good oral and written communications skills


Required - Estimating /​ Project Management Experience

·        New Construction /​ Restoration

·        Blueprint Plan Reading

·        Leak Investigation

·        Roof Systems /​ Coatings

·        Elastomeric Coatings

·        Below Grade

·        Urethane /​ Epoxy Coatings

·        Epoxy /​ Grout Injections

·        Caulking /​ Sealants

·        Concrete Spall /​ Crack Repair

·        Floors /​ Decks /​ Walkways

·        Painting (Helpful)

·        Historic Buildings (Helpful)

 

To apply, please E-mail your resume to info@​spectracompany.​com
or send via Fax with cover letter to 909-599-7762.​