DOT Working With Surety To Complete Delayed Bridge Project In Queens

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction

The oft-delayed bridge deck replacement project at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Fresh Pond Road isn’t going to be wrapping up anytime soon.  According to the Department of Transportation, its contract with New Jersey-based firm Mugrose Construction for the project at the Middle Village-Ridgewood border was defaulted, indefinitely delaying construction. “The DOT defaulted the contractor working on the Metropolitan Avenue bridge deck replacement,” an agency spokesperson told the Chronicle in a Wednesday email. “We are working closely with the bonding company to get this project completed as quickly as possible after it suffered delays beyond our control.” Read the article >>>

Winter Has Arrived

Amy MitchellInsurance, News, Risk Management

Winter tips from Paul Davis Restoration of Lancaster & Lebanon Counties …And it appears that the 2018 winter months are going to feature a nationwide split between colder and wetter-than-average conditions in many parts of the northern tier U.S., while the southern tier states will experience warmer and drier-than-average conditions overall, according to The Weather Company, an IBM Business. In addition, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) sees that weak La Niña conditions have already officially developed and forecast a 65 to 75 percent chance of persisting through the 2018 winter months. January through February temperature outlooks from both The Weather Company and NOAA feature some similarities to what is typically expected in a La Niña winter. They suggest the …

Michigan Appeals Court Rules For Contractor Over City, Surety Over Contractor

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

A claim against the city of Adrian in a 2009 downtown facade restoration project survived an appeal while a claim by a bonding company is to be granted following a state appellate court opinion. In an opinion published Dec. 5, a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed a decision by Lenawee County District Judge Anna Marie Anzalone to dismiss the city of Adrian’s motion for summary disposition in a lawsuit against it by the project’s general contractor, Campbell-Durocher Group Painting and General Contracting LLC, and its principals, Jack and Carrie Campbell. The Court of Appeals reversed Anzalone’s decision to not rule in favor of Auto-Owners Insurance Co. in its lawsuit against the Campbells over bond payments. Read …

South Carolina Contractor’s Success Story Began With His First Bid Bond

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

The C.F. Evans story begins in the years following World War II when Clarence Felder Evans, an Army veteran, joined his cousin, Fred Evans, to learn as much as he could about construction. Buoyed by the baby boom, their company, Evans Construction, fielded requests from families seeking to build homes of their own in Orangeburg, Holly Hill, Aiken and other South Carolina communities. The growing company at that time provided quality craftsmanship, hired and supervised talented employees, and encouraged a sense of pride in their work that is still present today. Read the full story >>>

Pennsylvania Lawsuit Alleges Subcontractor Is Owed $52,170 From Payment Bond

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

A recently-filed lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court sees a Glassport construction and paving group suing one of its subcontractors and a bond company, in connection with a project for construction work of municipal buildings in Penn Hills. Murin & Murn, Inc. of Glassport filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 6 versus The Ohio Casualty American Insurance Company of Seattle, Wash. and Wheels Mechanical Contracting & Supplier, Inc. of Elrama. Tell me more >>>

Reading Health System And UPMC Health Plan Announce Joint Venture

Matt PfeiffenbergerHealth Benefits, News

Reading Health System and UPMC Health Plan announced they have finalized an agreement to form a provider-payer joint venture. Beginning January 1, 2017, this Reading-UPMC Health Plan enterprise will combine access to Reading Health System’s high-quality clinical care, expert providers, and advanced healthcare facilities with UPMC Health Plan’s experience, expertise and advanced analytics to improve the health of the community. The new joint venture will offer a full line of health coverage and related services to individuals as well as employers and their employees in the Reading Health System service area. Read the Cision PR newswire >>> If you have questions, contact Matt Pfeiffenberger, VP, Health Benefits Solutions, at (717) 397-9600.

Penn State Health, Highmark Join Forces

Matt PfeiffenbergerHealth Benefits, Large Group Benefits (100+), News, Small Group Benefits (2-50)

As reported on ABC 27 News, Penn State Health and Highmark Health have announced a new partnership. The $1-billion deal allows Penn State Health to expand and improve its locations across central Pennsylvania with the support of Highmark. “We really hope that through this new product, we’re going to make it that people throughout central Pennsylvania are still able to access this medical center and receive that sort of care closer to home,” Penn State Health CEO Dr. Craig Hillemeier said. Highmark customers are guaranteed access to the Penn State Health Network. Both companies say the deal aims to lower the cost of care for patients. Read the ABC 27 News article >>> If you have any questions, contact Matt Pfeiffenberger, VP, …

Often, Opioid Abuse Becomes a Family Affair

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News, Risk Management

Opioid addiction often starts in the family medicine cabinet, a new study warns. If someone is taking prescription opioids for pain, such as OxyContin, it’s more likely that others living in the home will also get an opioid prescription, the researchers found. “Prescription opioid use may spread within households, and patients may need to consider the risks to other family members,” said lead researcher Marissa Seamans. She is a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health’s department of mental health in Baltimore. Read more here >>>

Did The FCC Just Kill The Internet?

Denise GillinNews

By Jeffrey A. Franklin, Esq., Price Law Offices Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen issued the following statement in response to today’s vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order regarding net neutrality: “The FCC’s action today (December 14, 2017) restored the FTC’s ability to protect consumers and competition throughout the Internet ecosystem. The FTC is ready to resume its role as the cop on the broadband beat, where it has vigorously protected the privacy and security of consumer data and challenged broadband providers who failed to live up to their promises to consumers. In addition, the FCC’s new transparency rules provide additional tools to help ensure that consumers get what they …

Improper Installation Of Stone Veneer Creates Risk Of Mold, Rot

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

We all remember the litigation nightmare surrounding synthetic stucco or EIFS (exterior insulation finish systems) in the recent past. Now, commentators worry that Adhered Concrete Masonry Veneer, also known as manufactured stone veneer, when installed improperly, poses the potential to cause widespread litigation similar to EIFS. In case you do not recall, EIFS became a popular exterior on residential structures in America during the 1980s. However, in the mid-1990s, home inspectors noticed some EIFS-clad homes experienced significant amounts of moisture damage, particularly those on the coast of North and South Carolina. News and media outlets began to widely publicize extensive litigation over EIFS-clad homes. Read the article >>>