Domain 5: Claims And Disputes Flashcards
A. Identify construction issues and procedures for resolving them.
B. Interpret contract documents for compliance.
C. Notify parties of non-conforming work.
D. Review and determine legitimacy of a claim.
E. Review and process proposed changes for effect on cost, time, and quality.
F. Participate in the development of revisions, changes, additions, and deletions, related to the
enforcement of the construction contract.
G. Follow procedures for change order requests.
H. Evaluate change order requests.
I. Evaluate the effect of non-conforming work.
J. Participate in dispute resolution measures.
Claim
A demand or assertion by one of the parties seeking, as a matter of right, payment of money or other relief with respect to the terms of the contract.
Claims are initial requests for adjustment in: ____ or ____
contract sum or time
What are the 3 sources of claims that may occur on a project?
- claims by the contractor (often on behalf of the subcontractors/ suppliers) against the owner
- claims by the owner against the contractor or A/E
- claims initiated by someone other than a party to the construction contract
During the course of the project, what changed or conditions contrary to those stipulated in the contract documents, may initiate a claim?
* interference by owner or A/E
* conditions beyond control of contractor or owner
* unknown or concealed conditions that affect extent of work
* modifications made to the contract documents
* errors and omissions in the contract documents
What conditions may cause an owner to initiate a claim?
* correction of non–conforming/defective work
* repair of damages to existing property
* liquidated or compensatory damages for late performance
* ineffective management or control of the work by the contractor resulting in added costs.
Under AIA Document A201, and EJCDC C–700, the contractor agrees to indemnify the owner and A/E against what?
all third–party claims resulting from the contractor’s performance of work on the project
Generally, third–party claims arise from construction activities that ____
affect the interests of others in areas adjacent to or in the vicinity of the project
What is the legal concept of privity?
Under the legal concept of privity of contract, only the contractor and owner may make a claim against the other. Subcontractors, suppliers, and other participants rely on the contractor to pursue claims on their behalf.
All claims are initially decided by the ____ or ___.
Initial Decision Maker or Architect
If either party takes exception to the decision of the decision maker regarding, a claim may be: _________, _________, _________, or _________ between the parties as provided for in the contract documents.
* Negotiated
* Mediated
* Arbitrated
* Litigated
Time limits for initiating claims are established in ____.
General Conditions
Timely notification is a right reserved for the party to whom a claim is directed. Why?
So that the party has an opportunity to mitigate the consequences of the claim situation.
The procedures for processing and settling claims are contractually based and focused on ____.
Timely and Equitable Resolution
A claim should be initially addressed by ________________________________.
reviewing the contract documents to determine entitlement
Once entitlement is established, what should happen next?
Cost or Time Adjustments should be determined and documented as required by the contract documents.
What are the two separate determinations involved in the contractor’s entitlement to a claim?
- claim is evaluated to determine whether the contract documents adequately identify the claim as being within the contractor’s contractual obligation.
- the timing of the claim (notification to owner or A/E before performing extra work)
Receipt of proper notification by the contractor is a right reserved by who?
the owner
Failure to properly notify the A/E and the owner can result in ___.
a forfeiture of entitlement to the claim
Determination of owner entitlement involves determining whether the work in question required of the contractor by the owner _____.
may be reasonably inferred from the contract documents
A successful project is?
A project completed on time, within budget, and with all claims resolved
An unresolved claim may lead to a ____.
dispute
Generally speaking, what is a claim?
A request for compensation for dealing with a situation that differs materially from what was anticipated by the parties at the time of entering into the contract
According to the EJCDC C–700 Standard General Conditions, what is “a demand or assertion by owner or contractor seeking an adjustment of contract price or contract times, or both”?
a claim
Define “claim”
initial request for adjustment in contract sum or time
True or False
A change order request is a claim.
True
True or False
A proposal request is a claim.
True
What is a dispute?
A claim that cannot be resolved by the parties to the construction contract without the intervention of an independent third party.
True or False
During construction, participants relate to the contract documents as ___.
they are (not as they would like them to be)
True or False
Deciding claims will and should take a substantial amount of time.
False
* deciding claims quickly aids the progress of the work by providing the contractor with certain and specific direction.
What document establishes procedures and requirements for filing, settling, and disputing claims?
AIA Doc 201 (and EJCDC C–700)
Give six methods that promote dispute resolution.
- documenting interpretations, conversations, and decisions
- understanding the rights and obligations of each party to the construction contract
- acknowledging and dealing with dispute promptly and fairly
- listening carefully and communicating
- finding mutually beneficial solutions
- considering outside or expert help
State the steps the initial decision maker must follow for review of a claim. State them in the correct sequential order.
- event occurs
- written notice of claim
- A/E receives claim
- A/E requests additional information
- A/E proposes schedule to take action
- A/E rejects claims or recommends approval
- claimant appeals or A/E recommends compromise and parties negotiate
- dispute resolution or parties reach a compromise
- claim settled
Whose responsibility is it to prove a claim?
the party making the claim
Whose responsibility is it to evaluate the supporting documentation?
A/E or Initial Decision Maker
Claims involving adjustments in contract sum or time require what?
supporting documentation
On stipulated sum contracts, claims for additional cost are reviewed against what?
the A/E’s independent estimate of cost, based on contractor’s schedule of values and published estimating guides
What must be established if additional time is requested by the contractor in a dispute?
detrimental impact to the original project “critical path”
What documentation should the contractor provide for a claim of extra time?
* planned schedules,
* historical or baseline schedules,
* contemporaneous project site records of events that support the extent and duration of activities on the planned schedule
What may the A/E require in the case of a claim arising from defective or nonconforming work?
testing and sampling of the work (by independent testing lab); contractor should have the right to observe the testing
Whose responsibility is special testing to determine a claim arising from defective or nonconforming work?
the party against whom the claim is decided
Coordinating observations and inspections so that interested parties have the opportunity to participate often leads to _____?
discovery of mutually acceptable solutions that are not initially apparent at the negotiation table.
When resolution of a claim is reached, a ____________ may be issued to reflect the terms of the settlement.
change order
Because unresolved claims, or disputes, have become so commonplace in the construction industry, _________ ____________ has become a common term applied to the management of claims and disputes.
claims avoidance
Because a claim is defined as a request for adjustment to the contract, it is more appropriate to think in terms of ________ avoidance.
dispute
Claim resolution action plans establish a system for:
* prioritizing claims and quickly submitting documentation for evaluation
* identifying parties with responsibility and authority
* advancing claim to a higher authority when parties are in dispute
What are the advantages of action plans during claim resolution?
* encourage claim resolution at lowest possible and appropriate level
* help to reduce the time needed to reach resolution
* lower tensions that can lead to unresolved claims that become disputes
What is the FIRST step to avoiding disputes?
each party understanding the interests and limitations of the other
The owner may hold the contractor responsible for costs which are ___.
reasonably documented or foreseeable at the time of pricing
True or False
The owner should understand the contractor’s need for thorough documentation justifying a claim.
False
* The CONTRACTOR should understand the OWNER’S need for thorough documentation justifying a claim
The contractor must accept that the owner has the right to claim compensation for ______.
nonperformance, poor performance, or negligence resulting in damages to the owner
What is the A/E’s role during resolving claims or disputes?
interpret the contract documents impartially and recommend a settlement to the parties
What can make the difference between a claim being settled or becoming a dispute?
the A/E’s integrity and sense of accountability to both parties of the contract (owner and contractor)
What are three keys to dispute avoidance?
* communication
* documentation
* claim resolution action plans
Initial notification of a claim event should be oral and followed by a written notice, as specified in ____.
the general conditions
What is the ideal forum for establishing communication methods and protocols in an effort to avoid a dispute?
the pre–construction conference
True or False
In an effort to keep lines of communication ever open, direct communication between subcontractor and supplier with A/E is encouraged.
False
* Direct communication between subcontractor and supplier with A/E should NOT occur without the participation of the contractor, unless the contractor has suggested or approved it.
In most cases, the failure to negotiate effectively is due to one or more of the participants failing to ________.
understand and accept the rights, responsibilities and requirements established by the contract documents
AIA Document 201 states that if no resolution is reached after the initial decision maker’s decision, then either party can _____.
demand the other party file for mediation
If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties may choose to do what?
* invoke any dispute resolution process provided for in the supplementary conditions
* submit the claim to another dispute resolution process acceptable to both parties
* submit the claim to a court of competent jursidiction
What two alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods may be used to avoid litigation?
arbitration and mediation
In most states, binding arbitration means what?
binding arbitration will be exercised to the exclusion of litigation; neither party will be allowed to litigate the dispute.
What document requires that the A/E make a final determination on a claim and then notify the owner and contractor?
Standard General Conditions (AIA/EJCDC)
If the A/E has failed to render a decision in the required time period, a demand for dispute resolution may be made by whom?
either party (owner or contractor)
If, after receiving a final determination on a claim, there is disagreement with the determination, the appealing party may within a stipulated time period ________.
provide the other party with written notification of its demand for dispute resolution