Building Contract Claims

Chapter 1: Introduction

• • 1.1 General Introduction to ‘Claims’
• • 1.2 Standard Forms of Contract Considered in This Book
• • 1.3 Types of Claims by the Contractor
• • 1.4 Types of Claims by the Employer
• • 1.5 Structure of This Book

Chapter 2: General Principles

• • 2.1 Entitlement
• • 2.2 The Burden of Proof
• • 2.3 Causation
• • 2.4 Categories of Claim
• • 2.5 The ‘Knock-on’ Effect
• • 2.6 Damages
• • 2.7 Mitigation
• • 2.8 Betterment
• • 2.9 Notices

Chapter 3: Time

• • 3.1 General Points
• • 3.2 Extension of Time Clauses in Building Contracts
• • 3.3 Critical Path Analysis and Planning Software
• • 3.4 The Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol
• • 3.5 Methods of Delay Analysis
• • 3.6 Float
• • 3.7 Concurrency
• • 3.8 Acceleration
• • 3.9 Sectional Completion
• • 3.10 ‘Milestone’ or Key Dates
• • 3.11 Foreshortened Programme

Chapter 4: Financial Compensation: Recovery of Direct Loss and/or Expense or Additional Costs

• • 4.1 Definition
• • 4.2 Direct V Indirect
• • 4.3 Exclusion of Indirect or Consequential Loss
• • 4.4 The More Common Heads of Loss
• • 4.5 Quantum Meruit Claims
• • 4.6 Exclusive Remedy Clauses
• • 4.7 Claims at Termination of Contractor’s Employment

Chapter 5: Claims for Variations Under the Contract, Acceleration, Bonus Clauses and Contractor’s Share

• • 5.1 Definitions and Scope
• • 5.2 JCT 2016 Contracts – Definitions of Variations
• • 5.3 NEC4 Contracts – Definition of ‘Compensation events’ (Including Variations)
• • 5.4 Valuation Under JCT 2016 Contracts
• • 5.5 Valuation Under NEC4 Contracts (Including ‘Contractor’s Share’)
• • 5.6 Acceleration Provisions
• • 5.7 Bonus Clauses

Chapter 6: Basis for Common Law Claims

• • 6.1 General
• • 6.2 Implied Terms
• • 6.3 Variation of the Contract Itself (Not a Variation Under the Terms of the Contract)
• • 6.4 Omission of Work to Give it to Others
• • 6.5 Extra Work
• • 6.6 Possession of the Site
• • 6.7 Incorrect Information

Chapter 7: Global Claims

• • 7.1 General Points
• • 7.2 Basic Principles of Global Claims
• • 7.3 The Current Position
• • 7.4 Summary

Chapter 8: Employer Claims Against the Contractor

• • 8.1 General
• • 8.2 Delay Damages (Liquidated Damages) for Late Completion
• • 8.3 Procedures for Deducting Liquidated Damages for Late Completion
• • 8.4 Defences to Liquidated Damages for Late Completion
• • 8.5 Defects: Reduction/Abatement of the Contract Price
• • 8.6 Employer Claims for Other Breaches of Contract

Chapter 9: Duties of the Employer’s Representative

• • 9.1 Employer’s Representatives (Architects’, Contract Administrator’s and Project Manager’s) Powers and Liability to the Contractor
• • 9.2 Quantity Surveyor’s Role

Chapter 10: Preparation and Substantiation of Claims

• • 10.1 Preparing a Claim
• • 10.2 Types of Evidence Required to Support a Claim

Chapter 11: Extensions of Time Under JCT 2016 Contracts

• • 11.1 Introduction
• • 11.2 The Contractor’s Notifications
• • 11.3 Fixing a New Completion Date
• • 11.4 Relevant Events – Grounds for Extensions of Time

Chapter 12: Loss and/or Expense under JCT 2016 Contracts

• • 12.1 Introduction
• • 12.2 The Contractor’s Application and Assessment
• • 12.3 Ascertainment by the Employer or His Representative
• • 12.4 The ‘Relevant Matters’

Chapter 13: Claims Under NEC 4

• • 13.1 Introduction
• • 13.2 Assessing Changes to the Prices
• • 13.3 Assessing a Delay to the Completion Date and/or a Key Date
• • 13.4 The Project Manager’s Assessments
• • 13.5 The Compensation Events

Chapter 14: Sub-Contract Claims

• • 14.1 Introduction
• • 14.2 Variations Under the Sub-Contracts
• • 14.3 Extensions of Time Under Sub-Contracts
• • 14.4 Loss and Expense Under the Sub-Contracts
• • 14.5 Main Contractor Claims Against Sub-Contractors

Chapter 15: Professional Fee Claims

• • 15.1 Introduction
• • 15.2 Claims Made by Consultants
• • 15.3 Client Claims Against Consultants

Chapter Appendix A: Example of Contractor’s Claim for Reimbursement of Direct Loss and/or Expense Under the JCT 2016 Contracts

• • A.1 Introduction
• • A.2 Example Particulars
• • A.3 Explanation of Costs or Expenditure
• • A.4 Loss and Expense for Employer Delay 1 – Details
• • A.5 Loss and Expense for Employer Delay 1 – Entitlement and Quantum
• • A.6 Loss and Expense for Employer Delay 2 – Details
• • A.7 Loss and Expense for Employer Delay 2 – Entitlement and Quantum
• • A.8 Observations for Loss and Expense for Employer Delay Claims 1 and 2

Chapter Appendix B: Example of Compensation Event Claim Under NEC4

• • B.1 Introduction
• • B.1.1 Details of the Compensation Event
• • B.1.2 Observations on the Compensation Event Assessment