ALFA International Publications

Introduction – Risk Transfer Generally Construction is risky business. Owners’ risks include delays, contractor insolvency, financing issues, differing site conditions, and defective design and/or construction. Contractors risk jobsite injuries, disputes over alleged defects in the work, labor shortages, material cost escalation, project impacts outside their control, as well as lower-tier …

Indemnification Generally An indemnity agreement provides that one party to the agreement will reimburse the other for loss or injury that the party may suffer because of a specified event or that one party will protect the other from harm or loss.[1] Construction indemnity agreements are a promise by which one party (the indemnitor) agrees to defend, indemnify, or hold harmless another pa…

This article covers recent statutory, regulatory, and case law developments regarding pay equity and paid leave. The article begins by discussing state specific pay disclosure legislation, moving on to a discussion of pay transparency developments under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), then a discussion of state statutes and recent cases under the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and finishing with a …

Introduction 2022 was a great year for U.S. labor unions and employees, but not so much for U.S. employers.   The Biden National Labor Relations Board dug in and got to work, reversing precedent and charting a course to reinterpret the National Labor Relations Act in new and unimaginable ways. The Board’s General Counsel continued to issue Memoranda exposing her views on key issues, and the Board…

Introduction Labor and Employment law is an area of law which, in comparison to other areas of law, is particularly influenced by European Union law. The influence of Union law is based on primary European legal requirements, European directives that must be implemented by national legislators and the binding decisions of the ECJ. The most recent developments in European labor law relate to the do…

I.             Introduction In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, the importance of mental health in the workplace cannot be overstated. As employment attorneys, we have witnessed a significant shift in recent years, with employers recognizing the need to address mental health concerns and promote a supportive work environment. This evolving understanding stems from the realizatio…

The Rise of Nuclear Verdicts “Nuclear verdicts” in employment cases are growing in frequency and severity.  A couple of examples: a June 2022 verdict in California for $464 million in a case alleging sexual and racial harassment; an October 2022 Texas verdict for $366 million in a case alleging racial bias. While opinions about the causes of this “nuclear age” vary, employers must have a s…

It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest legal trends and developments in employment law. In this article, we discuss the top five hot topics in employment law that are currently impacting both employers and employees, but start with the bonus topic of AI in the workplace. I.             Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the work…

Microaggressions – What are they? The term “microaggression” originated in the late 1960s with Harvard University professor Chester Pierce who coined the term to describe the way in which he routinely saw non-black Americans insult, dismiss, and mistreat black Americans.[i] The meaning of the word has broadened over time, as noted in the definition for the term given by Dr. Derald W…

What is a Reservation of Rights Letter? A Reservation of Rights ("ROR") letter is a written communication to policyholders notifying them of the carrier's coverage position and setting forth a company's assumption of defense, subject to coverage reservations. The ROR letter mainly affords the insurer an opportunity to undertake a more thorough factual investigation into the claim without waiving i…