Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from John Hickey
Oregon must fund road and bridge projects immediately | Opinion
Engineers have warned that insufficient funding increases the cost in the future because the projects get bigger as conditions worsen. They were ignored and now the future is here.
Managing risk through retainage
Competing interests and the recent economic downturn have led to changes in the retainage rules in every West Coast state (legislatures found that many subcontractors could not survive if traditional retainage percentages were allowed), which has led to confusion among contractors and subcontractors. 91视频 columnist John Hickey outlines the percentages that may be withheld from subcontractors by con[...]
Risks and rewards of joint checks
Joint checks are common in construction. They are checks made out to two payees 鈥� most often a subcontractor and the subcontractor’s supplier. An agreement to issue joint checks […]
Lien lessons:Take the right steps now to avoid costly mistakes later
"In creating Oregon鈥檚 lien law, the Legislature balanced the interests of contractors, design professionals, residential and commercial owners, developers, lenders and others. The diverse and often competing interests led to a hodgepodge of logical and illogical requirements. The consequences of missing a requirement vary from invalidating the lien to losing the right to recover attorney fees."
Looming risks for LLC owners
People form corporations and limited liability companies for personal liability protection. Where partners in a partnership are personally liable for the partnership鈥檚 obligations and liabilities, shareholders of corporations and members […]
New state laws expected to impact Oregon鈥檚 construction industry
The past few session of the Oregon Legislature have drastically changed the laws affecting construction contractors.聽 The 2007 session produced wholesale changes to construction contractor licensing, and the 2009 session […]
Bid protests in Oregon and Washington
As the increase in public construction wanes, many contractors have expanded their territory across state lines. The resulting increase in competition for public projects in Oregon and Washington has made […]
Navigating contractor prequalification in Oregon
Although competitive low bidding is the most common method for public contracting authorities to procure construction services, many contracting authorities rightly believe that selecting the lowest bid for a project […]
Competitive bidding: tips and traps
Mistakes happen in competitive construction bidding. Instructions often are confusing, and bids are evaluated by contracting authorities whose expertise varies greatly. Contractors also frequently receive pricing from subcontractors and suppliers […]
3 construction labor policy changes you should know about
Recent developments in construction labor policy will change the labor practices of construction contractors who work on federal projects. Although Congress is unlikely to enact new labor legislation anytime soon, […]
Legislators take bite out of labor legislation
A group of senators reportedly has agreed to eliminate the card-check provision of the Employee Free Choice Act. The compromise is a result of Arlen Specter, D-Pa., a former cosponsor, […]
News
- $960,000 office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 10, 2026
- Two projects in historic districts in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 10, 2026
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
