Prime contractors can be held liable for safety violations at a job site, even if they are never present to conduct the work. Trent Cotney, a partner at Adams and Reese, explains how contractors may be able to challenge certain aspects of this stance and how to mitigate liability as a prime contractor.
RC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement in unexpected places in Florida. From major busts in Tallahassee with more than 100 arrests, to smaller enforcement pushes on the highway, construction companies are at high risk for attention from federal and local authorities.
Roofing contractors should be aware of high-volume areas for ICE enforcement and know their rights, says Cotney, who said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement across Florida.
“The administration has made it very clear what its position on the border is,” he explained. “We’ve seen an uptick in ICE enforcement in construction and not just in “Blue” states, it’s been in “Red” states equally.”
Even companies that are fully compliant with I-9 documentation can still fall under scrutiny for having employees that face deportation, Cotney said. With the help of local authorities, ICE agents are targeting at the jobsite, at familiar intersections, and even where materials are being picked up. Listen to the full conversation here.
The OSHA Walkaround Rule enacted during the Biden Administration faced major objections from some in the construction trades because it allowed third-party representatives to visually inspect jobsites, regardless of their profession -- or who they are.
“It’s key for our listeners to understand that if OSHA asks for a third party that’s not the contractor to be involved in the walkaround inspection, that they should object,” explained RC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, of Adams & Reese, in this brief episode.
Concerns like liability coverage, proprietary rights and materials staging make legitimate arguments for exemptions, and should be utilized, he continued. Listen to the full conversation here.
Thousands of roofers and industry stakeholders will be back under one roof at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., for the 103rd annual Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Expo June 4-6.
In this brief episode, Lisa Pate, executive director of the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Association said more than 240 companies will exhibit the latest products, services and innovations in the trade. Dozens of high-quality educational courses will also be available to update contractors on the latest code changes and other critical topics. Listen to the full conversation now and register at floridaroof.com/convention
Websites are a staple for any business, including roofing contractors, but there’s more to maintaining them than uploading photos and updating sales offers. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, warns contractors that their sites may not be accessible and offers solutions on how to ensure they’re compliant.
Roofing contractors are often the subject of people’s poor perceptions of the trade and how they treat customers. And in a digital world, people with negative things to say about contractors don’t side idly by. RC Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, said it’s becoming more important for contractors to stand their ground and respond to negative emails and text messages about performance, because it’s that documentation that could be the difference between winning and losing in court. Listen to the full conversation now.
In recent weeks, RC has reported on roofing contractors having their websites cloned and hijacked, and how intellectual property is easily at risk in a rapidly-developing marketplace, largely with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this exclusive episode, RC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, of Adams & Reese breaks down why trademarks are becoming increasingly important in today’s digital landscape when it comes to business, and how to protect your brand’s identity. Listen to the full conversation now.
