Construction, Real Estate & Property Disputes

Eight people died on November 11 when a Brooklyn building collapsed into the excavation next door. If the same collapse happened in Chicago, the developer, contractor, and engineer would blame each other, and so would their insurers, over additional insured coverage, contractor exclusions, and refused settlements.

Construction next door may alter drainage and cause property damage. Determining responsibility requires evidence of what changed and why.

After an injury in a lobby, entryway, or parking lot, landlords often demand that the tenant defend and indemnify them under the lease. Illinois voids lease clauses that shift the landlord’s own negligence, but the lease’s insurance requirement can still put the tenant’s policy in play.

A custom home finishes a year late, only for the owners to discover cheaper, unauthorized materials. Illinois construction disputes can involve delay damages, substituted materials, breach of contract, and the difficult question of how much homeowners can actually recover.

When a renovation causes damage or the contractor bills for work nobody approved, the contract, the contractor’s liability policy, and the homeowner’s own insurance decide who pays.

A major retailer vacates a shopping center, triggering co-tenancy provisions in neighboring leases. A single closure can create overlapping rent reductions, termination rights, and disputes over whether replacement tenants satisfy the lease requirements.