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Learn About the Greater Cleveland Green Building Coalition here.

 

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Find valuable construction industry research from McGraw-Hill Construction here.
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Reasons to Read 

 

The year of the bid protest continued, with a protest of Cuyahoga County's procurement of first-responder radios garnering media attention.  Though not an issue in that protest, contractors can look for bid protest strategies to change for projects let under the new Construction Reform rules--a topic we will cover at our sold-out seminar on June 1.

 

May is Bike to Work month, and as someone who commutes by bike from Shaker to downtown, I was able to tell my story to Crain's and also appear in a story on Fox 8 news.  And, as soon as JStyle magazine posts its first 2012 edition on its web site, you'll be able to see an article they did on my winter bike commute.   

 

Within this edition you will find news of a brownfield turning into a greenhouse, of green residential construction becoming a more significant share of the market, several news briefs, and a list of recent and upcoming publications and events featuring my colleagues. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to review this newsletter. 

 

Jim Dixon

216-515-1642  

jdixon@frantzward.com

Project Focus: Cleveland's Urban Greenhouse 
One of the routes from my home to work takes me past the corner of Kinsman and Grand in Cleveland.  This is not a neighborhood known for generating good news, let alone three million heads of lettuce. Now, however, GreenCityGrowers Cooperative is turning a brownfield into a greenhouse, with help from our client Platform Cement. Seven hundred post foundations are already in place and the slab foundation at the 3.5 acre site will come next month. Check out Leon Bibb's story for more details.
Green Residential Construction to Achieve Significant Market Share by 2016
Due to perceived advantages in quality and operational cost-savings, industry experts anticipate that green constrution in the residential field will increase to 38% market share by 2016, from 17% in 2011. This report also supports the notion that residential builders can distinguish themselves in the marketplace by adopting green practices. Download the free report from McGraw-Hill Construction here
News In Brief

Michelle Greenfield of client Third Sun Solar provided her insight in this article from The Huffington Post about this nation's investment in clean energy alternatives. 

 

Construct a bridge in a weekend using "accelerated bridge construction" techniques. Really?  See it in this article from the New York Times.

 

Check out these photographs from a May 4 insider's tour of the Medical Mart and Convention Center. 

 

Congratulations to nine Frantz Ward partners for their inclusion in Best Lawyers in America

 

Watch for Cleveland to develop a floating office park and go get your groceries at a green Giant Eagle in North Royalton.

 

While Oberlin College finalized plans to get $7 million in solar panels, local solar installer Bold Alternatives placed panels on the First Unitarian Church near Shaker Square.  Read the article here.

Frantz Ward in Person and in the Media

My colleagues and I do a lot of writing and speaking in order to keep our clients and contacts up to date on legal developments.  Here are summaries of recent publications and upcoming speaking engagements.

 

On April 26, Ian Frank presented at the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry 2012 Annual Meeting on in Las Vegas, NV. His presentation was entitled "Allocation of Risk, Reward and Responsibility to a Subcontractor Based on Choice of Project Delivery System." For more information contact Ian.

 

On June 1, 2012, our Construction Group will present our perspective on Ohio Construction Reform to a nearly sold-out room.  Contact me if you do not want to miss this opportunity.

 

On June 5, 2012, Merritt Bumpass will be participating in a panel discussion on "The NLRB and Labor Law: What All Employers Need to Know Now." The tele-seminar is sponsored by ALFA International's Labor and Employment Practice Group. For more details, contact Merritt.

 

On June 21, 2012, Frantz Ward will present a free seminar on various issues and updates in the area of business litigation.  The program will run from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM and will cover topics of import to in-house counsel such as electronic records retention, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and crisis management in the litigation context.  Contact Kathie Kennick by e-mail or at 216-515-1441 if you are interested in attending this event, which will be held on the 27th floor of Key Center, 127 Public Square.

 

My partner Brian Roof recently published an article on recouping legal costs paid on behalf of an insured in DRI's For the Defense magazine.  Click here to read the article.

 

Bernie Niehaus helped unravel a 78-year-old mystery involving land along the shores of Lake Erie near Vermillion.

 

Through the Ohio Environmental Law Blog, my partner and former Ohio EPA Director Joe Koncelik highlighted over the last month changes in Ohio's asbestos regs, the EPA's upcoming focus on indoor air quality, the EPA's regulation of air pollution related to fracking operations, and more.  His blog is a must-read for anyone facing these or other regulatory issues. Joe continues to serve as a media resource throughout the state, as evidenced by his quote in the Middletown Journal.

 

In their Labor & Employment Law Navigator, Rebecca Bennett  and Keith Ashmus discuss recent developments in the law relating to immigration enforcement, criminal background checks, and NLRB rule-making regarding speedy union elections. 

 

My colleagues in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Group, who have now conducted training sessions on four continents, publish a periodic newsletter to keep our clients informed of recent developments in this very important area of law.  Click here to access those newsletters.

Disclaimer
This document is intended to provide general information about legal developments, not legal advice. Receipt of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.