LALIVE updates
Employer termination of a construction contract
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 05 November 2018
Terminating a construction contract is the last resort for employers frustrated by delays, defects or other problems. Three recent Supreme Court cases illustrate some of the pitfalls of termination for employers. In all three cases, the employers' attempt to terminate for cause was construed as termination for convenience, exposing the employers to significant liability towards the contractors, including for lost profits.
Contractors beware: clauses requiring employer pre-approval of additional work costs
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 10 September 2018
Clauses that require a contractor to obtain the employer's pre-approval of the cost of any additional works are increasingly common in lump-sum construction contracts. According to a recent Federal Supreme Court decision, these pre-approval clauses will be applied strictly, subject to certain exceptions. In its decision, the court enforced such a clause to deny a contractor's claim to recover the cost of additional works performed by a subcontractor.
Contractors' obligation of diligence and duty to inform persist even after termination
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 02 July 2018
A recent decision by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ruled that a contractor's duty of loyalty continues even after termination by the employer. When the contractor stops its works for any reason, it has the duty to take all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the employer and must provide to the employer all relevant information about the works.
Pricing unilateral change orders in lump-sum contracts
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 26 March 2018
The Supreme Court has for the first time interpreted the provisions on the pricing of change orders in the most widely used Swiss standard form contract, the SIA Norm 118. But the decision also has wider ramifications for Swiss law construction contracts. It makes clear that it should be assumed that parties to a lump-sum contract intended to contractually regulate the effect on the contract price of a unilateral change order, even if the terms of the contract are ambiguous.
What should be included in an extension of time clause?
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 15 January 2018
Construction lawyers are frequently called on to draft or interpret extension of time clauses. But the questions of what should be in these clauses, and why they are typically included in construction contracts in the first place, receive little attention. When drafting an extension of time clause, parties will want to carefully consider whether and how to address a number of specific issues.
Regulatory changes and force majeure – impact on lump-sum and build-operate contracts
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 13 November 2017
Swiss courts and arbitrators have addressed the interface between force majeure clauses and regulatory changes, and how they impact on the contractor's entitlements. Clauses addressing unforeseen circumstances will be construed in line with the parties' actual intentions. If they cannot be established from the text and surrounding circumstances and evidence, the tribunal will construe the clause objectively, regarding how it can be understood in good faith.
No contractor liability for defects visible at final inspection except concealed defects
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 09 October 2017
Employers should keep a watchful eye on contractor variations and ensure that they do not modify any important quality or original requirements specified in the contract. Whatever the length of the contract, the employer is duty bound to notify any deviation from the contract on final inspection. However, the courts will not protect a contractor which has fraudulently concealed a defect or prevented the employer from discovering a defect.
Valid change orders can amount to breaches of employer's ancillary obligations
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 10 April 2017
Employers typically have the power to vary works, including by making changes to the sequence or timing of their execution. Sometimes, these variations do not entitle the contractor to additional remuneration. However, as confirmed by a recent Federal Supreme Court decision, even a change order that is permitted under a contract could result in a breach of the employer's ancillary obligations and therefore give rise to a right to compensation.
Implicit employer approval of progress reports
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 13 February 2017
Many construction contracts provide that the contractor must submit daily, weekly or monthly progress reports, which then serve as a basis for invoices or applications for payment certificates. In some cases, the contract provides that these progress reports must first be approved by the employer. A recent case before the Supreme Court demonstrates that, in certain circumstances, such approval may be implied through the employer's silence.
The consequence of skipping a mandatory pre-arbitral step
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 05 December 2016
In mid-2014 the Supreme Court ruled that the requirement in the International Federation of Consulting Engineers Conditions to submit a dispute to a dispute adjudication board was a mandatory precondition for arbitration, but avoided the question of what the consequence for failing to comply should be. In a recent decision that is particularly important for international construction contracts, the court provided welcome guidance on a question that often arises in construction disputes.
Do erroneous tender documents entitle a lump-sum contractor to additional remuneration?
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 23 May 2016
A lump-sum contractor may be entitled to additional remuneration if its work is rendered more difficult due to a fault of the employer. But what happens if the contractor is aware of the employer's fault? A lump-sum contract will not protect employers from having to pay additional remuneration to the contractor for costs that the latter has incurred due to a fault of the employer or its representatives.
Limitations on right to terminate entire construction contract for delay to only part of works
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 21 December 2015
The Federal Supreme Court has limited an owner's right to terminate a contract in case of delays attributable to the contractor. The owner's interest in terminating the entire contract must be worthier of protection than the contractor's interest in keeping it in place for the works that are on time. Owners should avoid setting unreasonably short time limits to remedy delays and contractors should object immediately to unreasonably short grace periods.
Technical and safety standards – impact on owners' non-contractual liability
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 12 October 2015
In a recent decision the Supreme Court clarified the relevance of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects' standards for planning and construction in relation to the owner's third-party liability. The court held that an increase of technical norms indicates an increased risk arising from the respective work, against which the owner must take all reasonable and adequate protective measures.
Supreme Court – DAB proceedings precondition for arbitration under FIDIC Conditions
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 13 October 2014
The Federal Supreme Court recently analysed whether dispute adjudication board (DAB) proceedings are a precondition that must be met before resorting to arbitration under the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Conditions of Contract. The court recalled that the introduction of the DAB in the FIDIC conditions was to allow for an efficient resolution of disputes arising during construction works.
Will new Swiss sanctions against Russia affect construction projects?
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 22 September 2014
Sanctions imposed by the Swiss government are of particular importance to the international construction industry. Construction contracts governed by Swiss law may be deemed null and void if they are in breach of sanctions, regardless of whether the parties have any link to Switzerland. Construction practitioners should therefore note a new ordinance imposing commercial and financial restrictions against Russian interests in relation to Ukraine.
Additional works performed with owner's knowledge but without formal approval
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 14 April 2014
An owner refused to pay for alleged additional work, claiming that it had not been aware of any changes. The contractor sued the owner claiming the amount it quoted for the new work. The Supreme Court accepted that an owner could be ordered to pay a contractor for the value of the work as a whole. The case highlights the clash between contractual requirements of form and good-faith reliance on the other party's conduct.
Impact of embargoes on construction contracts - Swiss sanctions against Iran
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 17 June 2013
Switzerland has adopted a number of sanctions against Iran. These sanctions may affect construction contracts if, among other things, one of the parties is blacklisted or the construction contract concerns works falling under the restrictions imposed by the sanctions. Any breach of the sanctions would be considered to be illegal and entail the nullity of the contract.
Amendments extend warranty claim time limit and modify terms and conditions rules
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 04 February 2013
The statutory time limit for warranty claims has been extended from one to two years. The two-year time limit is mandatory only for consumer contracts. Contracts between businesses may still provide for shorter limitation periods for warranty claims. In addition, a recent revision of the Unfair Competition Act allows tribunals to invalidate general terms and conditions that are unfair towards consumers.
Time limits for main contractor's warranty claims against subcontractors
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 05 November 2012
The Federal Supreme Court recently confirmed that a main contractor can align the contractual time bars for warranty claims against its subcontractors with the time limits applying to warranty claims that the owner has against the main contractor. This decision is relevant for both main contractors and subcontractors involved in large construction projects.
Failure to submit progress reports not fatal to compensation claim
LALIVE- Construction
- Switzerland
- 25 June 2012
The controversial issue in a recent court of appeal case was whether the contractor still had a claim for compensation, despite its failure to submit progress reports and have them signed by the owner. The court ruled that in the absence of the contractually agreed progress reports, the contractor was still entitled to compensation but should establish (the amount of) its claim by other means of evidence.
