Careers

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Experience

Innovation

Interactive Maps

Locations

About

Pages

Meet our team of innovators
Ask us how we do it

Professionals

Insights

Services

Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

Home | Thompson Hine LLP

Atlanta

Chicago

Cincinnati

Cleveland

Columbus

Dayton

Los Angeles

New York

Washington, D.C.

A strike by about 47,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) that began at midnight on October 1 has essentially closed approximately 14 crucial ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. While some ports are attempting to continue operating, others have already closed significant portions of their facilities, such as the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Virginia. While it is unknown how long the strike will last, it has the potential to disrupt supply chains that have only nominally recovered from past impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, it is estimated that the strike will affect approximately half of all ship cargo arriving into the United States, with most needing to be diverted to West Coast ports, potentially causing numerous delays for construction projects relying on steel, lumber, or specialized equipment being shipped from abroad.

contentpilot/introduction

This situation presents a vital opportunity for construction project owners and developers, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to review their applicable contracts to determine whether material shipping delays could affect their construction project schedules or result in potential claims. Specifically, project participants should review force majeure or delay clauses to determine if they might apply to delays caused by the strike and if written notice of such delays is required. They should also evaluate cost escalation provisions if the project price is based on a contractor’s actual costs. Regardless, project participants should provide formal written notice to relevant parties if the dockworker strike will potentially result in increased costs or time on a construction project. Project participants should strive to protect their interests while communicating possible consequences as soon as they are aware of them to help mitigate any adverse effects on a project, even where the actual impact is not yet calculable.

core/paragraph

core/separator

<em>This advisory bulletin may be reproduced, in whole or in part, with the prior permission of Thompson Hine LLP and acknowledgment of its source and copyright. This publication is intended to inform clients about legal matters of current interest. It is not intended as legal advice. Readers should not act upon the information contained in it without professional counsel.</em>

<em>This document may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.</em>

https://admin.thompsonhine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Construction-Update-Dockworker-Strike-Could-Disrupt-Construction-Projects.pdf

Dockworker Strike Could Disrupt Construction Projects

Services