INTRODUCTION

Latent construction defects can surface years after construction ends. Every defect is different, but they all raise the same question: who is responsible? This is a simple question with no simple answer, and warranty disputes can lead to huge losses for owners and contractors alike: owners are forced to pursue warranty claims and risk incurring costs of correction that should have been covered, while contractors bear the risk of “call back” repair work for which they may not be responsible. Both parties have multiple tools at their disposal to clarify their obligations and allocate responsibilities, but many (if not most) construction contracts fail to achieve the appropriate balancing of the risks each party should properly take on.