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Article: Separate contractor law snags design firm.
- Article from:
- Building Design & Construction
- Article date:
- June 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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North Carolina court holds that architect is a "separate contractor" who can be sued by other prime contractors
Several states have laws applicable to public projects that require construction work to be allocated to independent prime, or trade, contractors. The most notable of these is New York's Wicks Law, which mandates separate contracts for plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical work.
The Wicks Law has generated much debate over the years. Trade contractors argue that it helps to avoid delays and lowers costs. General contractors, on the other hand, contend that it has exactly the opposite results. The Wicks Law also raises the issue of ...