The Holloway Consulting Group, LLC (Holloway) is a construction claims expert firm based in Denver, Colorado. Our staff members have worked on over one thousand construction claims. Additionally, each member has provided construction claims expert witness testimony in arbitration and litigation. Moreover, each has been qualified and accepted as a retained expert in numerous technical areas before various courts and panels.
Holloway works for both plaintiffs and defendants. Furthermore, our clients include all the parties involved in the construction project continuum. These include state and federal agencies, developers, engineers, architects, general and specialty contractors, law firms, and others.
Construction Claims Practice Areas
Construction Disputes
It has been said that construction contracting is comparable to gambling: Specifically, both have limited upside with almost unlimited downside. The risky nature of the industry is further reflected in the fact that approximately 30% of all contractors survive only three years. These factors understandably contribute to a claim consciousness within the AGC and ABC communities. However, despite many contractors’ aversion to disputes, the decision to file a claim or lawsuit against an owner may represent the only means of staying in business.
The Construction Environment
Partnering efforts notwithstanding, the nature of construction creates a predictable set of opponents: the Owner and the Contractor. Rules of conflict are drawn up and recorded in the contract documents. Throughout the various stages of the work, both sides are repeatedly reminded of their substantial lack of common interest. Battle lines are formed, and the war begins. Both sides understand one of the basic rules; the Contractor seeks to maximize revenues – the Owner needs to minimize expenditures.
These competing positions contribute to a project atmosphere that can quickly change from one of tolerance, to one of suspicion and ill will. The owner and contractor begin to argue about the issues, and exchange threatening (and sometimes entertaining) correspondence. To further expand the dimensions of the problem, the owner’s agents become emotionally and/or legally involved and join in the fight. By default, management of the project is often left to the subcontractors. The general contractor soon reports a financial loss, and attorneys and experts are retained to assist in final resolution.
Construction Reality Versus Utopia
In utopia, the owner never makes any changes – the A/E’s documents are error-free – the contractor performs perfectly – and Mother Nature behaves herself. Regrettably, construction utopia does not exist. In the real world, with uncanny predictability, the forces of the Owner, A/E, contractor, and Mother Nature combine to create conflict: The Owner changes his mind – The A/E changes the design – The Contractor fails to perform properly – Mother Nature changes what the others have missed. Claims result.
Contact Info
J. Steve Holloway, GC
The Holloway Consulting Group, LLC
10885 W. Beloit Pl.
Lakewood, CO 80227
Tel: 1-303-984-1941
Email: hollowayconsultinggroup@gmail.com