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Timestamp: 2019-01-17 23:25:12
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Construction Defect Action Reform Act - PDF
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Amanda Ashlynn Lindsey
1 COLORADO REVISED STATUTES Title 13. Courts and Court Procedure Damages Regulation of Actions and Proceedings Article 20. Actions Part 8. Construction Defect Actions for Property Loss and Damage Construction Defect Action Reform Act Short title This part 8 shall be known and may be cited as the Construction Defect Action Reform Act Legislative declaration The general assembly hereby finds, declares, and determines that changes in the law are necessary and appropriate concerning actions claiming damages, indemnity, or contribution in connection with alleged construction defects. It is the intent of the general assembly that this part 8 apply to these types of civil actions while preservingadequate rights and remedies for property owners who bring and maintain such actions Definitions As used in this part 8, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Action means a civil action or an arbitration proceeding for damages, indemnity, or contribution brought against a construction professional to assert a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party claim for damages or loss to, or the loss of use of, real or personal property or personal injury caused by a defect in the design or construction of an improvement to real property. (2) Actual damages means the fair market value of the real property without the alleged construction defect, the replacement cost of the real property, or the reasonable cost to repair the alleged construction defect, whichever is less, together with relocation costs, and, with respect to residential property, other direct economic costs related to loss of use, if any, interest as provided by law, and such costs of suit and reasonable attorney fees as may be awardable pursuant to contract or applicable law. Actual damages as to personal injury means those damages recoverable by law, except as limited by the provisions of section (4). (3) Claimant means a person other than the attorney general or the district attorneys of the several judicial districts of the state who asserts a claim against a construction professional that alleges a defect in the construction of an improvement to real property. (4) Construction professional means an architect, contractor, subcontractor, developer, builder, builder vendor, engineer, or inspector performing or furnishing the design, supervision, inspection, construction, or observation of the construction of any improvement to real property. If the improvement to real property is to a commercial property, the term construction professional shall also include any prior owner of the commercial property, other than the claimant, at the time the work was performed. As used in this subsection (4), commercial property means property that is zoned to permit commercial, industrial, or office types of use. (5) Notice of claim means a written notice sent by a claimant to the last known address of a construction professional against whom the claimant asserts a construction defect claim that describes the claim in reasonable detail sufficient to determine the general nature of the defect, including a general description of the type and location of the construction that the claimant alleges to be defective and any damages claimed to have been caused by the defect List of defects required (1) In addition to the notice of claim required by section , in every action brought against a construction professional, the claimant shall file with the court or arbitrator and serve on the construction professional an initial list of construction defects in accordance with this section. (2) The initial list of construction defects shall contain a description of the construction that the claimant alleges to be defective. The initial list of construction defects shall be filed with the court and served on the defendant within sixty days after the commencement of the action or within such longer period as the court in its discretion may allow. (3) The initial list of construction defects may be amended by the claimant to identify additional construction defects as they become known to the claimant. In no event shall the court allow the case to be set for trial before the initial list of construction defects is filed and served. (4) If a subcontractor or supplier is added as a party to an action under this section, the claimant making the claim against such subcontractor or supplier shall file with the court and serve on the defendant an initial list of construction defects in accordance with this section within sixty days after service of the complaint against the subcontractor or supplier or within such longer period as the court in its discretion may allow. In no event shall the filing of a defect list under this subsection (4) delay the setting of the trial. Colorado Construction Defect And Reform Act, p. 1
2 Notice of claim process (1) No later than seventy- five days before filing an action against a construction professional, or no later than ninety days before filing the action in the case of a commercial property, a claimant shall send or deliver a written notice of claim to the construction professional by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service. (2) Following the mailing or delivery of the notice of claim, at the written request of the construction professional, the claimant shall provide the construction professional and its contractors or other agents reasonable access to the claimant's property during normal working hours to inspect the property and the claimed defect. The inspection shall be completed within thirty days of service of the notice of claim. (3) Within thirty days following the completion of the inspection process conducted pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, or within forty-five days following the completion of the inspection process in the case of a commercial property, a construction professional may send or deliver to the claimant, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or personal service, an offer to settle the claim by payment of a sum certain or by agreeing to remedy the claimed defect described in the notice of claim. A written offer to remedy the construction defect shall include a report of the scope of the inspection, the findings and results of the inspection, a description of the additional construction work necessary to remedy the defect described in the notice of claim and all damage to the improvement to real property caused by the defect, and a timetable for the completion of the remedial construction work. (4) Unless a claimant accepts an offer made pursuant to subsection (3) of this section in writing within fifteen days of the delivery of the offer, the offer shall be deemed to have been rejected. (5) A claimant who accepts a construction professional's offer to remedy or settle by payment of a sum certain a construction defect claim shall do so by sending the construction professional a written notice of acceptance no later than fifteen days after receipt of the offer. If an offer to settle is accepted, then the monetary settlement shall be paid in accordance with the offer. If an offer to remedy is accepted by the claimant, the remedial construction work shall be completed in accordance with the timetable set forth in the offer unless the delay is caused by events beyond the reasonable control of the construction professional. (6) If no offer is made by the construction professional or if the claimant rejects an offer, the claimant may bring an action against the construction professional for the construction defect claim described in the notice of claim, unless the parties have contractually agreed to a mediation procedure, in which case the mediation procedure shall be satisfied prior to bringing an action. (7) If an offer by a construction professional is made and accepted, and if thereafter the construction professional does not comply with its offer to remedy or settle a claim for a construction defect, the claimant may file an action against the construction professional for claims arising out of the defect or damage described in the notice of claim without further notice. (8) After the sending of a notice of claim, a claimant and a construction professional may, by written mutual agreement, alter the procedure for the notice of claim process described in this section. (9) Any action commenced by a claimant who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be stayed, which stay shall remain in effect until the claimant has complied with the requirements of this section. (10) A claimant may amend a notice of claim to include construction defects discovered after the service of the original notice of claim. However, the claimant must otherwise comply with the requirements of this section for the additional claims. (11) For purposes of this section, actual receipt by any means of a written notice, offer, or response prepared pursuant to this section within the time prescribed for delivery or service of the notice, offer, or response shall be deemed to be sufficient delivery or service. (12) Except as provided in section , a claimant shall not recover more than actual damages in an action Restriction on construction defect negligence claims (1) No negligence claim seeking damages for a construction defect may be asserted in an action if such claim arises from the failure to construct an improvement to real property in substantial compliance with an applicable building code or industry standard; except that such claim may be asserted if such failure results in one or more of the following: (a) Actual damage to real or personal property; (b) Actual loss of the use of real or personal property; (c) Bodily injury or wrongful death; or (d) A risk of bodily injury or death to, or a threat to the life, health, or safety of, the occupants of the residential real property. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or impair the following: (a) The assertion of tort claims other than claims for negligence; (b) The assertion of contract or warranty claims; or (c) The assertion of claims that arise from the violation of any statute or ordinance other than claims for violation of a building code Tolling of statutes of limitation If a notice of claim is sent to a construction professional in accordance with section within the time prescribed for the filing of an action under any applicable statute of limitations or repose, then the statute of limitations or repose is tolled until sixty days after the completion of the notice of claim process described in section Colorado Construction Defect And Reform Act, p. 2
3 Limitation of damages (1) A construction professional otherwise liable shall not be liable for more than actual damages, unless and only if the claimant otherwise prevails on the claim that a violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6, C.R.S., has occurred; and if: (a) The construction professional's monetary offer, made pursuant to section (3), to settle for a sum certain a construction defect claim described in a notice of claim is less than eighty-five percent of the amount awarded to the claimant as actual damages sustained exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees; or (b) The reasonable cost, as determined by the trier of fact, to complete the construction professional's offer, made pursuant to section , to remedy the construction defect described in the notice of claim is less than eighty-five percent of the amount awarded to the claimant as actual damages sustained exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees. (2) If a construction professional does not substantially comply with the terms of an accepted offer to remedy or an accepted offer to settle a claim for a construction defect made pursuant to section or if a construction professional fails to respond to a notice of claim, the construction professional shall be subject to the treble damages provision of section (2)(a)(III), C.R.S.; except that a construction professional shall be subject to the treble damages provision only if the claimant otherwise prevails on the claim that a violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6, C.R.S., has occurred. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the aggregate amount of treble damages awarded in an action under section (2)(a)(III), C.R.S., and attorney fees awarded to a claimant under section (2)(b), C.R.S., shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars in any action against a construction professional. (4)(a) In an action asserting personal injury or bodily injury as a result of a construction defect in which damages for noneconomic loss or injury or derivative noneconomic loss or injury may be awarded, such damages shall not exceed the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars. As used in this subsection (4), noneconomic loss or injury has the same meaning as set forth in section (2)(b), and derivative noneconomic loss or injury has the same meaning as set forth in section (2)(a). (b) The limitations on noneconomic damages set forth in this subsection (4) shall be adjusted for inflation as of July 1, 2003, and as of July 1 of each year thereafter until and including July 1, The adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be rounded upward or downward to the nearest ten dollar increment. (c) As used in paragraph (b) of this subsection (4), inflation means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, consumer price index for Denver- Boulder, all items, all urban consumers, or its successor index. (d) The secretary of state shall certify the adjusted limitation on damages within fourteen days after the appropriate information is available, and such adjusted limitation on damages shall be the limitation applicable to all claims for relief that accrue on or after July 1, (5) Claims for personal injury or bodily injury as a result of a construction defect shall not be subject to the treble damages provisions of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6, C.R.S. (6) In any case in which the court determines that the issue of a violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6, C.R.S., will be submitted to a jury, the court shall not disclose nor allow disclosure to the jury of an offer of settlement or offer to remedy made under section that was not accepted by the claimant. (7)(a) In order to preserve Colorado residential property owners' legal rights and remedies, in any civil action or arbitration proceeding described in section (1), any express waiver of, or limitation on, the legal rights, remedies, or damages provided by the Construction Defect Action Reform Act, this part 8, or provided by the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, article 1 of title 6, C.R.S., as described in this section, or on the ability to enforce such legal rights, remedies, or damages within the time provided by applicable statutes of limitation or repose are void as against public policy. (b) A waiver, limitation, or release contained in a written settlement of claims, and any recorded notice of such settlement, between a residential property owner and a construction professional after such a claim has accrued shall not be rendered void by this subsection (7). (c) This subsection (7) applies only to the legal rights, remedies, or damages of claimants asserting claims arising out of residential property and shall not apply to sales or donations of property or services by a bona fide charitable organization that is in compliance with the registration and reporting requirements of article 16 of title 6, C.R.S. (d) Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection (7) to the contrary, this subsection (7) shall apply only to actions that are governed by the provisions of this part 8, also known as the Construction Defect Action Reform Act, and shall not be deemed to alter or amend the limitations on damages contained in this part 8, including the limitations on treble damages and attorney fees set forth in this section. (e) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to render void any requirement to participate in mediation prior to filing a suit or arbitration proceeding Express warranty--not affected The provisions of this part 8 are not intended to abrogate or limit the provisions of any express warranty or the obligations of the provider of such warranty. The provisions of this part 8 shall apply to those circumstances where an action is filed asserting one or more claims for relief including a claim for breach of warranty; except that, in any such action, section (7) shall not apply to breach of express warranty claims except to the extent that provisions of the express warranty purport to waive or limit claims for relief other than the breach of express warranty claim. The provisions of this part 8 shall not be deemed to require a claimant who is the beneficiary of an express warranty to comply with the notice provisions of section to request ordinary warranty service in accordance with the Colorado Construction Defect And Reform Act, p. 3
4 terms of such warranty. A claimant who requires warranty service shall comply with the provisions of such warranty Insurance policies issued to construction professionals (1)(a) The general assembly finds and determines that: (I) The interpretation of insurance policies issued to construction professionals is of vital importance to the economic and social welfare of the citizens of Colorado and in furthering the purposes of this part 8. (II) Insurance policies issued to construction professionals have become increasingly complex, often containing multiple, lengthy endorsements and exclusions conflicting with the reasonable expectations of the insured. (III) The correct interpretation of coverage for damages arising out of construction defects is in the best interest of insurers, construction professionals, and property owners. (b) The general assembly declares that: (I) The policy of Colorado favors the interpretation of insurance coverage broadly for the insured. (II) The long-standing and continuing policy of Colorado favors a broad interpretation of an insurer's duty to defend the insured under liability insurance policies and that this duty is a first-party benefit to and claim on behalf of the insured. (III) The decision of the Colorado court of appeals in General Security Indemnity Company of Arizona v. Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, 205 P.3d 529 (Colo. App. 2009) does not properly consider a construction professional's reasonable expectation that an insurer would defend the construction professional against an action or notice of claim contemplated by this part 8. (IV) For the purposes of guiding pending and future actions interpreting liability insurance policies issued to construction professionals, what has been and continues to be the policy of Colorado is hereby clarified and confirmed in the interpretation of insurance policies that have been and may be issued to construction professionals. (2) For the purposes of this section: (a) Insurance has the same meaning as set forth in section , C.R.S. (b) Insurance policy means a contract of insurance. (c) Insurer has the same meaning as set forth in section , C.R.S. (d) Liability insurance policy means a contract of insurance that covers occurrences of damage or injury during the policy period and insures a construction professional for liability arising from construction-related work. (3) In interpreting a liability insurance policy issued to a construction professional, a court shall presume that the work of a construction professional that results in property damage, including damage to the work itself or other work, is an accident unless the property damage is intended and expected by the insured. Nothing in this subsection (3): (a) Requires coverage for damage to an insured's own work unless otherwise provided in the insurance policy; or (b) Creates insurance coverage that is not included in the insurance policy. (4)(a) Upon a finding of ambiguity in an insurance policy, a court may consider a construction professional's objective, reasonable expectations in the interpretation of an insurance policy issued to a construction professional. (b) In construing an insurance policy to meet a construction professional's objective, reasonable expectations, the court may consider the following: (I) The object sought to be obtained by the construction professional in the purchase of the insurance policy; and (II) Whether a construction defect has resulted, directly or indirectly, in bodily injury, property damage, or loss of the use of property. (c) In construing an insurance policy to meet a construction professional's objective, reasonable expectations, a court may consider and give weight to any writing concerning the insurance policy provision in dispute that is not protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege, work-product privilege, or article 72 of title 24, C.R.S., and that is generated, approved, adopted, or relied on by the insurer or its parent or subsidiary company; or an insurance rating or policy drafting organization, such as the insurance services office, inc., or its predecessor or successor organization; except that such writing shall not be used to restrict, limit, exclude, or condition coverage or the insurer's obligation beyond that which is reasonably inferred from the words used in the insurance policy. (5) If an insurance policy provision that appears to grant or restore coverage conflicts with an insurance policy provision that appears to exclude or limit coverage, the court shall construe the insurance policy to favor coverage if reasonably and objectively possible. (6) If an insurer disclaims or limits coverage under a liability insurance policy issued to a construction professional, the insurer shall bear the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that: (a) Any policy's limitation, exclusion, or condition in the insurance policy bars or limits coverage for the insured's legal liability in an action or notice of claim made pursuant to section concerning a construction defect; and (b) Any exception to the limitation, exclusion, or condition in the insurance policy does not restore coverage under the policy. Colorado Construction Defect And Reform Act, p. 4
5 (7)(a) An insurer's duty to defend a construction professional or other insured under a liability insurance policy issued to a construction professional shall be triggered by a potentially covered liability described in: (I) A notice of claim made pursuant to section ; or (II) A complaint, cross-claim, counterclaim, or third-party claim filed in an action against the construction professional concerning a construction defect. (b)(i) An insurer shall defend a construction professional who has received a notice of claim made pursuant to section regardless of whether another insurer may also owe the insured a duty to defend the notice of claim unless authorized by law. In defending the claim, the insurer shall: (A) Reasonably investigate the claim; and (B) Reasonably cooperate with the insured in the notice of claims process. (II) This paragraph (b) does not require the insurer to retain legal counsel for the insured or to pay any sums toward settlement of the notice of claim that are not covered by the insurance policy. (III) An insurer shall not withdraw its defense of an insured construction professional or commence an action seeking reimbursement from an insured for expended defense cost unless authorized by law and unless the insurer has reserved such right in writing when accepting or assuming the defense obligation. Colorado Construction Defect And Reform Act, p. 5
Colorado Legislative Council Staff Room 029 State Capitol, Denver, CO 80203-1784 (303) 866-3521 FAX: 866-3855 TDD: 866-3472 www.colorado.gov/lcs E-mail: lcs.ga@state.co.us M E M O R A N D U M April 17,
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