CONTRACTOR SUCCESS STORY
JDB & Sons Construction, Inc.
Specializing in demolition, excavation and utilities, JDB & Sons Construction, Inc. is a graduate of the City and County of San Francisco’s Contractor Development Program. Contractor Tools recently sat down with long-time staff member, Marie Cunningham, to learn more about the company and its progress since completing the Program.
Contractor Tools (CT): Describe what JDB & Sons Construction, Inc. does and how long you have been in business.
Marie Cunningham (MC): JDB & Sons Construction, Inc. is a General Engineering Contractor, with a specialty in Underground Utilities. The company was started in 2006 by James Burke, who has been doing underground utility work all his adult life. He incorporated the business in 2012.
CT: Why did JDB & Sons decide to work with the CCSF Contractor Development Program?
MC: As a small contractor, we realized that to go from being mainly a subcontractor to becoming a prime contractor, we needed technical guidance and support, as well as technical assistance. The large contracting firms usually have their own attorneys and technical specialists on staff, but as a small contractor, we did not. When we saw the free workshops, assistance and guidance offered by the Program, we decided to reach out to see how they could be of help to our company. We were immediately glad after taking the first step and having decided to commit to going through the Program, which proved to be one of the best decisions, as it took our company to the next level of success.
In Part 1 of this interview (featured in our prior newsletter), Contractor Tools spoke with Construction Attorney Cathleen Curl, with a focus on prime or general contractors, while in this article, Part 2, the focus is on subcontractors. For Part 1, please visit our Spring 2017 issue.
Cathleen has specialized in Construction Law for over 25 years, and is a partner in the law firm Manos & Curl, LLP. She graciously provided her expert guidance on several of the most important contract features and clauses for subcontractors to become familiar with when bidding on and accepting public contract work.
Contractor Tools (CT): How is a subcontract formed and how does the general or prime contractor's contract relate to the subcontractor?
Cathleen Curl (CC): In California, it is legal, though definitely not a good idea, to enter into an oral subcontract agreement. Obviously, a subcontract should be written so as to protect all parties. Prime contracts with public agencies have certain requirements that the prime or general contractor must pass on to their subcontractors, so the prime contract usually states that the terms and conditions of the prime contract are incorporated into the subcontracts.
AFFILIATE INTERVIEW
Cathleen Curl, Esquire
Cathleen Curl, Esq., of Manos & Curl Law Offices