International Construction Law Review
BOOK NOTICE
Amongst the books that we have received the following may be noted. Pressure on space precludes a fuller review at present.
Bruner & O’Connor on Construction Law.
By Philip Lane Bruner and Patrick J O’Connor, Jr. West Group. 2002. 7 vols, each about 1000pp (including 1 vol of Tables, etc. and Index). ISBN 0–314–10255–8. US $900 (but publisher’s website may have an offer).
The two authors are partners in Faegre & Benson, LLP, and are both eminent construction lawyers in the United States. Mr Bruner is also well-known outside the United States. He has written for this Review
on force majeure
and related topics. A definitive work on construction law in the United States has been lacking. There are some good books, e.g. those by Professor Sweet, but it is a challenge to write comprehensively about construction law in a country where that law is subject to many diverse jurisdictions. That challenge has been taken up by Mr Bruner and Mr O’Connor and this work will surely become the
treatise on construction law in the United States. It has the enormous benefit of being written by only two people and is not a compilation of many hands, loosely edited.
Its 21 chapters cover every subject. Each chapter is a virtual book in itself. Volume 1 (chapters 1–4) deals with contract formation, interpretation and basic issues relating to changes and extras. Volume 2 (chapters 5–7) contains an analysis of the AIA forms, an examination of delivery methods and pricing arrangements and a complete chapter on risk management. Volume 3 (chapters 8–10) deals with payments, warranties and indemnity, and contribution. Volume 4 (chapters 11–14) covers insurance, suretyship, inspection and acceptance and differing site conditions. Volume 5 (chapters 15–18) is about time, governmental regulation, design professionals and contract breach and termination. The final volume (chapters 19–21) looks at remedies and damages, arbitration and, all too briefly and tantalisingly, international construction.