Steven D. Hedges

Steven D. Hedges concentrates in the areas of Construction law, and Business Litigation.

Specifically, Mr. Hedges' professional practice focuses upon litigation, arbitration, contract preparation and general counsel, with particular focus upon and experience in commercial litigation and the representation of contractors, construction owners, manufacturers, architects and engineers, and business and industrial plant owners.

A large portion of Mr. Hedges' litigation practice involves design and construction matters and disputes including all types of professional errors and omissions issues. Many of his cases involve insurance questions. He has extensive experience in environmental liability and clean-up litigation. Because of his 25 years of construction litigation experience, he is often retained to provide counsel and advice on legal and general business matters to contractors, owners, and others involved in the construction industry.

Mr. Hedges earned a Bachelor of Architecture, magna cum laude, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He received his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served on the editorial staff of the Wake Forest Law Review.

Published Works and Presentations:

• Co-Author, Panelist and Presenter, “It’s About Time:  The Project Schedule – management tool or ground rules for the blame game?” Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California, December 2006.
• Co-Author, Panelist and Presenter, “Design-Build, Same Old Bonnet, or New Hat,” Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California, December 2005.
• Co-Author, Panelist and Presenter, “Getting the Designer Out of the Ivory Tower,” Construction Superconference, San Francisco, California, December 2004.
• “Construction Contracting For Public Entities in North Carolina.”  Lorman Education Seminar, Greensboro, North Carolina, August 2004.
• “North Carolina Law For Design Professionals.” Lorman Education Seminar, Greensboro, North Carolina, February 2003.
• “North Carolina Construction Law:  A Blueprint for Success in the Construction Process,” Lorman Education Services, April 2000.
• Panelist and Presenter, The Construction Executive Conference, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina  2000 -- 2006. 
• "Just Who Designed My Building Anyway," Business Life, March, 2000
• "An Architectural Critique of AIA Standard Form Agreements,", AIA North Carolina Summer Conference, Asheville, NC, August, 1995
• Construction Law Deskbook, Editor, North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc., 1994
• "Consulting Engineer Not 'Liable Party' under CERCLA,", ACC News, (Airport Consultants Counsel Newsletter), January, 1994

• Certified Mediator
• American Bar Association - Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
• Virginia State Bar - Construction and Litigation Law Sections
• North Carolina State Bar - Construction and Litigation Law Sections

Successful prosecution against the project design team of several million dollars of extra cost, delay and damages claims by the owner and two prime contractors arising from the construction of a high rise hotel located in Alaska. Case was resolved during extensive mediation, by payment of policy limits under a project design errors and omissions policy, as well as substantial payments under the individual designer's practice E & O policies.

Successful litigation to collect lost profits and damages from an international licensee for breach of a medical device manufacturing, distribution and sales license agreement.

Successful prosecution of a general contractor's $1.4 million payment, extra work and delay claims arising from construction of a retirement village delayed one year in completion. This case required showing that the architect's design was defective and late. It also involved successful defense of a large number of defective work claims.

Development of risk-limiting business entities, contracts, documents and business practices to minimize liability for third party defective work claims arising from coastal condominium construction.

John S. Clark Company, Inc. v. Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, 359 F.Supp.2d 429 (M.D.N.C. 2004)

RPR & Associates v. O'Brien/Atkins Associates, P.A. et al., 921 F. Supp. 1457 (M.D.N.C. 1995)

Federal Insurance Co. v. Starr Electric Company, 410 S.E.2d. 684 (Virginia 1991)

Crown Oil and Wax Company of Delaware, Inc., et al. v. Glen Construction Company of Virginia, Inc., 578 A.2d 1184 (Maryland 1990)

Garcia, et al. v. Pittsylvania County Service Authority, 845 F.2d 465 (4th Circuit 1988)

Burke-Parsons-Bowlby Corporation v. E.D. Etnyre & Co., et al., 585 F.Supp. 620 (W.D. Va. 1984)

• CLIENT ALERT: 2005 Amendment Reduces Risks Associated with Redeveloping Brownfields
  The South Carolina Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Program now provides additional liability protection for developers of contaminated lands.

• North Carolina Law for Design Professionals
• The Construction Executive Conference, Panelist and Presenter
• North Carolina Construction Law: A Blueprint for Success in the Construction Process
• The Construction Executive Conference, Panelist and Presenter
• Coordination of the Multi-Party Airport Construction Project, Airport Consultants Counsel
• The Subcontract-Protecting and Enforcing the Subcontractor's Right to be Paid
• An Architectural Critique of AIA Standard Form Agreements