Liquidation or “pass-through” agreements are becoming an increasingly popular option in both public and private construction disputes. Although these types of agreements can be used in several different scenarios, the most common example involves situations in which a subcontractor and general contractor agree that the owner is responsible for the damages claimed by the subcontractor.
Without a liquidation agreement in place, the subcontractor would be obligated to bring its claims directly against the general contractor, who in turn would sue the owner. This arrangement requires the involvement of additional parties, and as a result is expensive and time-consuming. In contrast, liquidation agreements allow the general contractor to “pass through” or sponsor the subcontractor’s claim by bringing a claim directly against the responsible party and agreeing to turn over what recovery, if any, it ultimately obtains. By avoiding additional layers of litigation, costs are minimized.
However, a number of issues dictate when and if a liquidation agreement is appropriate. First, courts are split on whether the general contractor has to pay, confess or admit liability to the subcontractor to sponsor the claim, or whether it is sufficient that the general contractor merely be exposed to the subcontractor’s claim.
Second, attempts to pass through claims may expose the general contractor to liability to the subcontractor in situations where the subcontractor does not agree that the owner is responsible for its claim, or the subcontractor does not agree to be bound to the result obtained by the general contractor.
When deciding whether the claim will be pursued directly by the general contractor, or by the subcontractor in the general contractor’s name, several concerns must be addressed. Among them:
If the general contractor pursues the claim directly, does it have a right to deduct its attorneys’ fees and costs incurred from any recovery?
The material appearing in this web site is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The information provided herein is intended only as general information which may or may not reflect the most current developments. Although these materials may be prepared by professionals, they should not be used as a substitute for professional services. If legal or other professional advice is required, the services of a professional should be sought.
The opinions or viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Lorman Education Services. All materials and content were prepared by persons and/or entities other than Lorman Education Services, and said other persons and/or entities are solely responsible for their content.
Any links to other web sites are not intended to be referrals or endorsements of these sites. The links provided are maintained by the respective organizations, and they are solely responsible for the content of their own sites.
