Documented Obligations First
A contractor's obligations on a Chicago project are found in several places, and they should not be blended together:
- The contract, including scope, specifications, schedule and supervision requirements
- City of Chicago requirements, including contractor licensing, building permits and required inspections
- Adopted codes, including the Chicago Construction Codes in effect for the permit
- Recognized local practice, describing how competent contractors in the Chicago market generally perform the work
Paul identifies which source applies to each item of conduct before evaluating it. Whether the conduct breached a legal duty is a question for counsel and the court.
City Licensing and Permits
The City of Chicago licenses general contractors through the Department of Buildings, and most construction work requires a building permit and inspections. Paul holds an active City of Chicago general contractor license and has worked within this system for decades. In a dispute, he can describe what permits and inspections the work would typically involve, review the permit and inspection history, and note where permitted work does not match what was built. He does not offer legal opinions on licensing consequences.
Union Trades and Jurisdiction
Many Chicago commercial and public projects are built by union trades, and trade jurisdiction affects which trade performed which work. When a condition sits at the boundary between trades, such as where flooring meets a door frame or where millwork meets drywall, knowing how the work is typically divided helps identify who performed it and who was responsible for coordinating it. Paul has worked within these arrangements since joining Carpenters Local 10 in 1989.
Supervision on Chicago Projects
Supervision practices on Chicago projects are shaped by dense sites, limited staging, union crews and frequent work in occupied buildings. Paul evaluates whether the contractor's superintendent and foremen directed, checked and corrected the work as the contract and recognized practice required, using daily reports, meeting minutes, photographs and testimony. His experience directing more than 25 trades at O'Hare informs that evaluation.
Documentation Expected of Chicago Contractors
Chicago contractors are expected to keep the records any competent contractor keeps: daily reports, meeting minutes, RFIs, submittals, change orders and inspection records, plus permit documents and City inspection results. Paul reviews these in date order and identifies records that would normally exist but are missing. For a broader discussion of contractor conduct, Paul's contractor standard of care resources address these questions in depth. Related: Chicago construction workmanship.