SYLLABUS

CMT 2125 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS & SPECIFICATIONS

WEEK DATE TOPIC READING DUE (7th Ed)
0 General
Notes
Introduction to the course and principles of the law. All classes are expected to be LIVE on Temple campus.
If LIVE class cancelled by weather or other issue, we will convene at regular time at Zoom meeting at https://temple.zoom.us/j/92933459281 .
Or if YOU have a personal issue and cannot join us at posted time, you may see pre-recorded materials as noted. These may also be used for review.
Please read Chapters
before class
Access slide set HERE
1 13JAN25
LIVE class
Introduction to the course and principles of the law
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWa1.htm (65 min) remastered 2022
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWa2.htm (52 min) remastered 2022
see also ENR: A Real Judge Will Decide What an Ambiguous Spec Means, Not You
      If you missed our first class, you may View Zoom Recording of class of 13jan25
Ch 1-5
Extra Reading: Footnotes and Chapter Questions
2 20JAN25
NO class
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Please obtain textbook and read chapters for next week
2 27JAN25
LIVE class
Definition of the term "CONTRACT." Formation / Terms & Conditions
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWb1.htm (65 min) remastered 2022
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWb2.htm (50 min) remastered 2022
see also ENR: Law and Risk Mitigation
      If you missed our class, you may View Zoom Recording of class of 27jan25
Ch 6-8 (& 29-30)*
3 03FEB25
LIVE class
Definition of the term "CONTRACT".  Interpretation / Coordination
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWc1a.html (58 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWc1b.html (48 min)
see also ENR: What's Wrong With Change Orders?
      If you missed our class, you may View Zoom Recording of class of 03feb25
Ch 9-12
4 10FEB25
LIVE class
Discharge, Breach & Remedies - General Review of Contracts - Midterm Distributed
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWc1c.html (43 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWc2.htm (39 min) remastered 2022
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWd1.htm (23 min) REVIEW for MIDTERM
Ch 13
    Midterm Distributed 11FEB25 and Due Back 16FEB25
Review of Midterm (Suggested Answers) Posted 18FEB25
Chapter Questions
and Answers
5 17FEB25
LIVE class
Torts: Civil Wrongs
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf1.html (35 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf2.html (40 min)
see also ENR: Will Google Voice Open the Door Again to Trustworthy Verbal Contracts?
Ch 20-23
6 24FEB25
LIVE class
Torts: Civil Wrongs
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf3.html (56 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf4.html (50 min)
see also ENR: RFID Tags in ID Badges for All Employees?
Ch 24-25
  03MAR25 NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK  
7 10MAR25
LIVE class
Torts: Civil Wrongs and Professional Liability}
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf5.html (42 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWf6.html (72 min)
see also ENR: Fla. Supreme Court Reverses Course on Economic Loss: A Must-Read for Designers
Ch 38-40
8 17MAR25
LIVE class
Agency, Partnership, Corporations, Forms of Business, Insurance, Bonds and Sureties
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWe1.html (45 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWe2.html (43 min)
Ch 14-18
9 24MAR25
LIVE class
Writing Enforceable Specifications
LIVE only - we do not have pre-recorded materials on this topic
Ch 31-33
10 31MAR25
LIVE class
General Conditions, Finance, Proposals, Bid Documents
LIVE only - we do not have pre-recorded materials on this topic
Ch 34-37
11 07APR25
LIVE class
Real Property
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWh1.html (62 min)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWh2.html (73 min)
Ch 26-27
12 14APR25
LIVE class
Real Property (continued)
view http://www.fplotnick.com/EDUC/drexel13/LAWh3.html (84 min)
view new material on Blockchain and Recordation of Title (9:46 min)
see also http://www.newsweek.com/blockchain-sell-real-estate-first-time-ethereum-682982
see also https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/financial-services/articles/blockchain-in-commercial-real-estate.html
see also https://www.investopedia.com/news/how-blockchain-technology-changing-real-estate/
Blockchain materials 
13 21APR25
Internet Video
Delay Claims: Legal Basis, Analysis, Preparation and Presentations
view http://www.fplotnick.com/constructioncpm/2014Videos/THU21.html
view http://www.fplotnick.com/constructioncpm/2016Presentations/MON47-OBrien-PlotnickMethodEvaluation2016.pdf
CPM in Construction Management 8th Edition
Chapters 32 33 34 35
14 28APR25
LIVE class
REVIEW for FINAL
Bonus: A Mock Trial - How to be an effective lay or expert witness
view http://www.fplotnick.com/constructioncpm/2017Presentations/MT2017.pdf
view http://www.fplotnick.com/constructioncpm/2017Presentations/MT2017anno.pdf
view http://www.fplotnick.com/constructioncpm/2017Videos/FRI00.html  (156 min)
Review materials
FN 05MAY25 In-Class Final none

Text: Contracts and the Legal Environment for Engineers & Architects, Joseph T. Bockrath and Fredric L. Plotnick, 7th Edition, McGraw Hill, ISBN 978–0–07–339784–9, MHID 0–07–339784–9
New paperback edition (discounted price) ISBN 978-1-30-894246-9 only at Temple Bookstore