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Contractors, insurers object to Several Liability Law
By KERRY L. SMITH

   What some state legislators are saying was a minor change in wording to the Several Liability Law, others in the commercial construction industry - and the commercial insurance profession - are saying is the passage of a "deep pockets" law that invites ever bigger lawsuits and limitless assignments of blame.
   Illinois House Bill 2784, authored by Democratic State Rep. Jay Hoffman of District 112 in Collinsville, was signed into law (Public Act 93-0012) by

Gov. Rod Blagojevich June 4 after the close of the 93rd Assembly's regular session.
   Hoffman couldn't be reached for comment, but the legislation's Senate sponsor (SB 729), Democratic State Sen. John Cullerton of District 6 in Chicago, said the law is a retooled portion of comprehensive tort reform legislation that had been in effect since 1986.
   "I was around in 1986 when we (Illinois Senate) passed tort reform," Cullerton said. "What we were trying to do then was respond to critics who said they could be the deep pockets, meaning they could be 100 percent [continue]

Career expo sparks youths' interest in construction trades

   With the "graying" of America's workforce, organizations and administrators are scrambling to replace retiring baby boomers with young workers, particularly in the construction and trade industry.
   The Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program was created in 1992 and one of its goals is to address such industry needs.
   SICAP is a nonprofit industry trust fund comprised of contributions by contractors of several trades: carpenters, cement masons, plasterers, laborers, operating engineers and painters. [continue]

   Thanks to the continuation of "mega-projects" including the extension of Illinois Route 255, Southwestern Illinois' construction-related workforce has its hands full for the near future.
   Illinois Department of Employment Security labor market economist [continue]

 
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