Owners ability to delay resolution of project claims while demanding that contractors complete construction has drastically changed. California’s Private Works Change Order Fair Payment Act (California Civil Code Section 8850) will forever change order dispute resolution on private construction projects. Because this powerful statute is strictly non-waivable, its provisions automatically override any conflicting contract language. If an owner fails to meet tight statutory deadlines for processing claims, contractors now may have a legal right to suspend work without being in breach of contract.
But this incredible new leverage comes with a catch: the law is highly complex, and the timelines are unforgiving. Missing a single administrative step may mean losing your claim rights. To help you navigate this massive legislative shift, Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP and AGC-SD are partnering to bring you an exclusive, technical deep-dive into the realities of this new law.
Learning Objectives/Outcomes
This seminar cuts through the legal jargon to give you an actionable operational blueprint. By the end of the seminar, you will learn:
- The Mandatory Timeline: Learn the step-by-step claims process with timelines.
- Your Enforcement Toolkit: Understand your rights and obligations under California Civil Code Section 8850, including meet-and-confer protocols, mediation, stop-work notices, and penalty interest.
- Contract Defense Strategies: Learn how to analyze owner-drafted change order and claims provisions, what to watch out for, and how to respond.
- Strategic Leverage: Learn the strategic use of claims, stop-work, and mediation rights without risking a breach of contract.
- Mediation Selection: Learn key considerations in mediator selection, including timing and availability, managing consolidated claims, evaluating mediator experience, and understanding attorney representation requirements.
Event Details & Registration
Don’t wait until a stalled change order threatens your cash flow. Join our experienced construction lawyers as they share unique perspectives on how owners, prime contractors, and subcontractors can mitigate the risk of time-consuming, costly claims.
- Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
- Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
- Location: Virtual Seminar (Meeting link provided upon registration)
- Hosted By: Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP & AGC-SD
- Presenters: Jeffrey B. Baird, Esq. and Daniel R. Spencer, Esq.
- Registration: Sign up here.
Who Should Attend
Construction executives, prime contractors, subcontractors, project managers, and contract administrators. This training is available to AGC-SD Members & Non-Members.
ADVERTISEMENT. This Legal Seminar and landing page are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Attendance does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal Seminar provided by Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP in San Diego, CA. Responsible Attorney: Jeffrey Baird, Esq. Prior results do not guarantee warranty or predict a similar outcome regarding any future legal matter.