Bio
James “Jimmy” McLaughlin is an associate in the West Palm Beach office. Jimmy concentrates his practice in the areas of construction law and litigation. His practice includes the representation of general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, material suppliers, design professionals, sureties, and owners.
Jimmy gained valuable experience within the construction industry as a law clerk with a multi-national, publicly traded infrastructure construction company in Miami, Florida. He has prepared numerous motions and complaints, has reviewed changes to complex commercial agreements, construction contracts, and commercial lease agreements. He also has experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, performing due diligence prior to final agreements. Jimmy has also made several court appearances in motion practice and discovery disputes.
James received a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude in Public Relations from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. During law school, he served as the Chief Notes & Comments Editor of the Race & Social Justice Law Review. He received the CALI Excellence for the Future award in two classes: Real Property & Government and Administrative Law. He also served as a summer clerk for The Honorable David A. Haimes, 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County, Florida.
EXPERIENCE
- Represented large design-build general contractor in a lawsuit for breach of contract against Escambia County, Florida alleging that Escambia County improperly withheld $3.4 million dollars of unpaid retainage for the new Escambia County Correctional Facility project and improperly assessed liquidated damages.
- Represented electrical contractor and surety in defending lawsuit brought by fire alarm subcontractor for breach of contract and claim against lien transfer bond on mixed use project in Coral Gables, Florida where the fire alarm subcontractor alleged a wrongful termination. Defended lawsuit by showing that fire alarm subcontractor committed material breaches by failing to supply sufficient manpower and materials in a timely manner and showing that fire alarm subcontractor was not entitled to lost profits.
- Represented electrical subcontractor in arbitration for breach of contract against large general contractor for hotel project in Los Angeles, California over unpaid progress
payments, retainage, extra work, and delay damages. - Represented plumbing sub-subcontractor in breach of contract and Miller Act lawsuit in federal court against subcontractor and payment bond surety over unpaid progress payments,
retainage, extra work, and delay damages. - Represented condominium association in defending lawsuit brought by contractor for breach of contract and lien foreclosure for restorative work from damage arising from Hurricane Michael. Obtained favorable settlement by showing that a different contract governed the work and that contractor had recorded fraudulent lien.
- Represented general contractor in lawsuit brought by air conditioning subcontractor over unpaid retainage on Miami Dade School Board project. Obtained favorable settlement by
showing viable paid-if-paid defense and that subcontractor had failed to satisfy other conditions precedent to final payment. - Represented re-sale distributor of Nitrile hospital grade gloves in litigation and arbitration for breach of contract, fraud, RICO, and civil theft against company, its members,
and glove manufacturer. - Represented large nationally recognized hotel chain in reviewing several engineering consulting contracts for hotel expansion and renovation in South Beach, Miami, FL.
- Represented national disaster relief contractor in bid protest against the City of Boulder, Colorado.
- Represented information technology systems contractor in bid protest against Hillsborough County, Florida.
- Represented information technology systems contractor in bid protest against Fort Worth, Texas School District.
- Represented numerous subcontractors in lawsuits for lien foreclosure and claims against 713.23 payment bond.