IT AIN'T PUT YOUR FEET UP TIME

摘要

Contractors often argue that, because of an employer's interference or "act of prevention" the position under a contract is that time has become "at large". The consequence, they say, is that the contractor no longer has any obligation to meet the contractual completion date, or to pay liquidated damages. The prevention principle, as it is called, is an attractive "get out of jail" card for contractors. It is no wonder that they and their advisers often include it in claims documents. The argument is frequently overused, however. Recent observations by the courts may act as a reminder that its true scope is actually quite narrow.