David Wonderlick

Practice Areas

David Wonderlick focuses his practice on construction litigation and government contracts. He has represented contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, developers, sureties, and public agencies on projects involving the construction of conventional and nuclear power plants, transmission lines, industrial facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, sewers, highways and bridges, dams, tunnels, professional sports stadiums, airport facilities, mass transit systems, hotels, military facilities, and housing complexes. David also has experience in drafting contracts for the procurement of construction, architectural, and engineering services.

David has spent his entire career representing clients in the construction industry, first as an associate with a large Philadelphia, Pennsylvania firm as a member of their construction practice group, and later as an associate and partner at one of the largest firms in the country devoted to the practice of construction law.

Publications

Co-Editor, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Division 13 (Government Construction) Quarterly Newsletter (2018-2020).

Co-Author: Chapter 25, Federal Government Construction Contracts Outside the United States, in Forum on Construction Law, American Bar Association, Federal Government Construction Contracts (3d ed. 2017).

Co-Author: Chapter 47: Virginia, in Fifty State Construction Lien and Bond Law, Third Edition (2014).

Co-Author: "Foreign Contractor and Sub-contractor Claims Against the United States Government," International Construction Law Review, Volume 31, Part 1 (January 2014).

Author: "Claims for Delays to a Planned Early Completion Date, Or, The Project Was Completed on Time: Why Am I Facing a Delay Claim?", The Construction Lawyer, Volume 33, Number 2 (Spring 2013).

Co-Author: Pennsylvania State Review, American Bar Association, Construction Law Update: Case Law & Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry (2011-2012).

Co-Author: Pennsylvania State Review, American Bar Association, Construction Law Update: Case Law & Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry (2010-2011).

Co-Author: Pennsylvania Construction Law, a treatise, published by HLK Global Communications (www.constructionchannel.net) (April 2010).

Co-Author: Chapter 9: Pricing of Construction Claims, in Forum on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association, CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTING: A Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals (2010).

Author: "The Intricacies of Indemnity: Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Broad Liability Under Indemnification Provisions," Virginia Construction Law and Public Contracts News (Fall 2007).

Author: "Canvassing a Construction Contract," ForConstructionPros.com (February 2007).

Author: "Owner's Continued Consideration of Claims May Waive Contractual Claim Information Requirements," Construction Claims Advisor (November 2006).

Author: "Hastily Prepared Bid Dooms Highway Contractor," Construction Claims Advisor (August 2006).

Author: "Negligent Damage May Warrant Full Replacement Cost Minus Owner-Caused Depreciation," Construction Claims Advisor (July 2006).

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

• Forum on Construction Law

• Section of Public Contract Law

Virginia State Bar

• Construction and Public Contracts Law Section

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Washington Building Congress

Work Highlights

• Representing general contractor in litigation in Maryland federal court regarding nearly $100 million in claims and counterclaims related to the construction of a private art museum in Potomac, Maryland.

• Represented general contractor in disputes related to the reconstruction of a paper machine at a mill in Skowhegan, Maine. Trial counsel in 4-week arbitration hearing before the American Arbitration Association, after which VLMG’s client was awarded nearly $28 Million (approximately 95% of the client’s claim for unreimbursed costs on a cost-plus contract), plus expenses, while fully defeating Owner counterclaim seeking return of $8.6 Million already paid to client.

• Representing prime contractor before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals challenging the termination for default of a $35 million road construction contract in Yellowstone National Park, including serving as trial counsel at two-week hearing in San Francisco, CA.

• Represented EPC contractor in 2.5-week hearing before the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, in which VLMG’s client defeated wrongful termination claims originally valued at almost $100 Million, while the Tribunal awarded client in excess of $11 Million, which included almost 100% of client’s damages, legal fees, and expenses.

• Represented an EPC contractor in litigation in New Jersey state court involving over $80 million in claims and counterclaims for delay, disruption, acceleration, liquidated damages, and lost revenue related to the construction of a 734 MW, gas-fired, combined cycle power plant in West Deptford, NJ.

• As lead counsel, obtained summary judgment in favor of surety on payment bond claim involving issue of first impression regarding interpretation of the Miller Act, Trustees of the Heating, Piping & Refrigeration Pension Fund v. Milestone Construction Services, Inc., 991 F. Supp. 2d 713 (D. Md. 2014).

• Secured dismissal of all claims against construction manager in $500 million litigation regarding allegedly defective construction of a hotel tower in Las Vegas, including briefing before the Nevada Supreme Court as amicus curiae.

• Represented federal government contractor in ad hoc international arbitration of disputes with U.S. subcontractor and its Egyptian parent company arising from the termination for default of construction subcontracts at two U.S. military installations in Afghanistan, resulting in favorable settlement.

• Represented federal government contractor in arbitration with joint venture partner arising from disputes over responsibility for cost overruns during construction of classified military facility in Djibouti, Africa.

• Represented design-build prime contractor for construction of Defense Information Systems Agency Headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland, in arbitration of disputes with paving subcontractor, resulting in favorable mediated settlement.

• Received $5.76 million AAA arbitration award for general contractor on claim against hotel developer, including prevailing party legal fees of $165,500, and successfully enforced award through judicial sale of property.

• Represented state agency defending against $40 million delay, disruption, and acceleration claim, and successfully won partial motions to dismiss with award of attorneys' fees to the client pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.