Christopher J. Weiss is a Partner with Holland & Knight. He is the co-Practice Group Leader of the Florida Construction Industry Practice Group and also serves as the partner in charge of pro bono work undertaken by Holland & Knight's Orlando office.
A recognized authority in construction matters, Mr. Weiss has represented clients in construction insurance and surety matters since 1977. He has conducted major litigation in many State and Federal Courts, and has also participated in a variety of arbitrations.
Matters handled by Mr. Weiss include:
- defense of claims totaling $51,000,000 on behalf of a manufacturer arising from the construction of a desalinization plant in Florida
- defense of a major architectural firm over the design of schools
- prosecution of a major architectural firm over the design of courthouses
- defense of claims on commercial and retail property in and around Richmond, VA for differential structural settlements allegedly caused by expanding coal-ash fill
- class action defense of a national residential developer sued by a class of thousands of tenants for alleged respiratory problems arising from mold contamination
- defense of a national contractor for deterioration of fire retardant plywood used in a major theme park
- drafting and negotiation of construction contract documents for, and counsel during the administration of, dispute resolution for construction of a variety of theme parks
- representing private owners, contractors, subcontractors, public owners in a wide variety of construction claims, particularly regarding moisture intrusion in multi-family projects
- representing construction and design professionals in alternative dispute resolutions, including mediation, arbitration and traditional litigation
Mr. Weiss' reported decisions include:
- O'Keef Architects, Inc. v. CED 909 So. 2d 370 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005)
- CED Construction, Inc. v. Kaiser-Taulbee Assoc., Inc., 816 So.2d 813, 27 Fla.L.Weekly D1167 (Fla.App. 5 Dist., May 17, 2002);
- Charles Boyd Const., Inc. v. Vacation Beach, Inc., 959 So. 2d 1227 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007)
Mr. Weiss frequently lectures at the invitation of various professional groups sponsored by the Orange County Bar, Florida Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, and The School of Building Construction at the University of Florida. He has authored many articles related to the construction industry.