Identifying and Reducing Legal Issues in Construction Submittals through Case Law Analysis
Published in Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 2026
Construction submittals, the documents and materials contractors submit for approval before work begins, are an important checkpoint for making sure a project follows its specifications and contract terms. When the submittal process breaks down, it often leads to costly lawsuits, project delays, and damaged relationships between the parties involved.
This study looked at 26 legal cases in the United States where submittals were at the center of the dispute. Through careful review of these cases, the study identified the most common problems, including late submissions and approvals, incomplete or faulty submittals, and paperwork that did not meet contract requirements. It also identified the legal rules most often cited in these disputes.
The study also reviewed how submittal management has evolved, moving from traditional, process-based coordination toward more data-driven and digitally connected systems. This includes lean workflow practices, better verification steps, early coordination between parties, and closer integration with building information modeling (BIM). Tools such as Procore, Bluebeam, and Autodesk Construction Cloud, along with new AI-based automation, are playing a growing role in this shift.
Based on these findings, the study offers practical strategies to help contractors, owners, designers, and legal professionals reduce submittal-related disputes through better management practices and digital tools.
Recommended citation: Giri, M., Zhang, C., Pal, U. K., & Neupane, S. (2026). Identifying and Reducing Legal Issues in Construction Submittals through Case Law Analysis. Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-1594
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