"In Broken Buildings, Busted Budgets, prominent construction attorney Barry B. LePatner builds a powerful case for change in America's sole remaining "mom and pop" industry - an industry that consumes $1.23 trillion and wastes at least $120 billion each year. American consumers pay the price for construction industry inefficiency with higher taxes and higher prices for housing and consumer goods. With three decades of experience representing clients that include eminent architects and engineers, as well as corporations, institutions, and developers, LePatner has seen firsthand how bad management, ineffective supervision, and insufficient investment in technology plague this industry. He pinpoints the problems that underlie construction's woes and provides practical tips for anyone in the business of building, including advice on the precise language owners should use during contract negotiations."--BOOK JACKET. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.