Chestlen Victory Draws Widespread National Media Attention in ENR, Bisnow, Construction Dive and More

Glaser Weil’s $174.6+ million trial victory for Chestlen Development against Tutor Perini Building Corp. has received extensive attention across national, regional and industry media outlets, underscoring the significance of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas’ damages ruling and its implications for large‑scale construction projects.

Following a five‑week liability trial and a subsequent damages phase, the Court awarded Chestlen more than $174 million for breach of contract arising out of delays and construction defects at the 52‑story, dual‑branded W Hotel and Element Hotel in Center City Philadelphia. Media coverage has focused not only on the size of the award, but also on the Court’s findings regarding contractor responsibility, defective slab work and years‑long project delays.

Coverage Includes:

• Engineering News‑Record (ENR) – “Tutor Perini Ordered to Pay $175M Over Philadelphia Hotel Project” (Apr. 20, 2026) (subscription required)
• Bisnow – “Judge Orders Contractor To Pay $175M In Damages To Developer Of 52‑Story Philly Hotel” (Apr. 20, 2026)
• Construction Dive – “Court awards $174.6M in damages against Tutor Perini in Philadelphia hotel dispute” (Apr. 17, 2026)
• Philadelphia Business Journal – “Judge awards developer $175M in W/Element hotel dispute” (Apr. 16, 2026) (subscription required)
• The Philadelphia Inquirer – “Judge orders contractor to pay $175 million for the W hotel’s construction going ‘off the rails’” (Apr. 21, 2026) (subscription required)
• Hoodline – “Philadelphia Court Orders $174.6M From Tutor Perini Over W Hotel Defects” (Apr. 19, 2026)
• The Real Deal – “Philly developer wins $175M suit over hotel construction delays” (Apr. 22, 2026)

Peter Sheridan, who heads Glaser Weil’s construction practice and led the litigation on behalf of Chestlen, was quoted extensively across the coverage. “Contracts are not guidelines, they’re contracts,” Sheridan told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s not pirate law. It’s actually what the parties have agreed to.” In ENR, he emphasized his client’s “effort and strong‑hearted countenance to keep going against the Number 25 contractor” in the U.S.—no small feat.

Collectively, this coverage reflects the national importance of the ruling, the strength of the trial record developed over years of litigation and the construction industry’s increasing focus on contractor accountability for defective work and prolonged delays on complex projects.

Glaser Weil was proud to represent Chestlen Development alongside co‑counsel Blank Rome and Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld in securing a result that affirms the principle that accountability applies at every level of the construction process.