Design professionals take pride in their work, knowing that they have designed something that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also complies with code. When you design a building, part of the design will include safety features. Unfortunately, sometimes design...
Reasonable cause for delays in AIA contracts
The ongoing health crisis has disrupted just about every industry in our economy. This includes design and construction. In most instances, this impact comes in the form of unexpected delays that can turn out to be costly. Given the expense involved, these delays can...
What Are The Risks In A Firm’s Website?
When a design firm sets out to market its professional services, the information it places on its website may put it at unintentional legal risk. Design professionals and firms have a standard duty of care to prevent property damage or harm to building occupants....
How to Avoid Paying For More than Your Proportionate Share of Fault
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS II The Risk of Paying More than Your Fair Share Let’s start with the basic premise that the purpose of a contract is to allocate risks, rewards and responsibilities in a way that each party finds agreeable for a particular commercial...
Design firms should pay attention to cybersecurity risks
The use of technology in the world of business, including the design business, has exploded over the last 30 years and has provided many wonderful new opportunities. Unfortunately, too many people have instead taken the information revolution as an opportunity to...
Are Architects Liable For Wildfire Damage?
The California wildfires have presented heightened challenges for architects designing new homes. The scope of these catastrophic fires has provided further information about how buildings and structures burn under these conditions. Given the lives and property lost...
Common design professional malpractice claims
Construction projects may be large and complex. Building owners and other impacted parties can sue anyone involved in the design and construction of the structure, including design professionals, if something goes or if they are dissatisfied. Design professional...
We advise and fight for designers who are facing legal issues
Design professionals and architects face a whole host of legal issues as they try to perform their work. Dealing with these legal challenges can be frustrating to someone who simply wants to carry out his or her duties, but properly addressing these mattes is...
A duty to defend clause can complicate your design contract
As a design professional in California, you bear an enormous amount of responsibility, not all of which should rest solely on your shoulders. Through properly drawn contracts, you can mitigate some of that responsibility. However, many contracts try to place undue...
Designer or architect, what’s the difference?
People use the words "designer" and "architect" interchangeably. But there is are important differences. Many people contribute to the design of a home. The client may have ideas or suggestions, an architect may do a design sketch and an interior designer may help the...
