CCP 411.35 (b) (1) requires that before filing a complaint or cross-complaint against a design professional for professional negligence, the lawyer representing the plaintiff and the lawyer(s) representing the cross-complainant(s) must serve a certificate declaring...
Many design firms have faced the following scenario: A building, or series of buildings (e.g., college campus) has serious defect issues, e.g., water intrusion. The damages are catastrophic requiring reconstruction in the tens of millions of dollars. In the...
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk that design professionals have always faced on their projects due to delays. It has been almost a year since WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The pandemic has...
Contractors often produce a quality product yet find themselves a party to litigation over alleged defects.In some cases, the defect may not be caused by the contractor, but caused by a subcontractor. Sometimes, the defect becomes apparent only after the structure has...
In California and across the United States, real estate is always seen as a worthwhile investment. Because it is tangible and something that people always need – housing – there is benefit to be had from investing in it. That and various reality television programs...
Construction contracts can, depending upon the project, be extremely complicated. These signed agreements hold each side accountable for money, goods and services. When one party goes into material breach, the other side may be entitled to damages to compensate for...
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...
Buying a home is a big undertaking for many California residents. In the Bay Area, the down payment for a single family home can be a significant sum of money, and the monthly commitment of a mortgage may constitute a large percentage of the purchaser’s income. Before...
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...
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...
