News & Insights

Practice Area: Architects and Engineers

New Hampshire Supreme Court Rules Statute Of Repose Applies To Indemnity And Contribution Claims Against Architects

In Rankin v. South Street Downtown Holdings, Inc., 2019 WL 3562167 (N.H. Aug. 6, 2019), the New Hampshire Supreme Court addressed whether the state’s Statute of Repose applied to indemnity and contribution claims against architects, or only applied to claims for direct losses.  The Court found the statute did apply and imposes a time limit…
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Architect’s Negligent Inspection Exposes Him To Liability For Personal Injury

In Demetro v. Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, 170 A.D. 3d 437 (N.Y. 2019), a New York Appellate Court addressed whether an architect’s failure to identify deviations from its designs subjected the architect to liability for personal injuries as a result of the defective condition. On a Motion for Summary Judgment, the…
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Engineer Did Not Assume Responsibility For All Aspects Of Design When He Stamped The Drawings That Did Not Include A Weld Design

In Novum Structures, LLC v. Larson Engineering, Inc., 2019 WL 1924878 (E.D. Wis. April 30, 2019), a Wisconsin District Court addressed whether an engineer’s sealing of design drawings makes the engineer the “Engineer of Record” and establishes a duty to verify the accuracy of the entire design. In 2014, Novum Structures, LLC (“Novum”) was hired…
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Utah Court Of Appeals Rules Economic Loss Rule Bars Property Owners’ Claims Against Geotechnical Engineering Firm

In Hayes v. Intermountain GeoEnvironmental Services, Inc., 2019 WL 2621931 (Utah Ct. App. June 27, 2019), the Utah Court of Appeals upheld the economic loss rule, finding a property owners’ tort claims against a geotechnical engineer were barred. In 2004, a developer hired Intermountain GeoEnvironmental Services, Inc. (“IGES”) to conduct a geotechnical investigation for a…
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Texas Supreme Court Rules Engineer’s Conduct Evidenced Intentional Waiver Of Certificate Of Merit Requirement

In LaLonde v. Gosnell, 2019 WL 2479172 (Tex. June 14, 2019), the Texas Supreme Court held an engineer’s engagement in the judicial process, through the completion of discovery and until one month before trial, waived the Certificate of Merit requirements. Paul and Kim Gosnell (the “Gosnells”) contracted with Thomas A. LaLonde d/b/a Lee Engineering Co….
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Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules Engineer That Prepared Documents For Public Bidding Did Not Owe Duty To General Contractor

In John Rocchio Corporation v. Pare Engineering Corporation, 2019 WL 575822 (R.I. Feb 13, 2019), the Warwick Sewer Authority (“WSA”) contracted with Pare Engineering Corporation (“Pare”) to provide pre-bid services, including preparing a Request For Proposal (“RFP”) to be provided to general contractors submitting bids.  Pare completed the RFP and WSA received bids from five…
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