Providing fact testimony When a lawsuit is filed against an architecture firm for services it provided, members of the firm may be subpoenaed to testify on relevant facts in a deposition and possibly in a trial. View suggested tips and guidelines when providing fact testimony Claims defense from the attorney’s perspective When a claim is…
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Sureties Pursue Design Firms for Recovery of Losses
When a surety has to take over a project from a defaulting contractor, the surety completes the work under the bonded contract and is entitled to the remainder of the contract cost. Often, the cost of completion exceeds the available payments and the surety looks to sources of cost recovery. In virtually every state, courts…
Read MoreRetirement Planning: The Cost of Waiting
“The way to get started is to stop talking and start doing.” – Walt Disney The time for planning for your future is now. But in today’s fast paced, hectic world many people put off important decisions until another day. The excuses—”I don’t have time to plan,” “I can’t afford to invest,” and “I really…
Read MoreBlurring the Legal Concept of Intellectual Property
Increasingly, all project stakeholders will be challenged by the blending of design services related to the construction of a project. Projects on which the design is delegated to or assigned through those responsible for actual construction blur the lines of responsibility and confuse the ability to copyright information and designs as well as the responsibility…
Read MoreGroup Variable Annuity Contract: Misconceptions versus Reality
Group Variable Annuity Contract sounds like a complex term, but the reality is much simpler and certainly not something to avoid when a business is considering a 401(k) plan provider. There are a number of misconceptions attached to this term and annuities in general. One misconception is that merely because a plan is held in…
Read MoreDisabled Architect Illustrates Disability Risks
In December 2007, the sky seemingly fell on 39-year-old architect Robert Woo near ground zero while he sat in his trailer office working as associate architect on the Goldman Sachs office tower project. A crane cable snapped, dropping 7 tons of steel from a 25-floor elevation onto Woo’s trailer. Lucky to be alive at all,…
Read MoreProfessional Service Firms Should Have Health and Safety Plans
Many professional service firms seem to think that health and safety rules are requirements for contractors and others performing construction work. Firms often are surprised or confused when a potential client requires that they submit their health and safety plans as a contractual requirement. All employers are responsible for the health and safety of their…
Read MoreFirm Policies Restricting Communications in Vehicles
The National Safety Council now estimates that cell phone use increases auto accident risk by a factor of four. Many, if not most, company policies on the use of cell phones for enacting company business while driving ban the use of hand-held devices but make an exception for hands-free cell phone usage. This often is…
Read MoreEmployment Practices and Social Media
The proliferation of social media has transformed the way people communicate with each other. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+ allow people to post whatever strikes their fancy, sharing information with their network and by extension the whole world instantaneously. Design firms are increasingly using social media platforms as part of their business practices:…
Read MoreDo You Need Flood Insurance?
You may think you need flood insurance only if you live near water. Think again. Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall, melting snow, clogged drainage systems and broken levees. All it takes is a few inches of water to cause major damage to your home and belongings.
Read MoreDo You Need Flood Insurance?
