Negotiating Client Clauses

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Agenda

Legal Liability for Design Professionals Contract Essentials Select Contract Clauses


Agenda

Certifications Dispute Resolution Indemnification Standard of Care Warranties


Legal Liability

When a “failure” occurs, liability may follow when four elements are present: DutyBreachCausation Damages* A legally sanctioned obligation.


Sources of Duty

Common Law What is expected of you as a

professional? Statutory Law

What does the law require of you? Contract Law

What did you promise this client?


First Law of Contracts

“You get what you negotiate – not what

you deserve”Anonymous


Contract Essentials

1. Determine who is in the best position to carry out each responsibility & assign responsibility accordingly.2. Assign responsibilities with the authority to fulfill them.3. Assign each responsibility to only one party.4. Use language that creates realistic expectations.


Types of Contracts

Oral Agreements Letter Agreements Purchase Orders Standard Form Agreements Custom Agreements


Certifications

CLIENT’S COMMANDO CLAUSE

Design Professional shall provide certifications of Project design, Project completion, and other Project details as necessary for the benefit of Owner or as required by government agencies, lenders, or others.


Certifications

RESPONSE

Certify facts known from the services provided or issue a professional opinion based on “knowledge, information, and belief” related to services provided to preserve ethical practice and minimize exposure.


Certifications

B101-2007 RESPONSE: (Article 10.4) If the Owner requests the Architect to execute certificates, the

proposed language of such certificates shall be submitted to the Architect for review at least 14 days prior to the requested dates of execution. If the Owner requests the Architect to execute consents reasonably required to facilitate assignment to a lender, the Architect shall execute all such consents that are consistent with this Agreement, provided the proposed consent is submitted to the Architect for review at least 14 days prior to execution. The Architect shall not be required to execute certificates or consents that would require knowledge, services or responsibilities beyond the scope of this Agreement.


Certifications

E-500 RESPONSE: (Article 6.01 (G)) Engineer shall not be required to sign any documents...

that would result in the Engineer having to certify...the existence of conditions whose existence the Engineer cannot ascertain.

Owner agrees not to make resolution of any dispute with the Engineer or payment of any amount due to the Engineer in any way contingent upon the Engineer signing any such documents.


Dispute Resolution


All disputes shall be resolved through litigation with prevailing party entitled to recover all legal fees and costs. Owner shall have the option to mediate any claim through its choice of mediators or demand arbitration, which shall involve all parties involved in any way in the dispute.


Dispute Resolution

RESPONSE

Owner and Consultant agree that they shall first submit any and all unsettled claims, counterclaims, disputes, and other matters in question between them arising out of or relating to this Agreement to mediation in accordance with the Construction Industry Mediation Rules of the American Arbitration Association, effective as of the date of this Agreement.


Dispute Resolution

B101-2007 RESPONSE: Article 8.2

Mandatory mediation Article 8.3

Mandatory arbitration if mediation fails…can select litigation

Consolidation or joinder allowed if common question of law or fact


Dispute Resolution

E-500 RESPONSE: (Article 6.08)Owner and Engineer agree to negotiate all disputes between them in good faith for a period of 30 days If the parties fail to resolve a dispute through negotiation...either or both may invoke the procedures of Exhibit H. If Exhibit H is not included, or if no dispute resolution method is specified in Exhibit H, then the parties may exercise their rights under law.


Dispute Resolution

E-500 RESPONSE: (Exhibit H)Mandatory mediationMandatory arbitration if mediation failsParties are allow to select their own mediation/arbitration rules and governing body.


Indemnification


Design Professional shall defend, indemnify, & hold harmless Owner from any & all claims arising out of the project caused in whole or in part by the consultant, excluding only those caused by the sole negligence of any of the Indemnities.


To the fullest extent permitted by law, Consultant shall indemnify Client, its officers, directors, partners, employees, and representatives, from and against losses, damages, and judgments arising from claims by third parties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses recoverable under applicable law, but only to the extent they are found to be caused by a negligent act, error, or omission of Consultant or Consultant’s officers, directors, members, partners, agents, employees, or subconsultants in the performance of services under this Agreement.

RESPONSE

Indemnification


B101-2007 RESPONSE: Not in B101-2007 Obligation exist under common law even if

not in the contract

Indemnification


B103-2007 RESPONSE: (Article 8.1.3)New Language The Architect shall indemnify and hold the Owner and the Owner’s

officers and employees harmless from and against damages, losses and judgments arising from claims by third parties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses recoverable under applicable law, but only to the extent they are caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Architect, its employees and its consultants in the performance of professional services under this Agreement. The Architect’s duty to indemnify the Owner under this provision shall be limited to the available proceeds of insurance coverage.

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Indemnification


E-500 RESPONSE: (Article 6.10) Engineer indemnifies the Owner to the extent caused by

any negligent act or omission of Engineer Requires the Owner to indemnify the Engineer Each party agrees to indemnify the other in proportion to

the harm they caused

Indemnification


Standard of Care


The Design Professional’s services shall be consistent with the highest professional standards and shall be for the sole benefit of the Owner.


Standard of Care

RESPONSE

The standard of care for all professional services performed or furnished by Consultant under this Agreement will be the skill and care used by members of Consultant’s profession practicing under similar circumstances at the same time and in the same locality. Consultant makes no warranties, express or implied, under this Agreement or otherwise, in connection with Consultant’s services.


Standard of Care

B101-2007 RESPONSE: (Article 2.2)

Perform services with the skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in the same or similar locality under the same or similar circumstances


Standard of Care

E-500 RESPONSE: (Article 6.01(A))

Standard of care will be the care and skill ordinarily used by members of the subject profession practicing under similar circumstances at the same time and in the same locality


Warranties


Design Professional shall prepare Contract Documents to assure Owner that Project shall be fit for its intended purpose and shall meet all energy, environmental, and accessibility requirements.


Express Warranties & Guarantees

Can relate to service or result Excluded from professional liability coverage No proof of fault or negligence is required Can be created by words such as “assure,”

“complete,” “fit for intended purpose,” as well as “warrant,” “represent,” or “guarantee”


Warranties

RESPONSE

Consultant warrants that it is properly licensed to perform the services under this Agreement and that it shall perform the services in a professional manner meeting the standard of care.


Warranties

B101-2007 RESPONSE: Not in B101-2007 Only warranty relates to ownership of

copyrights Avoids warranties in design, deliverables,

shop drawing review, evaluations of the Work, certification of payment requests, and other professional services


Warranties

E-500 RESPONSE (Article 6.01 (A)): Engineer makes no warranties, express or implied,

under this Agreement or otherwise, in connection with Engineer’s services.

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Negotiating Client Clauses