Risk Management Articles
The Prime/Sub Team: Strategies for a Healthy Relationship & Successful Project
By Erin Johnson, JCJ Insurance Successful construction projects consist of multiple design firms working towards a common goal. Some projects, your role may be the Prime Consultant, and on other projects you may be the Subconsultant. No matter your role, the success...
Documentation – Your Best Defense for Professional Liability Claims
By Mark Jackson, JCJ Insurance Communication is essential to every part of a project. Good communication can help ensure a project’s success, while poor communication can lead to disputes and claims. Documentation is the narrative of the project that forms the legal...
The Importance of Having a Signed Contract
by Mark Jackson Your firm has been selected for a new project. Congratulations! The Owner wants you to start as soon as possible. Your team is excited to start working on the design. But what about the contract? It is not uncommon for design firms to begin schematic...
Using Personal Vehicles and Rental Cars for Work – What are the Risks?
By Erin Johnson, JCJ Insurance Agency Whether your firm owns vehicles or not, chances are you have employees who use their personal vehicles for business purposes. Most design firms are aware that they need proper coverage for automobiles they own but are less clear...
New Law Increases the Need for Design Professionals to Perform Inspection Services
By Mark Jackson and Erin Johnson, JCJ Insurance Agency The tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower in 2019 prompted Florida lawmakers to create a mandatory inspection bill aimed at preventing future catastrophes and unnecessary loss of life. In May 2022, the Florida...
The Value of Pre-Claims Assistance
By Mark Jackson, JCJ Insurance As a Design Professional, you are trained and educated to solve problems. Whether it is a new and innovative design concept, the repurposing of an existing structure, or fixing a project after storm damage, you are uniquely qualified to...
Florida Statute of Repose Shortened to Seven Years
Good news for Design Firms! On April 13, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 360. One significant change is that SB 360 shortens the statute of repose in Florida from ten to seven years. No changes were made to the four-year statute of limitations. The...
Avoiding Duty to Defend
By Mark Jackson, JCJ Insurance Agency It is extremely important to know the risks involved in the agreements you sign. Oftentimes during contract negotiations, design firms are determining their level of comfort with the risk verses rewards for that specific project....
Design Build Done Right for Design Firms
By Erin Kelley, JCJ Insurance The ACEC Research Institute recently released a new study, Design Build State of Practice: Recommendations for Agencies and Industry on Effective Project Delivery, in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder. With input from...
How to Limit the Liability of an Individual Design Professional
By Mark Jackson, JCJ Insurance Under Florida law, individual design professionals can be personally liable for negligence claims even if they did not sign the professional services contract with the client. Nine years ago, the State of Florida passed legislation that...