Risk Management Articles
Apartments Rising – Condo Caution
One of the growth segments in the construction industry today is apartments. Apartment projects across the country are rising and are expected to continue through 2014. Particularly in hot markets including Washington, D.C, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta....
Typical Insurance Coverage for a Design Firm
In an effort to demystify some of the concepts and to provide a ready reference a/e ProNet put together this insurance manual. This is not intended to be an exhaustive source of information but rather a primer designed to answer basic questions and to put the reader...
A Fee Dispute: What To Do?
By Reno Caldwell and Michael Weibel. How simple was the process of projecting the firm's revenue for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008? Most firms simply increased their prior year's revenue by 20%. As we all know, much has changed in the economy and revenue forecasting...
Insurance Tips for Rental Vehicles
When traveling on business and renting a car you are given a choice to purchase or reject insurance offered by the rental car company. The most common of these coverages include Loss Damage Waiver, Supplemental Liability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance and...
Do You Have a Quality Control Manual?
More and more owners, developers and governmental agencies are contractually requiring that design professionals have in place a quality control manual and/or quality control procedures. If you are one of the many firms that do not have a manual or policies in place...
Integrated Project Delivery: Changing the Insurance Landscape
With more project owners demanding the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), project delivery is necessarily carried out through greater contributions of design input by the general contractor and the major trade subcontractors. The design professionals are no...
A Cautionary Digital Tale
Insurance settlement related to a building information model shows that BIM without communication can be costly. By Nadine M. Post in Pittsburgh This article originally appeared in Engineering News Record, May 23, 2011 A lawsuit over construction of a life-sciences...
New Rules for Court-Ordered Mediations
For years, insurance companies have encouraged mediation as a way to settle disputes between design professionals and their clients. In fact, most insurance companies offer financial incentive to clients who choose mediation. Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in which a neutral third-party mediator helps the parties reach an agreement in their dispute. Over 75% of claims against design professionals are settled in negotiations or mediations. Mediations offer many benefits and should be considered as an alternative to protracted litigation.
Green Buildings and Risk
Tim Corbett There is obviously a movement and increased interest in green building design and construction. However, along with that movement comes increased risk and liability for design professionals. Green building design takes the approach to incorporate building...
Green Building Performance Measured by the GSA.
Despite efforts by Congress to restrict the construction and renovation of federal buildings, the General Services Administration (GSA), through its Public Building Service, has been moving forward on reducing long-term energy and water usage, minimizing maintenance...