Monthly Archives: April 2011

A turn-around in the business of Architecture?

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Architecture Buildings looking up

Architectural billings are up, according to the AIA Architectural Billing Index (ABI).   The ABI was up slightly in February to 50.6 (compared to 50 in January), marking the fourth straight month at 50 or higher – after nearly three years of almost uniformly decreasing billings.  As Mike Purdy notes on his Public Contracting Blog, the increase in architectural services usually foreshadows increases in all downstream construction activity.

Visit Mike’s post for links to more detailed information relating to the ABI.

How is your Firm’s net profit?  Are you holding steady?  Seeing an uptick?  Drop me a note and tell me your biggest legal challenge holding you back, and I’ll address it in a future post, so you can concentrate on doing what you do best.

 Photo (c) Dennis Mojado via Creative Commons license.

Certificate of Merit to sue architects or engineers? (Tue Tip)

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You know how they say the best laid plans can go awry?  Just as unforeseen issues pop up in construction, they also pop up in the practice of law.  So, while it is still Tuesday, I apologize for the late hour of my post.

I bring you good tidings, despite my lateness.  Right now, in the North Carolina General Assembly, is a proposed bill that would require a Certificate of Merit to be filed in civil litigation against an architect, engineer, or a design firm.  If it passes, this would require that an unbiased, third party (who is also a licensed professional) has reviewed the claim and believes it has merit.  

boy holding certificate of merit

This boy has his certificate of merit: will lawsuits against architects and engineers require the same?

Such a pre-lawsuit requirement  has long been a right that doctors enjoy.  Now, there may a chance for architects and engineers to also enjoy protection from otherwise frivolous lawsuits. 

The bill has been introduced, had its first reading, and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee.  While the bill is a long way from passage, it is a good sign that the public recognizes too often professionals are the targets in lawsuits simply because of their “deep pockets” (really!) or their insurance coverage. 

You can keep track of the progress of Senate Bill 435 here. 

(h/t to Kathryn Westcott, ACEC-NC Executive Director)

Photo: (c) John Dolan via Flickr/Creative Commons License.