Architect limit of liability clause?
We’re about to sign a contract with an architect to gut reno our townhouse in Brooklyn. The architect’s contract contains a clause limiting their legal liability to 250k (which is potentially less than the firm’s total fee). Does anyone know if this common/a reasonable amount?

rarara
in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago
3
Please log in, in order to post replies!

jimhillra | 6 years and 3 months ago
string(1) "1" object(WP_User)#4892 (8) { ["data"]=> object(stdClass)#4919 (12) { ["ID"]=> string(6) "180609" ["user_login"]=> string(9) "jimhillra" ["user_pass"]=> string(63) "$wp$2y$10$QRWZTbPjDPrlhsfWuWTHKeCqy5fBaiZJQCbDzaRLhdOw/y0.5HfD6" ["user_nicename"]=> string(9) "jimhillra" ["user_email"]=> string(25) "info@urban-pioneering.com" ["user_url"]=> string(0) "" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2017-08-10 14:06:33" ["user_activation_key"]=> string(0) "" ["user_status"]=> string(1) "0" ["display_name"]=> string(21) "Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP" ["spam"]=> string(1) "0" ["deleted"]=> string(1) "0" } ["ID"]=> int(180609) ["caps"]=> array(1) { ["bbp_participant"]=> bool(true) } ["cap_key"]=> string(15) "wp_capabilities" ["roles"]=> array(1) { [0]=> string(15) "bbp_participant" } ["allcaps"]=> array(1) { ["bbp_participant"]=> bool(true) } ["filter"]=> NULL ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=> int(1) }
That’s awfully low for professional liability. I would expect at least a million per claim, two million for aggregate. I have heard of limiting the legal liability to the lesser of either the limit of the architect’s aggregate or the extent of the fees, so I think the OP is probably stating it right.
That said, if the job is of a size that the architect’s fees could exceed $250k, I would definitely want the architect to carry more than $250k in liability insurance.

panda10 | 6 years and 3 months ago
string(1) "1" object(WP_User)#4893 (8) { ["data"]=> object(stdClass)#4894 (12) { ["ID"]=> string(4) "7642" ["user_login"]=> string(7) "panda10" ["user_pass"]=> string(0) "" ["user_nicename"]=> string(7) "panda10" ["user_email"]=> string(19) "jhsyang99@yahoo.com" ["user_url"]=> string(22) "/forums/users/panda10/" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:37" ["user_activation_key"]=> string(0) "" ["user_status"]=> string(1) "0" ["display_name"]=> string(7) "panda10" ["spam"]=> string(1) "0" ["deleted"]=> string(1) "0" } ["ID"]=> int(7642) ["caps"]=> array(2) { ["subscriber"]=> bool(true) ["bbp_participant"]=> bool(true) } ["cap_key"]=> string(15) "wp_capabilities" ["roles"]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(10) "subscriber" [1]=> string(15) "bbp_participant" } ["allcaps"]=> array(4) { ["read"]=> bool(true) ["level_0"]=> bool(true) ["subscriber"]=> bool(true) ["bbp_participant"]=> bool(true) } ["filter"]=> NULL ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=> int(1) }
Without knowing anything about your project, I’m sure that’s the liability limit on their professional insurance. They are trying to ensure they will not have to pay anything additional.

yudashasom | 6 years and 3 months ago
string(1) "1" object(WP_User)#4897 (8) { ["data"]=> object(stdClass)#4891 (12) { ["ID"]=> string(6) "194528" ["user_login"]=> string(10) "yudashasom" ["user_pass"]=> string(34) "$P$BKrcOOJj2qysH3kdOE3mMqxeyqPZ1m0" ["user_nicename"]=> string(10) "yudashasom" ["user_email"]=> string(20) "yudashasom@gmail.com" ["user_url"]=> string(0) "" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2017-08-10 14:07:32" ["user_activation_key"]=> string(0) "" ["user_status"]=> string(1) "0" ["display_name"]=> string(29) "Dasha Sominski Dasha Sominski" ["spam"]=> string(1) "0" ["deleted"]=> string(1) "0" } ["ID"]=> int(194528) ["caps"]=> array(1) { ["subscriber"]=> bool(true) } ["cap_key"]=> string(15) "wp_capabilities" ["roles"]=> array(1) { [0]=> string(10) "subscriber" } ["allcaps"]=> array(3) { ["read"]=> bool(true) ["level_0"]=> bool(true) ["subscriber"]=> bool(true) } ["filter"]=> NULL ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=> int(1) }
$250k for architectural fees.. what?!