PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY EXPOSURE OF CASUAL CONSULTANTS

Recent trends indicate that suits against professionals, including engineers, are on the increase. Laws are more sympathetic to those injured by the actions of various professionals. Until the mid 1950s, the engineer was relatively immune to that type of lawsuit. Since then, however, courts have attempted to impose liability on engineers because of their responsibilities in the design and constuction processes. Engineers must be aware of that liability. However, it may not be so clear that an engineer who occasionally "moonlights" may be exposed to signgificant liability. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential liability of th moonlighter or the engineer who gives casual or gratuitous advice and to suggest ways in which that liability may be avoided. The various theories of liability are examined and analyzed to determine if they are applicable to the moonlighter or the casual consultant. Finally, the alternatives that might reduce a potential liability are presented.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339380
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Bakos Jr, J D
  • Hake, R J
• Publication Date: 1987-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References;
• Pagination: p. 321-339
• Serial:
  • Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
  • Volume: 113
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9380

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Consultants; Courts; Engineers; Laws; Liability; Professional personnel
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Law; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474664
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM