Kenneth M. Elovitz, P.E., ESQ. In-house Counsel, Energy Economics, Inc., Foxboro, Mass.

Part 1 of a 2-part series: Shackled by liability to third parties

Most claims against engineers come from project owners; but as many as a third come from non-clients—individuals and entities who do not have a contract with the engineer. Negligent misrepresentation—inadvertently providing incorrect information on which a plaintiff relies and consequently suffers a loss—is a growing source of liability for engineers to third parties.