Architect Wins Summary Judgment in Opinion by New Chief Justice
If this case is any indication, architects and engineers have a receptive audience in the new Chief Justice, John Roberts. While sitting on the D.C. Circuit last year, he wrote an opinion affirming summary judgment dismissal of claims by owner against an architect over alleged defects in an HVAC system. The basis of the ruling was the owner's failure to make a causal connection between its "litany" of complaints with the performance of the HVAC and any defect in the plans. The opinion has some choice language, certain now to be used more widely given Judge Roberts' confirmation as the new Chief Justice.
