Architects' Claims Stories
Architects' Claims Stories
Pro-Demnity Insurance Company
Architects' Claims Stories describe the events of actual case studies of professional liability insurance claims against architects, and are for the benefit of all architects, interns and architectural technologists in Ontario, Canada – and beyond. Each story recounts the circumstances of an insurance claim, inspired by, the 6,000-or-so, that Pro-Demnity Insurance Company has defended. The Stories have been fictionalized, to protect the identity of the parties involved. Every Claim Story features a unique cast of characters: the Architect, the client, the sub-contractors and others, whose circumstances are part of an unfolding drama, from the origin of the claim right up to the often-surprising outcome. Valuable lessons abound concerning the very factual risks – insured and uninsured – of everyday architectural practice.
Unchecked Qualifications
“Trust but verify” is a diplomatic term that applies just as well to architectural practice. Give your team members enough space to exercise their own skills, but always maintain a discreet watchful eye. Lack of professional oversight contributes to several problems, and those problems lead to claims.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Jun 5, 2023
24 min
Poor Site Planning
In architectural practice, boundaries are critical. There are physical boundaries, professional boundaries and, what might best be called aspirational boundaries. In this episode, boundaries are badly defined, ignored, stretched and transgressed. Abysmal record keeping only makes matters worse.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Apr 3, 2023
27 min
Inaccurate Certificates
Under the various pressures of contract administration, architects can sometimes exercise too little care when issuing certificates. Inaccurate, false or misleading certificates are potential sources of claims.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Mar 6, 2023
27 min
Relying on Consultants
It sometimes happens that architects take on projects that require the skill and experience that only a specialist consultant can provide. It’s easy to fall into the trap of taking responsibility in areas where your knowledge, and your ability to control events, are limited. As these two stories show, when things go wrong, it may be the Architects who are held accountable.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Jan 3, 2023
31 min
Exploring New Products
Architectural creativity often involves exploring new products, or in some cases, finding new uses for existing products. It’s expected that architects will make sure that these products are approved for their intended use, and that their installation or application will be carefully monitored. But be aware that the associated risks of experimenting with new products can be burdensome, and as the architects in these two stories discovered, the penalties can be severe.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Nov 1, 2022
27 min
Inattention to Detail
Episode 3 of Architects’ Claims Stories highlights two different situations where the clients’ desire for a grand architectural gesture results in a debacle for the architects involved. Physical and emotional injuries arise from Inattention to detail. Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Aug 31, 2022
22 min
Failure to Communicate
A simple exchange of information, promptly delivered, duly recorded and correctly remembered, might have saved everyone a lot of grief.  Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
May 2, 2022
25 min
No Written Record
All three claims stories in this episode deal, in one way or another, with the consequences of an architect failing to maintain written records.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you’re an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.
Mar 2, 2022
22 min