Engineering Law and Ethics Seminar
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 am – 12:15 pm
Lunch (On your own): 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Afternoon Session: 1:15 – 5:00 pm
Contract Law Primer for Engineers
J. Haftek Jr.
Reviewing the necessary elements of any contract
Understanding contract “legalese”
• Determining performance
• What constitutes a breach of contract?
• What are damages and remedies?
• Liability-shifting contract provisions:
warranties, guaranteesand indemnities
Making changes to contracts
Professional Liability Law
C. Demareski
Reviewing the grounds for professional liability claims
Identifying who can bring a claim
Examining common sources of professional liability claims
Reviewing defenses to liability claims
Determining damages
Participating in dispute resolution: arbitration, mediation, litigation
Obtaining insurance coverage for professional liability claims
Complying with Rules of Professional Conduct
J. Suarez
Sealing of documents
Standards for responsible charge of engineering work
Unauthorized practice of engineering
National Society of Professional Engineers’ Code of Ethics
Handling Ethical Issues in Professional Engineering Practice
A. Cimino Jr.
Promoting health and welfare vs. managing risk:
complementary or conflicting duties?
Protecting the environment: meeting or exceeding legal requirements
Watching the bottom line:
identifying and balancing economic pressures in design and construction
Integrating new technologies:
identifying and balancing thebenefits and risks
Developments in Federal and New Jersey Environmental Law
S. Humphreys
Reviewing recent changes to and enforcement of:
• Pollution prevention
• Water quality enforcement
• Stormwater permitting
• Watersheds, wetlands, lakes and streams
Reviewing recent and anticipated developments at the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Understanding the Investigatory and Disciplinary Practices of the
New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
J. Becker
Understanding the Board’s disciplinary powers
Reviewing prohibited practices and grounds for disciplinary action
Investigatory procedures
Disciplinary hearings
Administrative and other penalties and enforcement
Credits
This seminar is open to the public and offers up to 7.0 CPC credits, including 2.0 ethics credits, to New Jersey professional engineers.
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a New Jersey approved continuing education provider (Approval No. 24GP00000700).
Professional engineers seeking continuing education credit in other states will be able to claim the credits earned at this seminar, in most cases. Refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility. Due to New Jersey-specific content, this course does not offer continuing education credit to New York engineers.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
John Becker
Thompson Becker & Brothwell, LLC in Cherry HillPartner at Thompson Becker & Brothwell, LLC in Cherry HillMr. Becker is a graduate of Glassboro State College (B.A. cum laude, 1987) and Rutgers University Law School (J.D., 1990). He is a member of the Camden County, New Jersey State, and American Bar Associations. Mr. Becker has 25 years of experience representing architects, engineers, land surveyors, contractors and related construction professionals. He is a frequent lecturer on AIA contracts and design professional liability. Mr. Becker is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Andrew Cimino
Cimino & Filippone, LLC in HazletPartner at Cimino & Filippone, LLC in HazletMr. Cimino’s practice includes the entire range of litigation, with specialization in the defense of professionals including architects, engineers, contractors, physicians, surveyors, and home inspectors. His practice also includes residential and commercial real estate transactions, trust and estate planning, and municipal court appearances. Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Cimino was associated with the firm of Ruprecht, Hart & Weeks, LLP, where he was responsible for defending various railroads and architects/engineers. He has also worked as in-house counsel for a major professional liability insurance company. Prior to that, Mr. Cimino was an associate with Peterpaul, Clark & Corcoran LLP, where handled various aspects of litigation.
Craig Demareski
Connell Foley in RoselandPartner at Connell Foley in RoselandMr. Demareski represents clients in a wide range of professional liability, construction and complex commercial litigation matters. In particular, he regularly defends engineers and other professionals in major professional malpractice litigation in both state and federal courts. His experience includes serving as trial counsel in professional malpractice and business litigation matters, as well as managing trial teams in large, complex professional liability, construction and commercial litigation matters. Mr. DeMareski has a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College and received his J.D. degree from Seton Hall Law School. His engineering background gives him a unique advantage in grasping complex technical issues in engineering malpractice cases, in communicating effectively with his engineering clients and in proposing and implementing effective legal strategies to resolve matters quickly and efficiently. When matters cannot be addressed through mediation or settlement, his trial experience makes him a strong advocate for his engineering clients in the courtroom.
Joseph R. Haftek, Jr.
Partner with Gartner & Bloom, in Whippany, NJMr. Haftek prides himself on assisting a broad base of clients with a variety a business and legal needs. From years of handling development projects and contract drafting and negotiation to experience in complex commercial disputes, with a focus on construction law, he aims to be the attorney firm clients can rely on to efficiently and effectively address a wide range of concerns. Mr. Haftek handles all phases of commercial and construction law and litigation, including construction defects, construction/municipal mechanics’ liens, public bid protests, delays, extra work, collections, and contract negotiation and drafting. His work has been recognized with selection as a New Jersey Super Lawyers’ Rising Star and Super Lawyer in the area of Construction Litigation, and he is a frequent speaker for attorneys and business professionals on topics ranging from contract drafting to government procurement.
Steven Humphreys
Kelley Drye & Warren LLPMr. Humphreys is an attorney with the law firm of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, where he concentrates his practice on all aspects of environmental law and related counseling of businesses. He advises businesses on regulatory compliance and management of environmental risk in matters arising under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; and various other federal, state and local environmental laws. He also works on the environmental aspects of business transactions.
Joseph Suarez
Suarez & Suarez in Jersey CityPartner at Suarez & Suarez in Jersey CityMr. Suarez attended Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1982. Subsequent to serving a judicial clerkship with the Civil Assignment Judge in Hudson County, he practiced for a short while with a defense firm in Livingston, New Jersey, after which he became a member of Suarez & Suarez Attorneys at Law. He has been rated AV Preeminent, the highest peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards, continually since 2002. Mr. Suarez has been representing architects and engineers for over 30 years.