Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Please log into or register the webinar/seminar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
8:30 am – 4:00 pm EDT


Presented by: Steven Nudelman, Charles A. Spitz, and Michael Mahns, RA

Understanding the Law of Professional Liability

  • Understanding common sources of professional liability claims
    • Breach of contract
    • Negligence
    • Strict liability
    • Misrepresentation
    • Fraud
  • Litigating professional liability cases
  • Insurance coverage issues
  • Strategies for preventing professional liability claims

The Architect’s Standard of Care

  • Definitions
  • Review of cases
  • Builder’s set of drawings
  • Shop drawings 
  • Satisfying permit requirements

Understanding the Law of Architectural Copyright

  • Determining what information is copyrightable
  • Understanding the benefits of architectural copyright
  • Preserving your copyrights and preventing infringement of others’ copyrights

Architects and Construction Liens

  • Eligibility – tier and timing
  • Project type
  • Format / filing / amendment
  • Scope
  • Duration
  • Enforcement
  • Discharge

Overview of Contract Law for Architects

  • Understanding the basics of contract law
  • Standard forms of agreement
  • Negotiating contract terms
  • Contract documents and formation
  • Scope of services and changes
  • Risk allocation provisions
  • Making changes to contracts
  • Breach of contract
  • Dispute resolution

Complying with New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct

  • Ensuring competence
  • Complying with duty to report and cooperate
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest
  • Understanding responsibility for full disclosure
  • Preventing unauthorized practice

Understanding New Jersey Building Design Law and Design-Build

  • Joint committee: powers and duties
  • Classification of buildings and structures
  • Contracts for services: what you agree to do
  • Engineering systems designed by architects: What can architects do?
  • Violations

Overview of the New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode NJAC 5:23-6.1 et sec.

  • Purpose of the Rehab Subcode
  • Classifications of work
  • Basic and supplemental requirements
  • Change of use


Webinar Instructions

All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)

Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled

Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps       Hardware: 2GB RAM or more

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

Architects:
6.0 Non-HSW CE Hours
6.0 AIA Elective Learning Units


Continuing Education Credit Information

This seminar and webcast are open to the public and are designed to qualify for 6.0 non-HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in New Jersey.

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.0 elective LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

On-Demand Credits

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format may not be eligible for the same credits as the live presentation; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:

6.0 LUs (AIA)

Speakers

Michael Mahns, RA

Partner, Unger + Mahns, Architects

Mr. Mahns earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University which included study abroad in Firenze, Italia. He obtained his original registration in New Jersey and holds additional licenses in several other jurisdictions. He is also a member of NCARB and the ICC. Until recently, Mr. Mahns was an adjunct professor teaching technical drawing and construction technologies as well as first- and second-year design. At the same time he worked to develop a boutique design practice concentrating on residential, commercial, and institutional projects locally and consulting with clients from Vermont to Florida, and from Idaho to London. He has lived in Monmouth County for most of his life and has been practicing there for over 30 years.

Steven Nudelman

Partner, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, LLP

Mr. Nudelman concentrates his practice in construction law. For over two decades he has represented members of the construction industry across a broad spectrum of matters. He has defended and asserted claims on behalf of owners, developers, condominium associations, general contractors, design professionals, subcontractors, vendors and sureties involved in public and private construction projects throughout the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area. More specifically, Mr. Nudelman has extensive experience handling claims related to payment disputes, construction, design and performance defects, errors and omissions/professional malpractice, code violations, delay and disruption, liens, bonds, public contracting and violations under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. He also maintains an active transactional practice, drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction contracts for his clients with an emphasis on efficiency and practical results.

Charles A. Spitz

Owner, Charles A. Spitz, AIA, NCARB

Mr. Spitz earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Kansas and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Rutgers University, and he is a graduate of the United States Naval War College. He is a registered architect in five states and specializes in providing forensic architecture and building diagnostic services as well as providing building code consulting services. Mr. Spitz is a former member and past president of the New Jersey State Board of Architects and has served on building code committees for AIA, NCARB, BOCA, ICC, AIA/New Jersey and several other national organizations. He is the chairman of the ICC Building Code Interpretations Committee, former member of the Board of Directors of the Building Seismic Safety Council and former member of the Board of Directors of the Consultative Council of the National Institute of Building Science. 

AIA Info

AIA Provider Statement:

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

Course Title: Laws for New Jersey Architects

Delivery Method: Live Online

Course Description: This seven-hour live lecture presentation examines a variety of legal concerns for New Jersey architects, including avoiding practices that lead to liability claims, exceeding the architect’s standard of care, design contracts, adhering to architect ethical standards, complying with rules of professional conduct, state building design law, building codes, construction liens, and copyright law.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to identify the common sources of professional liability actions that betray the trust of, and duty to the client, including breach of contract, misrepresentation, negligence and fraud.

Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to discuss other matters of interest to architects, including complying with contract administration responsibilities, changes, determining project completion, and resolving disputes.

Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to comply with New Jersey rules of professional conduct to protect the interest and welfare of the client/project owner, including ensuring competence, avoiding conflicts of interest, taking responsibility for full disclosure and avoiding unauthorized practice.

Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to discuss legal standards under contracts, how they impact clients and projects, and how they can facilitate efficient quality construction.

LUs: 6.0                                                                                              LU Type: LU|HSWs.

Prerequisites: None

Advance Preparation: None

Program Level: Intermediate

Course Expiration Date: 07/18/2026

Complaint Resolution Policy:

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.