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Professional Liability Insurance

  • 1.  Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-08-2018 04:16 PM
    Does anyone know of a company that provides Professional
    Liability Insurance to Architects on a moonlight basis? 

    I'm finding that most companies want you to provide
    this on a full time basis.

    ------------------------------
    David Robertson AIA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-09-2018 06:24 PM
    David,

    Insurance is typically a function of your gross billings.  If you "moonlight" as I did for several years prior to full self-employment, the insurance premiums seemed reasonable +/-$1500-2K/year through Victor O. Schinerer/CNA with a 3-year lock which insures lots of architects. I know of no "part-time" insurance since liability never takes a hiatus, however small or infrequent your projects may be!

    ------------------------------
    John Alvarez AIA
    Partner
    Landmark Consulting, LLC
    Albany NY
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-12-2018 11:35 AM
    Years ago when I was working for myself out of my house, I found out that my home and auto insurance agent had the availability to hook me up with a very affordable liability coverage.  It was about half the cost of other policies I could find and had slightly less protection.  You could check with your agent to see if they have anything similar.

    Brad McKenzie, AIA
    Assistant Director of Business Operations
    Project Architect








  • 4.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-12-2018 05:26 PM
    David,

    I concur with the other statements the fees are very manageable as noted by others.   I have Ames & Gough as my agent with CNA provides the policy.   I plan on carrying for a long term. Worth getting especially at that rate!!!


    ------------------------------
    Michael Wijdoogen AIA
    Architect
    Herndon VA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-13-2018 12:07 PM
    To the above I would add the following: Make sure everyone involved understands the 'moonlighting' situation: your client, your employer and your insurance carrier.  Even with your own coverage, your work outside the office carries potential risk to your employer.  Make sure you have a formal AIA owner/architect agreement that makes it clear to your client that your employer is not connected to their project in anyway.
    It sounds like you are approaching this professionally, good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
    Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-13-2018 05:27 PM
    Scott, you mentioned a contract between Owner/Architect for moonlighting projects.  Do you have a specific one you were referring too or is this something "homemade"?

    I am considering getting some professional liability insurance for my side work but just starting to seeing what's out there.

    ------------------------------
    Michael Hardy AIA
    Associate Principal
    Roark Perkins Perry Yelvington
    Little Rock AR
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-14-2018 05:41 PM
    Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that there is a special agreement for moonlighting project.  I would use the AIA B105 Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Architect, listing yourself as architect, legally organized as a sole proprietor.  You need your client to acknowledge that they are hiring you alone, and not the firm you work for.

    You may also want to state in Article 7 Other Provisions, something to the effect that your client understands that you are performing the work on your own premises, with your own equipment and software and that you are available for calls and meetings only outside of your normal work hours.  You want to make it clear that they will not be benefiting in any way from the resources of your employer. 

    You should also address expectations about the project schedule, given that you will have limited time to work on their project.  Unless you are ready to strike off on your own, you do not want to be torn between serving two masters.

    Do your best to include a limitation of liability clause that limits your liability to a reasonable amount and no more than your insurance coverage.

    Finally, be upfront with your employer about what you are doing, most (including myself) do not allow moonlighting, and would instead encourage the employee to bring the project into the office.

    ------------------------------
    Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
    Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-15-2018 09:13 AM

    I would get the insurance if I were you. The small projects that come with the territory of moonlighting seem to have less experienced clients that like to make non-issues into big problems. They also tend to turn down CA, which adds to your liability risk.

     

    Daniel L Edgell AIA, NCARB

    PRESIDENT

     

    SANDBAR ARCHITECTURE

    1162 Rolling Oaks Ave

    Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

    727 308 1773

     






  • 9.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-15-2018 01:19 PM
    Curious why an associate principal would do side projects?

    ------------------------------
    Kenneth Crutcher, RA, AIA, NCARB
    crutcherk@crutcherstudio.com
    313-477-1741

    Crutcher Studio
    Architecture Design
    P.O. Box 22 Farmington, MI 48332
    www.crutcherstudio.com
    Office: 248-522-6230
    Fax: 313-731-0125



    Virus-free. www.avg.com





  • 10.  RE: Professional Liability Insurance

    Posted 02-16-2018 05:33 PM
    It's either a job he thinks isn't a fit for the office. Or he's got one foot out the door.