Design Professional Practice

Otis & Iriki has extensive experience in full-service legal representation of  architects, engineers and other design professionals.  We advise and counsel design professionals in the drafting of contracts at the inception of projects, and on loss prevention during the course of problematic projects.  We represent all forms of construction professionals, and efficiently and aggressively litigate matters involving design defects in commercial, and industrial structures and sites.

Some of the cases we have worked on for design professionals, include the following:

• Represented the design-builder of the Millbrae BART Station, pursued multi-million dollar claim against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District.  The firm also pursued the contractor’s claims against numerous subcontractors, including the structural steel subcontractor, the miscellaneous metals subcontractor, the designer of the 600,000 square foot Millbrae BART Station garage and other subcontractors and engineers.
• Defended the designer of the Santa Rita prison in Alameda County in a defect claim of over $34 million filed by the contractor against the designer.  Over 200 design errors were claimed, and significant contractor delays were attributed to the designer.  In addition, a significant issue arose with regard to the design of the electrical system and its ability to shed loads in accordance with a performance specification in this secured facility.  The firm pursued cross-claims against the contractor and engineers for construction and design defects.
• Defended one of the largest architectural firms in the U.S. in a suit by the prime contractor and the interior drywall subcontractor arising out of the design of Boarding Area G (north expansion) of the San Francisco International Airport.
• Defended large national architectural firm in a suit for delay damages arising from the new Sacramento jail project.  A claim in excess of $10 million for delays was filed against the designer when construction of this high-rise project had to be stopped and structural beams redesigned to comply with State law.
• Defended national architectural firm in a defect suit involving significant water intrusion issues at the Santa Clara criminal courthouse facility.
• Defended architectural firm in alleged errors and omissions in the design of the Los Angeles New Main Jail expansion project.
• Advised designer of stage and theater complex in action alleged to have caused serious injury from stage-hand fall.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Business Litigation
• Real Property Litigation
• Construction
• Design Professional Practice
• Employment Law
• Corporate & Business Transactions
• Real Estate Transactions

Otis & Iriki
220 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
San Francisco, CA 94104