Legalese A landmark case on corroded pipes in a solicitors' office is a cautionary tale for architects, writes Mark Klimt

摘要

It is perhaps fitting that a case that featured prominently in the High Court for much of 2010 concerned the refurbishment of a solicitors' office. The case did not create new law, but it does provide a useful guide to issues relevant to architects' liability, such as the importance of properly drafted subcontracts, identifying where a duty of care is owed and discussing what type of loss is recoverable in tort. The judgement also deals with the reasonableness of a decision to undertake replacement rather than patchwork repair.