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A one-day course that focuses on the engineer’s liability for negligence. Co-presented by an engineer and a lawyer, this workshop will consider both technical manifestations of negligence and legal liability that flows.

As New Zealand experiences a building boom, anecdotal evidence suggests that we may be seeing more cutting of corners and potentially negligent conduct by professionals. In some instances, engineers may not be aware that they are being negligent, or of the legal consequences that might flow. This one day workshop explores the law on negligence through practical, real life examples drawn from engineering practice.

Objectives

If you attend this workshop you will gain:

• an understanding of how the law approaches questions of negligence.

• an appreciation of how some practices you encounter in the workplace could expose one to allegations of negligence, and of the consequences that flow from this.

• an understanding of some steps one can take to ensure that one does not face liability for negligence.

Learning outcomes

Topics covered in this workshop include:

• Fitness for purpose and negligence.

• Who do you owe a duty of care to?

• A look at the CTV Building collapse and the investigations that followed.

• Some examples of practices that could expose one to liability.

• The Construction Contracts Act – has it become easier to bring a negligence action against engineers?

• The legal and professional consequences of liability for negligence.

• Protecting yourself against negligence claims. PI Insurance.

• Grenfell Towers – what does it mean for NZ?

Practical workshop

This is a practical workshop designed to address both technical and legal matters. Real life examples and hands on analysis are used.

Presenter information

Dr Gigi Fenster studied law in South Africa. She has spent most of her career working in the construction industry, training and advising on construction law matters. She conducts workshops on Commercial Law, Contract Law, the FIDIC Conditions of Contract, and other construction-law related topics.

Stuart Meakins has over 25 years’ experience of working in the construction industry in both the UK and NZ and has a master’s degree from the Auckland University Law School. Earlier roles in the UK included asset advisor to the Crown Estate and research manager for the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) before moving into construction contract management. Stuart has been a client-side project and contracts manager for the past 15 years and has managed a wide range of NEC, ICE and NZS 3910 contracts and has “real life” experience of the challenges of working in this environment.