Successfully Defended Architect in Construction Defect Matter

We successfully defended an architect against a $7 million claim brought by a general contractor in connection with the renovation of a historic, city-block-sized building in Philadelphia. The contractor alleged design errors and sought additional damages under the Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act, inflating its claim to $16 million. During contentious discovery, we exposed contradictions and falsehoods in the contractor’s testimony, leading to a partial summary judgment that dismissed the bulk of claims against our client. Facing a looming trial and a remaining $4 million claim, we worked with the building owner’s counsel to convince the settlement judge of the claims’ lack of merit. The plaintiff filed for bankruptcy, and the final settlement had to be approved in the Bankruptcy Court. The case settled for just $362,500, with our client paying only $181,250—an outstanding result in a high-stakes dispute.