Opinion ID: 1700146
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: did the trial court err in denying architect's motion for indemnity from the engineer?

Text: In this case, Authority sought to develop an enclosed arena, capable of housing a football field. The funds available were not adequate to create a traditional structure. Thus, the Authority chose to build the unique air supported roof system, which was the only alternative other than an open football field and a traditional field house. Architect initially advised against the air supported dome. Funds were not available for the alternately proposed enclosed steel structure, however. Authority then insisted that an air supported structure be built and requested Architect proceed to work with Engineer to develop the air supported dome. Architect did so. At the time Architect contracted with Engineer, there were only two domes of an air supported nature in the world, both built by Engineer. The ultimate failure of the Dome structure was the result of a failure of the snow melt system designed by Engineer to remove the snow from the roof which caused its collapse on the three occasions in question. Architect asserts that it is without personal fault for the plans not being adequate. Architect contends that Engineer had the sole and exclusive expertise and responsibility for the preparation of those plans, and that the Architect was simply a conduit of that information to Authority. We recognize the building of such a facility was unique. We recognize that the Architect originally did not recommend this type of facility, and that the facility was basically mandated by Authority as the only means to create an enclosed football field. The issue before us, however, is what were in fact the responsibility and activities of Architect. In Degen v. Bayman, 86 S.D. 598, 200 N.W.2d 134 (1972), we stated that if an individual is without personal fault, he is entitled to indemnity. One is without personal fault when he has not participated in the commission of the tort and his liability arises by operation of law. Pelkey v. State Sales, Inc., D.C.Mich., 210 F.Supp. 924. Degen, 200 N.W.2d at 137. If, however, a person seeking indemnity personally participates in an affirmative act of negligence, or is physically connected with an act of omission by knowledge or acquiescence in it on his part, or fails to perform some duty in connection with the omission which he has undertaken, he is deprived of the right of indemnity. Cahill Brothers, Inc. v. Clementina Company, 208 Cal.App.2d 367, 25 Cal.Rptr. 301; Pearson Ford Company v. Ford Motor Company, 273 Cal. App.2d 269, 78 Cal.Rptr. 279. Degen at 137. In this case, Architect had a contract with Authority which required Architect to prepare design studies and plans. The Architect was also authorized thereunder to employ specialists, if necessary, to evaluate and study special considerations of the project, if such expertise is not available in his organization. (Emphasis added.) Architect contracted with Engineer for the preparations of plans by Engineer of the roof and snow melt system. All of the plans submitted by Engineer to Architect were reviewed by the Architect with the Architect's seal being placed thereupon. Architect originally crossclaimed against Engineer for both indemnity and contribution. At the time of the trial, Architect dropped its claim for contribution choosing to go exclusively on the basis of indemnity. A special interrogatory was submitted to the jury stating, Do you find that defendant Fritzel, Kroeger, Griffin & Berg is liable only because of acts or omissions of Geiger-Berger, and is otherwise without fault? The jury answered no. Because the jury answered the question in the negative, the issue for the court is whether there was a basis in the record for the jury to find that Architect was at fault in some manner other than through Engineer. It is not for this court to second guess the findings of the jury, but only to determine whether or not some adequate evidence exists from which the jury could draw that conclusion. Sharkey v. Washington Nat'l Ins. Co., 373 N.W.2d 421 (S.D.1985). The expert for Authority, Dr. Hanson, testified that The architect has the first order or front line of responsibility to the owner for this particular building. He has a responsibility to review their work to see that their work is in his opinion satisfactory, ... to ask questions that the owner should be concerned about to be sure that those concerns are raised and properly resolved. Architect, through a letter of its agent, LeRoy Bean, dated February 10, 1976, stated that, Since we are prime architects on this project and the Geiger/Berger firm has been hired by us to assist in designing this air supported structure, we feel impelled to clarify the fact that we will not be responsible for any decisions made at any meetings or during any phone calls where our firm is not represented. Architect, in that letter, suggests that Engineer was assisting Architect and not exclusively responsible for the preparation of those plans. SDCL 36-18-27.1 requires that all final plans shall bear the signature, stamp or seal of the architect, professional engineer or land surveyor who was in responsible charge of the preparation thereof. When Architect affixed its seal thereto, it was stating that it was the individual responsible for the preparation of those plans. Architect has suggested that the stamp was simply a mechanical action, indeed, literally a rubber stamp of the plans of Engineer. However, the statute clearly requires that stamp be affixed for a reason. Surely the statute did not intend that it be meaningless, but rather intended that the Architect in affixing his stamp was acknowledging an affirmative obligation to review and insure that the plans were appropriate and architecturally sound. Under these circumstances, Architect is not simply an agent through whom Engineer's plans passed. Rather, pursuant to the stamp, the contract, and evidence presented in the record, Architect had an obligation to create, prepare, and develop architecturally sound plans. While Architect may have felt that it did not have the expertise to properly review these plans, and therefore, only acted in a passive capacity, as we stated in Degen, 86 S.D. at 604, 200 N.W.2d at 137, An act of omission as well as one of commission on the part of a joint tortfeasor contributing to the injury may constitute active negligence precluding his recovery of indemnity where he is under an affirmative duty to act. Bernstein v. El Mar Painting and Decorating Co., 13 N.Y.2d 1053, 245 N.Y.S.2d 772, 195 N.E.2d 456, and 41 Am.Jur.2d, Indemnity, § 21. Under these circumstances, the jury may have found that there was an affirmative duty which Architect failed to comply with in submitting the roof's plans to Authority. In addition, there is evidence in the record that there were inadequate operating instructions provided to Authority for the operation of the Dome. While there was a report entitled Dome Operation Procedure prepared by the Weiner Company which was obtained by Authority and paid for by Authority, there is evidence in the record that the report itself was not adequate to properly advise Authority as to the operating procedure. There is evidence that it is generally an architect's obligation to obtain that information from the contractors. In a case of this nature where there is an overall operation need which must be developed, such should have been done and was not done by Architect. Thus, again, there is evidence in the record that Architect affirmatively failed to carry out its obligations under the contract with Authority. It is Architect's position that it did not have a duty to review and approve Engineer's plans because Architect did not have the expertise to do so, since the air supported roof was unique. This position is contrary to the contract between Architect and Authority. Architect could hire specialists to evaluate and study special considerations of the project, but the ultimate responsibility was upon Architect to design and submit plans. If Architect felt it did not have the expertise in this area, it had three choices: one, withdraw as the architect; two, obtain additional expertise from other sources to check the quality of Engineer's preparations; or three, notify Authority of the fact that it did not have sufficient expertise and obtain appropriate waivers as available, or as Architect felt necessary. Throughout its briefs, Architect asserts that it was continuing with the project to protect its reputation and choose to try to make the best of a bad situation, rather than withdraw from the project. If Architect did not feel it had the expertise to properly prepare and submit plans or to adequately and sufficiently review the plans of Engineer, it had a duty to withdraw. By remaining on the project, Architect held itself out as having the expertise, or the ability to obtain sufficient expertise, to submit proper plans and specifications to Authority. Indeed, recognizing its limitations, Architect had a higher duty to more scrupulously review the plans of Engineer because of its limited expertise. Upon accepting this difficult situation, they are no less held to an appropriate architectural standard. It is, therefore, the opinion of this court that there was evidence in the record which would support a jury denying indemnity to Architect from Engineer.