Opinion ID: 2144853
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Application to Engineers

Text: The appellate court held as follows: We think that the holding in 2314 Lincoln Park West requires us to find that a plaintiff may not recover purely economic losses in a tort action against an engineer. 281 Ill. App.3d at 796, 217 Ill.Dec. 212, 666 N.E.2d 881. Fireman's assigns error to this holding and to the appellate court's reliance on 2314 Lincoln Park West, We agree with the appellate court that, based on 2314 Lincoln Park West, the economic loss doctrine applies to engineers. In 2314 Lincoln Park West, this court held that the economic loss doctrine applied to architects, preventing the recovery of purely economic losses in tort. This court reasoned that [t]he architect's responsibility originated in its contract with the original owner, and in these circumstances [purely economic loss] its duties should be measured accordingly. 2314 Lincoln Park West, 136 Ill.2d at 317, 144 Ill.Dec. 227, 555 N.E.2d 346. 2314 Lincoln Park West involved a claim against several parties, including an architectural firm. However, the certified question in that case was: `Should there be an exception to the rule set forth in Moorman which would permit Plaintiffs seeking to recover purely economic losses due to defeated expectations of a commercial bargain to recover from an architect or engineer in tort?' (Emphasis added.) 2314 Lincoln Park West, 136 Ill.2d at 306, 144 Ill.Dec. 227, 555 N.E.2d 346. This court concluded that, [c]onsistent with Moorman and its progeny, we answer the certified question in the negative and hold today that a tort action will not lie in the circumstances described. 2314 Lincoln Park West, 136 Ill.2d at 312, 144 Ill.Dec. 227, 555 N.E.2d 346. Further, the appellate court could not find any substantive difference between architects and engineers for purposes of the economic loss rule (281 Ill.App.3d at 796, 217 Ill.Dec. 212, 666 N.E.2d 881 (and cases cited therein)), nor can we. In 2314 Lincoln Park West, this court likewise did not distinguish architects from engineers. 2314 Lincoln Park West, 136 Ill.2d at 311, 144 Ill.Dec. 227, 555 N.E.2d 346. We hold that the economic loss doctrine bars recovery in tort against engineers for purely economic losses.