Lessons Learned from Contract and Negligence Dispute Cases

Dr. George Jergeas, P.Eng.

Chair, iProjects Inc.

Dr. George Jergeas is a civil engineer with an M.Sc. and PhD in construction management from Loughborough University, UK with over 45 years of industry and academic experience. He served as a professor of project management at the University of Calgary from 1994–2020.

George has a strong passion for increasing the efficiency and competency of teams delivering major engineering and construction projects. His expertise includes project governance, assurance and readiness, risk management, project execution planning, contract strategies, partnering and collaborative relationships, claims and disputes with a focus on dispute resolution, and project management training and coaching. George’s partnering methodology has been successfully implemented on over 180 projects across North America.

George has delivered project management training, leadership coaching, and consulting services to professional associations and companies across North America, Asia, and Europe. George is also the author of three books, a chapter in a fourth book, and over 100 articles and publications.

His books are:

• "Risk Navigation Strategies for Major Capital Projects: Beyond the Myth of Predictability", Springer, 2011;
• "Benevolent Dictatorship for Major Capital Projects", LearnAcademy, 2017, Amazon.ca;
• "Project Risk and Opportunity Management, The Owner’s Perspective", Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2019; and
• "Evolving Toolbox for Complex Project Management", Taylor & Francis Group, November 2019 – The Legal Issues chapter.

This session provides a comprehensive review of contractual and negligence disputes cases relevant to engineers and geoscientists who are delivering engineering and construction projects. This seminar will provide attendees with an opportunity to reflect and learn from industry legal precedence and to enhance their capacity to effectively manage and administer construction projects. Cases will focus on the roles and responsibilities of the owners, contractors, and engineers. 
 

Seminar Description

This seminar provides participants with a good understanding of the practical implications of the legal precedents and improves the ability to make better decisions. Disputes situations will be reviewed and discussed with participants.

Learning Objectives

• Understand project key success factors;
• Challenge some long-held ideas and best practices;
• Change focus from project level to the executive level; and
• Enable project managers to deliver their projects more effectively and efficiently.

Agenda

The course covers cases relating to:

• Contractual disputes
• Negligence disputes
• Muskrat Falls Mega Project Commission of Inquiry report regarding cost overrun
• Mediation case on a major capital project

Upon completing this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Learn from past experience and apply improvement practices on future projects regarding dealing with contractual and negligence disputes and project cost overruns issues.
• Protect company's interests, avoid, and resolve disputes.