Problems on previous project.

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1186 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 01:52 pm:    I was on a public plan room checking out a project that I worked on at a previous firm. I was reading some of the specifications in the project manual when I noticed some problems and conflicts. I never completed the project manual and the specifications in question were further edited by another person. Should I bring this to the attention of my previous firm? Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 384 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 02:00 pm:    Yes, but by phone, not in writing (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 02:23 pm:    Why did you not complete the project manual? As employee...or independent consultant...are you "bound" by a confidentiality agreement? You could be perceived by "previous firm" as attempting to "create a business opportunity for yourself" (i.e., self-serving)...something to think about. Much depends on status of your professional relationship (previous and current) with "previous firm." Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1252 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:04 pm:    I agree with UG. "Previous firm" will ultimately find out about the conflicts and problems as I'm sure they will be brought to their attention by contractors and subs. Contacting "PF" might open a can of worms you don't want to open. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1187 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:10 pm:    I did not finish the project manual because I was deployed from my previous firm. "Deployed" is the opposite of "employed". ;-) To make matters worse, I am now working for the competition. So I don't want to give my present employer the perception that I am aiding and abetting the enemy. Richard A. Rosen, CSI, CCS, AIA Senior Member Username: rarosen Post Number: 99 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:24 pm:    I agree with Lynn, let sleeping dogs lay. Unfortunately eventhough someone else is responsible for completing the specs, and probably the problems and conflicts, you will more than likely be the scapegoat. Just be happy that you have been able to find a new position and move on from there. George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 595 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:33 pm:    I would agree too with the above comments, with the possible exception of code issues or issues of health and life safety. I think your licensure requirements probably compel you to raise such issues if you are aware of them. Issues merely involving conflicts or omissions George A. Everding AIA CSI CCS CCCA Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies St. Louis, MO Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1255 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:38 pm:    Life Safety/Health - yes, if for no other reason than your conscience. Anything else is "PF"s responsibility. If they valued your opinion, they would not have deployed you. Obviously, you were not worth much to them. Maybe they will learn... Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 385 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 04:41 pm:    I like to have a positive last impression. I would consider notifying them as a CYA move so that the blame is not shifted solely to you in your absence. It's an awfully small world. Unless your "deployment" was egregious, I think the benefits of contacting them outweigh any potential negatives. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 05:01 pm:    Doing someone a favor is an easy way to land you into a courthouse... Your PF made a conscience decision to "deploy" you. They are responsible for their decisions and not you. They chose to go to a "lower" quality themselves. The spec was not complete when you were deployed. It is their responsibility to verify and check the spec prior to issuing it. I understand your desire to correct it, but it may come into question later why you were looking at their documents unless you are involved with the project from a different point of view. You may have a conflict of interest with your current employer. You could pull them into some liability since you commented on a spec that they had no contractual involvement with. My advice, let it pass even if it involves HSW. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1258 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 05:14 pm:    Was it just out of curiosity that you looked at the documents? David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1188 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 05:36 pm:    I was actually looking at the documents to remember a product that I had previously specified. The documents are posted on a public plan center site along with the project that I am currently working on. I figure that I can get into more trouble by doing something than doing nothing......so I will do the later. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 1154 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 01:53 am:    I once (many many years ago) fired an employee who was annoying my client. (doing 67 drafts of spec sections; calling them 12 times a day, stuff like that. The client finally said " we wil not work with him.") He then sent a registered letter to my client's client (a public agency) saying that the specifications weren't done (in his opinion) and that he would be happy to either testify in court or complete the specs for a fee. my attorney AND my client's attorney sent him strongly worded letters suggesting that his interest was not appropriate and would not be treated as innocent and would be treated as self-serving. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1189 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 12:41 pm:    My intention is not malicious, actually it is the opposite. I like the project manager and want to help her out. But as no good deed goes unpunished, the situation could get complicated. So I won't pursue it. BTW, there is no, that I can tell, health and safety issues. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 01:19 pm:    The basic question is why were you in a plan room checking your old project out? If you know this young lady well enough, call her and ask if she is interested in some comments about the specs. If the answer is, "No", say good-bye and move on. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1192 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 02:11 pm:    I was in an online public plan room. I originally went there because my recent project is there and I wanted to see if the link in the Invitation to Bid worked. I noticed my old project, it had been shelved then brought back to life. I was looked at the old project to see if anything had changed and to look for the name of a concrete cure and seal product. Jim Sliff Senior Member Username: jim_sliff Post Number: 54 Registered: 08-2010 Posted on Friday, May 20, 2011 - 03:45 pm:    If your name's not on it and there's not a contract tying you to it then you didn't see nuttin'. ;-) FWIW I probably would have looked at it out of curiosity myself. But regardless of your friendship with the project manager, even a phone call is a potential minefield. Mentally file it under "ignore". (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 10:05 pm:    Having recently been "deployed," I can say the relationship with your previous employer suddenly changes, regardless of your performance. Its like a divorce; therefore, leave it alone.