Legal cases engineers should read:

United States v. Spearin, Spearin v. the United States
- The fountain head of all modern construction law in the US
- Implied warranty of design.

Important Washington State Cases:

Michaels v CH2M Hill - May 2011
- Engineer's duty defined in detail.
- Engineer's failure to put 'it' in writing is negligence.
- Plans and specifications are not what you think they are.

Affiliated FM v. LTK Consulting - November 2010
- Engineer's have liability to third parties affected by negligence when no contractual relationship exists.

Donatelli v. DR Strong Consulting - July 2011
- Engineer's duty revisited.

AT&T Mobility v. Holaday-Parks - July 2011
- Engineer's liability reinforced.

Eastwood v. Horse Harbor - November 2010
- The economic loss rule becomes the "independent duty" doctrine
(How did a case over horse manure get so out of hand as to change engineering law?)

Jackson v. City of Seattle - November 2010
- Contractors liable in tort for their negligence.

Berschauer/Phillips Construction v. Seattle School District No. 1 - Oct 1994
- Economic loss rule restricts Contractors (and they're just about the only ones left.)

Wells v. City of Vancouver - April 1970
- Failure to follow building codes is negligence.
- Court's definition "Acts of God" are not what you think they are
(This decision has not been modified by any subsequent decision.)

Statutory requirements:

WAC 196-27A