In 1981, two walkways collapsed inside a Kansas City hotel, killing 114 people. In 1984, a contractor delayed the opening of a casino by a few months and lost $14.5 million dollars as a result. In 1918, a contractor on the Brooklyn Navy Yard took his case to the Supreme Court in order to get paid. Whether you know it or not, these cases affect you as an architect. Each case includes law that applies to your work. But more than that, each contains a story from your peers – architects and contractors who came before you and left their cautionary tale. We will explore lessons learned from these cases, such as what to include or strike out in your contracts, how to navigate the submittal review process, how to supervise your employee’s work to avoid vicarious liability, and what projects you may be wise to reject.