Prepared by GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee, CLAIMS 101: The Fundamentals of Claims Detection and Response is an 18-page guide that provides an overview of the claim-resolution process, from initial filing to the final resolution and beyond. Chapter titles are:

Do Not Admit Fault,
Claim Precursors and Responding to Them,
Unconventional Initial Notices,
Pre-Litigation Claim Notices,
First Things First,
Pre-Litigation Claims Resolution,
Litigation, and
It’s Over: Put the Case behind You.
The guide is particularly instructive for younger geoprofessionals and a solid refresher for “old hands.” An “easy read,” the guide gives special attention to claim precursors and a few key dos and don’ts. Being aware of the precursors allows geoprofessionals to intervene early and defuse a claim before the formal elements of the process are initiated.” Among some of the key dos and don’ts are “never admit fault,” which gets its own chapter, and the maintenance of files once a firm becomes aware that a claim is likely to be filed.

dispute resolution, litigation