Meagher & Geer partner, Mark Bloomquist, addressed the Executive Leaders of the American Council of Engineering Companies at their monthly breakfast meeting at the Midland Hills Country Club in St. Paul.

The topic of conversation was how public and private owners are responding to recent legislative changes which now render unenforceable contract clauses which require a design professional to indemnify a construction project owner for the owner’s own fault.

Mark reported that engineers and architects generally have been successful at convincing their owner clients to eliminate such illegal clauses from contacts, thus eliminating the possibility that the design professionals will have to go to court to prove up their rights.  However, Mark noted, an isolated few government agencies have yet to respond, thus motivating the design community to continue its education and advocacy with its public clients.

The Executive Leaders group is comprised of owners and managers from many of the state’s largest and most active engineering firms.

Mark Bloomquist provides legal services to design professionals, contractors and product manufacturers. He also represents attorneys, financial advisors, title companies and other professionals in civil litigation and before government licensing agencies.

Mark is past Chair of the Construction Law section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and currently serves on its Legislative Committee.  He is a past board member of the Minnesota chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies and currently serves on its membership and professional registration committees.

At a recent seminar Mark spoke on the subject of motion practice in Minnesota state courts.  He recently published an article in The Hennepin Lawyer entitled, “How a Bill Becomes a Law: What You Did Not Learn in Civics Class.”  He is a recipient of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN) 2014 President’s Award.