Voiding of state's initial law mov...

Voiding of state's initial law moves lessons for advocates of similar measures in other states

The drive to encourage state legislatures to enact "certificate of merit" laws is prompting state design professional associations and their national organizations to support and aid such efforts.

The view of such laws, which now exist in Georgia, fresh Jersey, California, Colorado, Minnesota and Maryland, is to discourage lawsuits against architects and engineers that are "frivolous" because they have no justification in law or fact.

Plaintiffs who