Burg v. Shannon & Wilson, Inc.

—Appellants own houses that were severely damaged by landslides on Perkins Lane West. Shannon and Wilson (S&W) is an engineering firm that was hired by the City of Seattle, which owns the cliff property above appellants’ residences, to make recommendations about the land’s stability. Appellants argue that S&W was negligent in not informing them of its recommendation to the City that dewatering wells be installed to increase the bluff’s stability. The central question on appeal is whether appellants were owed a legal duty to be warned of S&W’s recommendations. The trial court concluded no duty…