Rakowski-Millard Structural Design, LLC

On April 2, the client requested that Rakowski-Millard Structural Design (RMS), perform a site observation at the clients residenceThe purpose of this site observation was to document the existing structural members, limited building layout and dimensions so that two columns and one dropped
glue laminated beam could be removed and replaced with an alternate structureAlvin Rakowski of RMS traveled to the residence and created a sketch including wall locations, dimensions and structural elements with the client presentThis site observation was billed at our hourly rate. Fees related to the site visit and the work performed were explicitly noted within an agreement to proceed with professional structural engineering services signed and dated by the client on April 19, The client submitted a $check for the services noted within the agreement on the same day. Upon receiving the signed agreement to proceed with professional engineering services RMS completed load tracking, beam, column and footing calculations, transferred the sketch created during the site observation to an electronic drafting program, and then added beam, column and footing information derived from the engineering calculations. Shorty after the above-mentioned services were completed the client contacted Alvin Rakowski to direct him to stop work on the project as he had decided not to move forward with the remodelSubsequently the project was placed into our storage archives as an abandoned project. On January 21, (about four years and eight months after the services were performed) the client contacted Alvin Rakowski and requested that the fee noted in the agreement be returned because he believed that no work was performedAlvin Rakowski explained the work that had been performed to the client in an emailAs noted, the files had been archived and because retrieving the files would take significant office time for a project that was not going to move forward, we requested that a new proposal be signed and include fees for retrieving and forwarding those files as this service was not included in the original signed agreement. Due to this complaint RMS spent the time to retrieve the project files and forwarded a copy of the structural design document (labeled not for construction) to the client without compensationWe have also offered to let the client review our calculations and sketches at our officeWe have not received confirmation of receipt of the structural design document or otherwise heard back from the client since that e-mail was sent on February 7,