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Sturdza v.

United Arab Emirates


The UAE held a competition for the design of a new embassy in Washington,
DC. At the conclusion of the competition, the UAE informed Elena Sturdza
an architect licensed in Maryland and Texas but not in the District of
Columbia that she had won. Sturdza and the UAE began to negotiate a
contract. For two years, they exchanged proposals. Then without
explanation, the UAE stopped communicating with Sturdza. No contract
between the UAE and Sturdza was ever signed. Later, Sturdza learned that
the UAE had contracted with a District of Columbia architect, Angelos
Demetriou, to use his design for embassy. Sturdza filed suit against UAE for
breach of contract, claiming that Demetrious design copied many of the
features that were hallmarks of her design. The district court issued a
summary judgment in the UAEs favor.
DECISION AND REMEDY:
The District of Columbia court of appeals held that an architect cannot
recover on a contract to perform architectural services in the District of
Columbia if he or she lacks a District of Columbia license. There is no
exception for international design competitions.
THE GLOBAL DIMENSION:
The architectural services at the center of this case were to be
performed for a foreign embassy. Should the court have made an
exception for such a situation? Why or why not?
As the architectural services were to be performed for a foreign embassy, an
exception for such a situation could have been made because first of all it
was an international design competition so a specific district was out of
question. Secondly she had engaged in negotiations with UAE for about two
years and had really worked hard for them. Moreover, her designs included

all aspects i.e. safeguard life, health, property and public welfare which are
necessary in DC to get a license.
So in such case, an exception could have been made.

THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT DIMENSION:


Should restrictions on the enforcement of contracts with unlicensed
practitioners extend beyond the performance of professional
services to include negotiations to provide the services? Discuss.
When it comes to the safety and security of public, professionals should
always be hired and risk should not be taken on unlicensed practitioners
because safety of people comes first and licensed professionals are
authorized which shows that they will cover all required and obligatory
aspects while making their design. Moreover, if any mishap occurs, their
license could be cancelled and plenty can be put on them easily than on
unlicensed practitioners.

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