var $ = jQuery.noConflict();
$(document).ready(function(){
    
    $('#contact').validate({
        rules:{
            name: {required: true},
            email: { required: true, email: true},
            phone: { required: true, phoneUS: true},
            message: { required: true}
        },
        
        submitHandler: function(form) {
            // do other stuff for a valid form
            $.post('sendform.php', $("#contact").serialize(), function(data) {
                alert('Message sent! Thank you.');
                $(':input','#contact').not(':button, :submit, :reset, :hidden').val('').removeAttr('checked').removeAttr('selected');
            });
        },
        
        errorPlacement: function(error, element) {}
    });
});