Anaheim California Construction Expert Witness Directory

Texas Case Exposes Cracks in the Government Contractor Immunity Shield

November 09, 2025 — Elaine Silver - Engineering News-Record
It started with a horrific crash. Pedro Alfonso Castaneda, the mainstay of a Texas family of five, had finished shopping at a plumbing supply store on an August afternoon in 2019, when he pulled up in his Toyota Tacoma pickup at an intersection adjacent to a busy highway overpass construction project in Pinehurst, Texas. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Elaine Silver, Engineering News-Record
ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com

California Court of Appeal Clarifies Right of a Party to Oppose Summary Judgment Motions - Even Without Cross-Claims

August 06, 2025 — Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two (Riverside) in RND Contractors, Inc. v. Superior Court (2025) issued a significant published decision. The California Court of Appeal addressed a previously unsettled question: can a co-defendant oppose another defendant’s motion for summary judgment when the plaintiff does not oppose it and no cross-claims exist between the defendants? The Court answered yes, holding that a party may oppose a motion for summary judgment if it is adverse to the moving party—even in the absence of cross-claims. The case arose from a construction site collapse that resulted in injury for one worker and the death of another. The plaintiffs sued multiple defendants, including the structural engineer and the steel framing contractor. The plaintiffs later declined to oppose the engineer’s summary judgment motion. However, the steel framing contractor and another defendant opposed the motion, arguing that the engineer’s negligent design contributed to the collapse. The trial court refused to consider their opposition, ruling that the two defendants lacked standing without a cross-claim against the structural engineer, and granted summary judgment. The Court of Appeal reversed, holding this refusal was error. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

Building Industry Association of Southern California Announces 2025 Legends Nominees

August 18, 2025 — The Building Industry Association of Southern California
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) is proud to announce the distinguished nominees for the 2025 BIASC Hall of Legends. These individuals have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing the building industry throughout Southern California and beyond. This distinguished recognition is part of BIASC's prestigious Hall of Legends program, launched in 2023 to commemorate the organization's 100-year anniversary. The BIASC Hall of Legends honors and celebrates exceptional leaders who have made lasting contributions to the homebuilding industry. Each year, a new Legends class is selected through nominations from BIASC's five chapters and councils. 2025 BIASC Legends Nominees: Jeff Roos - Vice President, Lennar Foundation / National Chair, HomeAid / President, Homeful Greg McWilliams - Chief Policy Officer, FivePoint Tom Grable - Former BIASC Chair and Former Division President, Tri Pointe Homes - Orange County-Los Angeles Division Laer Pearce - President, Laer Pearce & Associates Leslie Duckett - First American Title Matt Jordan - Founder and Co-Managing Member, Diversified Pacific Development Group Frank Williams - Executive Officer, Baldy View Chapter (now San Bernardino County Chapter) Randall Richards - Executive Vice President, Operations & Sales, Reliable Wholesale Lumber, Inc. Mitch Brown - Principal Consultant, Senior Housing Consulting Howard Englander - Owner & President, The Englander Company Fernanda Luick - President, Eliant Richard Dunbar - Oakridge Landscape The 2025 Hall of Legends Honorees will be officially recognized during BIASC's year-end galas corresponding with the chapter by which the inductees were nominated. The Regional and Inland Empire honorees will be inducted at the Installation Gala at the Building Industry Show, taking place at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells - BIASC's biggest and most anticipated event of the year - on September 11th. For more information on the 2025 Legends program or to register for the Building Industry Show, please visit: https://buildingindustryshow.com/

Fort Lauderdale Team Secures Appellate Win Affirming Defense Verdict for Engineering Firm in High-Stakes Negligence Case

November 04, 2025 — Lewis Brisbois Newsroom
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 1, 2025) - Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Cheryl Wilke and Partner Alexander Harne secured an appellate victory from the Fifth District Court of Appeal affirming a complete defense verdict for their clients, civil engineering firm Gulfstream Design Group and its owner, Matthew Lahti, in a high-stakes professional negligence case in which the plaintiff had sought more than $20 million. The case involved a 100-acre tract of land in St. Johns County, Florida, owned by the plaintiff. The land was zoned for rural farming, and she wished to sell the property for development. She entered into a contract with Southeast Georgia Acquisitions (“SGA”) to sell the property with the goal of creating a 200-home subdivision. SGA hired Doug Burnett as land use counsel and our client, Gulfstream Design Group, as the civil engineer to design the project. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

California Court Affirms $1.8 Million Judgment Against HOA for Failing to Investigate and Remediate Water Intrusion

November 04, 2025 — Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
When an HOA ignores its duties under its covenants and restrictions, the consequences can be devastating. In Ridley v. Rancho Palma Grande Homeowners Association (Cal. Ct. App., Aug. 28, 2025, No. H052560), a Santa Clara couple secured a $1.8 million judgment after their condominium was rendered uninhabitable due to water intrusion, mold, and a sinkhole caused by an abandoned well beneath the property. The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment, finding that the HOA’s delay, deception, and failure to act breached its duties under the CC&Rs. What Went Wrong at Rancho Palma Grande HOA Retirees Doug Ridley and Sherry Shen owned a condominium in Santa Clara County. In 2018, their tenants discovered persistent water pooling in the crawlspace beneath the unit - part of the building’s common area under the HOA’s control. The issue worsened over time, culminating in severe water damage, mold growth, and ultimately, a sinkhole beneath the living room floor. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

Los Angeles Team Secures Defense Verdict for Public Entity Client in High-Exposure Personal Injury Case

July 08, 2025 — Lewis Brisbois Newsroom
Los Angeles, Calif. (June 11, 2025) - Los Angeles Partners Dana Alden Fox and Laurie Stayton secured a complete defense verdict for their public entity client in a high exposure personal injury case in Tulare County Superior Court. The plaintiff, a 13-year-old boy, suffered a severe and permanent traumatic brain injury and serious orthopedic injuries after being struck by a vehicle going 45 mph while attempting to cross a state highway at an unmarked crosswalk. The plaintiff claimed the intersection and crosswalk constituted a dangerous condition of public property, suing the vehicle driver, the State of California (Caltrans), and Lewis Brisbois' client, the City of Tulare, for damages. The plaintiff was airlifted for medical care, and had a GCS score of 3. He underwent several surgeries and months of both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Experts unanimously agreed at trial that the plaintiff had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, experienced permanent cognitive deficits, would not be able to work in the open labor market, and would need lifelong medical care and treatment. The plaintiff requested the jury award $55 million in damages. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

Project Team Battles Elements to Complete Buffalo Football Stadium for Next Season

October 13, 2025 — Bruce Buckley - Engineering News Record
Swirling winds and driving snow have played a significant role in innumerable Buffalo Bills home games during the 65-year history of the National Football League team based in the Buffalo, N.Y, area. It’s no surprise that the region's often inhospitable weather has proven to be a considerable factor during construction of the team’s $2.1-billion stadium. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Bruce Buckley, Engineering News Record
ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com

Waste Not: NJ Digester Plant Transforms Food Waste to Fuel

June 23, 2025 — Pam McFarland - Engineering News-Record
It’s no secret that New York City, like many densely populated urban areas throughout history, has a trash and rodent problem. Mountains of bloated trash bags —many containing food waste that attract rats burrowing and gnawing through them—are a blight on sidewalks all over the city. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Pam McFarland, Engineering News-Record

ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES