Anaheim California Construction Expert Witness Directory

Older Homes for Sale in California Now Come With Wildfire Warnings

September 30, 2025 — Todd Woody - Bloomberg
Most California homes were built long before the state required that they be constructed to withstand wildfires. Now, sellers of older homes in high-risk areas must disclose to potential buyers not only a dwelling’s susceptibility to fire but what they’ve done to address those vulnerabilities. As climate change intensifies natural disasters, states across the US have been mandating that home sellers disclose risks such as flooding. But the California disclosure is the first to zero in on a property’s ability to survive a catastrophe. That could make the state a model as wildfire and other climate threats endanger homes across the US. While three dozen states require some degree of flood-risk disclosure, only California currently mandates home sellers reveal wildfire hazards. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Todd Woody, Bloomberg

Hunton Insurance Coverage Attorneys Top Benchmark Litigation 2026 Guide

November 09, 2025 — Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP - Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog
Benchmark Litigation has recognized the following members of Hunton’s insurance coverage team as Litigation Stars: practice head Syed S. Ahmad, partner Walter J. Andrews, and special counsel Lorelie (Lorie) S. Masters. Benchmark’s Litigation Star recognizes individuals who possess a strong case record and are consistently recommended by clients and peers as reputable and effective litigators. In addition, Benchmark named partner Geoffrey Fehling on its Future Stars list, which recognizes individuals who are consistently referenced by peers and clients as litigators who are building their reputations in the market. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Europe Is Stepping Up to Be the World’s Climate Sheriff

July 01, 2025 — Olivia Rudgard & Olivia Raimonde - Bloomberg
In June 2024, the fashion company Shein Group Ltd. began its second attempt to go public. An earlier effort to float on the New York Stock Exchange had failed after US politicians scrutinized the company’s links to China. Now Shein was looking for a £50 billion ($67.4 billion) valuation on the UK stock exchange, but there, too, it faced obstacles. Investors, lawmakers and nongovernmental organizations argued that the company had violated financial disclosure rules and greenwashing provisions through its alleged use of forced labor and its high-emissions fast-fashion model. In response to the critique, Shein implemented a charm offensive by taking a cue from European climate regulations. For years, officials in both the UK and the European Union had been working on rules requiring companies to fund the disposal of clothing waste and disclose environmental and human rights risks in their supply chains. As Shein fought for its initial public offering, the company said it would invest in technologies to make fabrics more recyclable and would use more recycled polyester in its clothes. Polishing up its green credentials may have helped: UK regulators finally approved the listing earlier this year (though the company now appears to be reconsidering its plan partly because of the effects of President Donald Trump’s trade war). Reprinted courtesy of Olivia Rudgard, Bloomberg and Olivia Raimonde, Bloomberg Read the full story...

Proactively Addressing Potential Construction Claims

June 09, 2025 — Jack Mayo - ConsensusDocs
Recognizing a potential claim—whether related to delays, defective work, payment, or some other issue—often requires immediate attention to ensure that your rights are protected. This article provides a general overview of several practical considerations and proactive steps for contractors to take at the onset of a potential claim to better position themselves for positive resolution. While this is not an exhaustive thesis on claims management (or long-term litigation of claims), it is nonetheless intended to provide some practical guidance to follow during the initial phases of a potential project claim. Read the Contract Thoroughly As soon as a potential claim arises, read the contract. Then read it again. Understanding contractual obligations and rights is an important first step in preparing to address a potential claim. Construction contracts, such as those provided by ConsensusDocs, usually contain relevant provisions regarding claim preservation and dispute resolution/management. If these provisions are not properly adhered to, it can potentially prove fatal to successful resolution of a claim. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Jack Mayo, Jones Walker
Mr. Mayo may be contacted at jmayo@joneswalker.com

Court Rules That ERISA Preemption Bars Recovery of Union Benefit Fund Payments Pursuant to New York’s Wage Theft Statute from a General Contractor Where a Subcontractor Failed to Fund Payments

June 02, 2025 — Aaron C. Schlesinger - ConsensusDocs
Summary In 2022 the State of New York passed a Wage Theft statute[1] that includes authorizing suits against contractors to recover the unpaid employee wages and benefits of their subcontractors. In 2023 a union benefit fund sued a general contractor under the Wage Theft statute in New York State, seeking payment of nearly three million dollars resulting from the subcontractor’s failure to remit benefit fund contributions pursuant to its collective bargaining agreement.[2] On April 29, 2025, a United States District Court ruled that the Wage Theft Law cannot authorize such a suit. Following the arguments raised on behalf of the general contractor, the court concluded that such claims are the subject of federal law and therefore cannot be controlled by a state statute. The suit by the benefit fund was therefore dismissed against the contractor. More specifically, the court held that ERISA (the Early Retirement Income Security Act) preempts New York’s Construction Industry Wage Theft Statute (New York Labor Law § 198-e). In other words, where both federal and state law address an issue, federal law prevails, or “preempts,” the state law from operating. In this case, ERISA barred a union benefit fund from seeking payment from a general contractor for the delinquent benefit fund contributions owed by a subcontractor pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aaron C. Schlesinger, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
Mr. Schlesinger may be contacted at aschlesinger@pecklaw.com

Top U.S. Counties Most at Risk for Tornado Damage in 2025

May 19, 2025 — Kimberly Magerl - Home Gnome
Tornado frequency across the US varies, and some counties are in more danger than others. As the 2025 peak tornado season begins, Home Gnome uncovered which U.S. counties are most at risk for tornado damage. Using FEMA data, we analyzed nearly 950 counties with moderate to very high tornado risk. We considered six key factors, including tornado frequency, expected annual losses, average home age, and whether local building codes account for tornado resilience. For details on how we calculated the scores, see our methodology. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Kimberly Magerl, Home Gnome

The Dominguez Case and Deed Fraud: Who Criminals Target and How to Protect Yourself Against Fraud

November 04, 2025 — Lauren P. Merdinger, Ryan D. Konsdorf, Jordin Pettit & Alison Tobin - Snell & Wilmer
Arizonans should be aware of a recent decision from the Arizona Supreme Court that increases consequences for unsuspecting victims of deed fraud. Deeds are official documents that memorialize the owner of real property. When real property is bought, inherited, or otherwise conveyed, the deed is transferred to the new owner, who formally records the document with the county in which the real property exists to signify a change in ownership. However, scammers can create fraudulent deeds by forging landowner’s signatures, purporting to transfer the real property without the rightful owner’s consent. The Arizona Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Dominguez will impact victims of deed fraud moving forward, as it holds that if certain conditions are met, a recorded fraudulent deed can strip landowners of their property rights.1 The Case In Estate of Magdalena Rios De Dominguez v. Renee Kay Dominguez, the Arizona Supreme Court was asked to address a family dispute over an unoccupied piece of real property in Maricopa County.2 In 1995, Magdalena and Isidro Dominguez acquired the property in question. After the couple divorced in 1998, their son Jose and his wife Renee recorded a deed in 2003 purporting to convey the property to themselves, and Jose and Renee began paying the taxes on the property from thereon. In 2020, Magdalena discovered the 2003 recorded deed and claiming it was forged, filed a “quiet title” suit asking the Court to declare her the rightful owner of the property. Reprinted courtesy of Lauren P. Merdinger, Snell & Wilmer, Ryan D. Konsdorf, Snell & Wilmer and Jordin Pettit, Snell & Wilmer Ms. Merdinger may be contacted at lmerdinger@swlaw.com Mr. Konsdorf may be contacted at rkonsdorf@swlaw.com Ms. Pettit may be contacted at jpettit@swlaw.com Read the full story...

Insured’s Counsel Sanctioned for Filing Pleading with No Legal or Factual Justification

October 27, 2025 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The insured’s attorney was sanctioned for pursuing claims that were factually and legally unfounded. Wright v ASI Lloyds, No. 3?22-cv-357, Order (S.D. Texas Aug. 5, 2025). ASI moved for sections against the insured’s counsel, Eric B. Dick of the Eric Dick Law Firm, PLLC, requiring payment of fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred in defending the insured’s action. The evidence revealed that the complaint was founded upon falsities. Dick either knew or should have know when filing the complaint the following:

The complaint alleged vandalism damaged the insured’s property, but the insured did not believe vandalism caused the damage.
The complaint alleged the property was the insured’s primary residence, but she had lived elsewhere since 2000 and the property had been vacant for two years at the time she discovered the damage.
The complaint alleged the property was well-maintained prior to the loss, but the city cited the property as a nuisance, unsanitary, and unfit for human habitation a year before the alleged date of loss.

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES