Concrete / Foundations

Richard Walter is exceptionally experienced as a General Building Contractor, General Engineering Contractor, also as a Heavy Equipment Operator, and former ICBO Certified Building Inspector, and has an Architectural degree; works with multiple design and industry professionals including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, soils and geotechnical engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors.

Mr. Walter is a member of the APWA, the Deep Foundation Institute, and the AARST, where, as a panel member, he made recommendations to Congress for Radon Mitigation. Specialty projects include the dewatering of 350 homes in Carson City, Nevada, homes in Reno, Nevada, and multiple mold and fungus issues. Mr. Walter has designed patents regarding retaining walls and is an approved contractor for Hilfiker Retaining Wall Systems.

General Contractor Experience: Designed / Built Tract Homes, Multifamily Homes, Custom Homes, Strip Shopping Malls, Doctors’ Offices, Churches, Funeral Homes, Industrial Parks, Concrete Tilt Up Buildings.

Engineering Contractor Experience: Designed, Constructed, and Repaired Landslides, Retaining Walls, Erosion Control Projects, Demolition Projects, Underground Tunneling and Pipeline Installations, Habitat Restoration, Creek Channel Improvements, and Landscaping.

Consulting Services Include:

Preliminary Design Drawings Drawings for Building Permits Coordinate with Design Professionals Quality Control Inspection Project Investigation and Documentation

Radon Mitigation Issues Design and Contract Review Building Code Document Review Cost Estimation Alternative Value Added Engineering

View Expert Witness Profile.

Alvia Services, Inc. (Alvia) provides Engineering, Construction and related Forensic services including:

Civil Engineering: Comprehensive understanding of federal, state and municipal regulations. Develop timely and effective land-use, permitting, mitigation, and compliance strategies.

Geotechnical Engineering: All phases of construction, from feasibility and foundation studies through testing and construction management. Coordinate lab testing services with expert laboratories, certified by NIST and CCRL. Geotechnical studies and recommendations for site work, difficult excavation, slope instability, saturated ground conditions, and other adverse conditions.

Environmental Engineering: Compliance services to Public and private clients. Over 45+ collective years of experience between Engineering Geologists, Environmental Engineers, Environmental Assessors (REA I & REA II), and Environmental Technicians.

Structural Engineering: Value engineering solutions and multi-discipline team approach.

Construction Management: Project Management, Construction oversight, Cost Estimating, Scheduling and Claim Analysis and Preparation.

Forensic Services Residential and commercial site investigation of cause and origin of structural or mechanical failures or defects, fires and explosions, or mold. Environmental assessments. Damage assessment from defects, failures, or catastrophes such as windstorm damage, hail damage, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

Types of Projects include: Buildings and civil construction, bridges, roads, hotels, storm and sanitary sewers, wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, single and multi-family housing, tunnels, mass transit, shoring, retaining walls, landslide stabilization, foundation upgrade, canals, levees, water conveyance and pipelines, shopping malls, governmental facilities, seismic retrofit, environmental restoration projects associated with wetlands, underground storage tanks (UST) and chemical contamination to soil and groundwater (RCRA and Superfund) in addition to asbestos abatement (TSCA).

View Expert Witness Profile.

---

Randall S. Stout has over 30 years of experience in the Construction Industry. President of Construction Services and Investigations, Inc., Mr. Stout offers Consulting Services to a vast array of clients including architects, civil engineers, owners, flooring installers, flooring manufacturers, HOA's, property management / assets, commercial and residential general contractors, subcontractors and more. Mr. Stout's background in managing various and complex construction projects combined with his technical qualifications make him the right expert for meeting project and construction defect needs. His Consulting designing and building services are available from start to finish.

Mr. Stout holds both a "General Engineering" "A" License and a General Contracting 'B" License with the California State Licensing Board. He is certified with the ICC as a "Combo Building Inspector" for building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. Mr. Stout is also interested in Green Building Concepts and is LEED GA Certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with the United States Green Building Council. Mr. Stout has been trained to perform ASTM F 2170 and more in Concrete Slab Moisture Testing to identify interior flooring failures installed on concrete slabs.

Consulting Service Divisions Include

• Forensic Consulting - Drainage, Concrete, Roof, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Stucco, Roof, Doors, Painting, Flooring, Cabinetry, Countertops, Mold, etc.
• Construction - New Construction or Remodel, Tenant Improvements, Additions, Manage Consultants, Permitting, Construction Drawings, Specifications Review, Contractual Agreements, Scope of Work Documentation, On-Site Construction Management, OSHA Reporting, Quality Assurance, 3rd Party Independent Analysis
• ASTM Concrete Slab Moisture Testing - F 2170, F 1869, F 710
• Quality Assurance Inspections
• Contract Review
• OSHA / SWPPP Best Practices
• Document Review for Weatherization Components

View Expert Witness Profile.

David Ross Associates, LLC (DRA) is a Construction Management and Disputes Resolution Consulting Company in San Carlos, California. Our expert construction consultants specialize in the avoidance, analysis and resolution of construction claims.

David Ross Associates has provided expert construction consulting services on various projects throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East. We represent owners, engineers and architects, as well as contractors and subcontractors, on construction projects ranging in scale from small homeowner cases to multi-million dollar claims on both public and private projects.

David Ross Associates consultants are highly qualified experts who understand the technical, contractual, management, and financial issues involved in today's complex construction projects.

David Ross Associates has extensive experience providing expert construction consulting services in claim analysis, litigation support, alternative dispute resolution and a wide range of other Construction Claim-Related issues including:

• Construction Management
• Construction Defects
• Schedule Analysis
• Estimating and Cost Analysis
• Change Orders
• Delays
• Disruption
• Acceleration Analysis
• Safety Related Cases

David L. Ross has over thirty years of expertise in Residential, Commercial, Institutional, and Public Works Construction Projects. He has the knowledge and experience required to be particularly successful in construction claims management and resolution. Mr. Ross has testified as a designated construction expert on numerous occasions and has consulted for owners, contractors, insurance companies, design firms, construction industry specialists, and law firms in a wide range of construction-related claims.





Troy V. Sutton provides full time Construction Consulting Support services for DRA. Mr. Sutton's responsibilities include reviewing contract related documentation (e.g. contracts, drawings, specifications, PCOs, Cos, RFIs, CPM schedules, Pos, invoices, procurement records, bid sheets, Pay Apps, engineer reports, testing reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, etc.), preparing claims documents for mediation, arbitration or litigation, and draft Dispute Review Board (Arbitrator/Mediator panel) opinions & recommendations on multi-million dollar public works projects.

---

---

---

Donan Engineering Co., Inc., a family owned company founded in 1947, provides full-service Forensic Engineering and Fire Investigation Services. For over 60 years, Donan Engineering has been providing unbiased answers to their client’s complicated questions. Their team of licensed and experienced forensic experts provides investigative services in the fields of engineering investigations, fire and explosion origin & cause, roofing investigations, and component testing. The diversity of their multidisciplinary staff allows them to provide not only a complete service, but a complete service whose conclusions can be successfully and completely supported.

Donan Engineering has become a richly diverse, industry leader with over 190 employees operating from 49 offices in 25 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Nebraska,Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia, Virginia, and Oklahoma. Throughout their growth, Donan Engineering has maintained their commitment to providing exceptional customer service, unparalleled quality, unmatched integrity, and timely reporting. Most importantly, they pride ourselves on delivering their clients quality services at an affordable price.

Services Include:

Engineering Investigations
Bridges Foundations and Basements Geotechnical / Sink Holes Lightning Low and High Voltage Mechanical Systems Retaining Walls	Steel Construction Trusses Vehicle Mechanical Studies Vibrations: Earthquakes and Blastings Water Infiltration / Mold Wood Frame Construction
Fire / Explosion Origin and Cause Commercial Fires Equipment Fires Vehicle / Residential Fires	Roofing Investigations Commercial Residential - Asphalt Shingle Residential - Slate, Tile, Etc.
Heavy Trucks Motorcycles	Passenger Vehicles

---

---

---

---

---

A licensed Professional Engineer with over 26 years of experience in Civil/Structural Engineering & Construction Forensics Consulting, Construction Project Management and Education. He has been retained by insurance companies, law firms, construction, energy, mining, technology & manufacturing industries, governmental and educational institutions, engineering and architectural firms, and individuals. Has provided consulting to plaintiff/defendant cases; testimony & trial experience.

• Expert Consulting & Witness; Insurance Claim, Peer Reviews, Legal Support

• Buildings, Structures & Materials: Residential, Commercial, Institutional & Historic; Bridges, Towers, Stacks/Chimneys, Containment Vessels, Tanks, Grain Silos, Conduits & Pipelines, Retaining Walls, Foundations, Slabs & Pavements; Concrete, Steel, Composite, Wood, CMU, Brick Masonry & Adobe

• Design, Construction, Integrity, Repair & Retrofit Issues

• Construction Defects & Accidents; Defective Concrete; OSHA Standards

• Code Compliance; Seismic Resistant Design; Errors & Omissions; Standards of Care

• Damage & Failure Investigation; Due Diligence; Non-Destructive Testing; Analysis/Report

• Vibration, Explosion, Impact, Earthquake, Wind, Fire, Hurricane & Flood Damage Investigations

• Pile Driving & Demolition Damage to Adjacent Facilities; Cracking & Settlement

• Dynamic, Stress & Thermal Analysis; Finite Element Method; Product Design; Failure Simulation/Reconstruction

• Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents

• Intellectual Property & Patent Infringement

Ray Helmer is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Ohio. He is available to perform Expert Witness Services in all 50 states.

At present, Mr. Helmer enjoys working in depth on Water & Wastewater cases such as: water supplies, toxic contamination, industrial pollution, water intrusion, and flooding.

Areas of Expertise:

Civil, Structural and Forensic engineering

Highway engineering, roadways, sight distance

Concrete and Asphalt Pavements

Highway / Street lighting

Traffic engineering, signals, signs, striping

Traffic noise studies

Accidents – automobile, train, motorcycle, pedestrian

Traffic accident testimony involving city / County / State DOTS

Hydraulics, hydrology, drainage, flooding

Sanitary engineering, sewers, overflows

Water treatment, distribution, pumping

Water disinfection byproducts (DBPs)

Wastewater treatment plants, lift stations

Soil expansion, contraction, settlement

Foundation failure, structural damage

Plumbing, leaks, water intrusion

Airports, FAA standards, runways, taxi ways, ramps

Bridges, buildings, corrosion, concrete cracking

Construction defects, fraud, accidents, delays, estimates

---

---

Daniel M. Paine founded Innovative Safety in October 1996 to continue his hands-on involvement and input in Construction Safety Practices, Legislation, and New Safety Equipment. A significant focus of the firm’s mission centers on helping clients analyze specific job-site safety problems and developing a targeted plan and equipment schedule to minimize contractor financial exposure and maximize worker safety. Mr. Paine has worked with many industrial rack and conveyor manufacturers in industrial plants and warehouses throughout the United States and Canada.

Mr. Paine's experience includes the Design, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Distribution of a broad spectrum of internationally recognized Fall Protection and other Safety Systems and Equipment for the Construction Industry. He has been been influential in proposing new and revised safety legislation before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. He is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker at national organizations such as The National Safety Council, The American Society of Safety Engineers, The Ironworkers Contractors Insurance Program, and The Governors’ Pacific Rim Safety and Health Conference.

View Expert Witness Profile.

James I. Daniel, PE, REWC - Building Construction Consultant, Dispute Resolutions

Jim Daniel is Principal and Executive Vice President of Building & Environmental Consultants, a division of ITC Experts, Inc. With 33 years of experience, Mr. Daniel specializes in investigation, testing, evaluation and design of repairs for non-performing construction systems including exterior building facades, roofing systems, wall systems, foundations, windows and building fenestration, curtain walls, and interior gypsum drywall and plaster systems. Exterior facade expertise includes, among others, brick, concrete and limestone masonry; exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS); direct-applied exterior finish systems (DEFS); one-coat and three coat exterior portland cement plaster (traditional stucco); wood, metal, fiber-cement board, and vinyl sidings; thin brick, tile and exposed aggregate finish systems; glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC); glass curtain wall systems; joint sealants; flashing; and waterproof coating systems. Roofing expertise involves steep and low-sloped roofs including asphalt, wood, slate, and tile shingles; single ply membrane roofing; modified-bitumen roofing (MBR); built-up roofing (BUR); spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing; metal roofs; and associated expansion joints, scuppers, copings and flashing. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin and has NCEES certification. He also is a Registered Exterior Wall Consultant (REWC) through The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing, & Building Envelope Professionals (RCI). View Curriculum Vitae.

Dr. Ralph G. Oesterle, PhD, PE - Buildings and Environmental; Structural Engineering

Dr. Oesterle is Principal and Vice President of Structural Engineering in ITC Expert's Building and Environmental Consultants (BEC) practice area. With over 37 years of experience in experimental, analytical and field investigations of the response of structures to gravity, seismic and wind loading, Dr. Oesterle has specific expertise in structural behavior of reinforced and prestressed concrete structural elements, particularly in response to loading beyond normal service level conditions. This expertise has been gained through years of testing and observing structures in the laboratory and in the field and expanding the knowledge gained through computer simulations of observed behavior. Dr. Oesterle has applied this expertise to structural evaluation and failure analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures including foundations, high-rise buildings, parking structures, building facades, bridges, industrial structures, sanitary engineering structures, cooling towers and large diameter prestressed and reinforced concrete pipe. Primary focus of his research work has included experimental and analytical investigations of the response of structural walls to earthquake loading, and the effects of inelastic strains, including creep, shrinkage and thermal strains, on reinforced and prestressed concrete structural behavior. Dr. Oesterle's work on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Goldstone 64-meter antenna has been recognized and awarded the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Group Achievement Award. He had also received the Raymond C. Reese Structural Research Award from American Concrete Institute for his experimental work related to earthquake-resistant structural walls. Dr. Oesterle is a licensed Structural Engineer in the State of Illinois, a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina and Wisconsin and has NCEES certification. View Curriculum Vitae.

Edward Malnar, FMP - Building Defects and Insurance Claims Investigations

Mr. Malnar is a Senior Consultant with Building & Environmental Consultants, a division of ITC Experts, Inc. He specializes in investigation, evaluation, testing and repair of non performing construction systems involving roofing, exterior walls, windows, building fenestration, foundations, and various other components of the exterior building envelope. Roofing expertise encompasses residential systems including asphalt composite shingles, wood shingles and shakes, natural stone (slate), and terra-cotta/clay tiles; commercial systems including poly-vinyl chloride (reinforced and unreinforced PVC), modified-bitumen roofing (MBR), built-up roofing (BUR), and metal roofs. Exterior cladding expertise includes brick, concrete, and limestone masonry; exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS); exterior Portland cement plaster (traditional stucco); wood, aluminum, and vinyl siding. While employed at HPZS Architects in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Malnar specialized in management of projects for exterior envelope restoration. He performed field exploration and produced reports for prescriptive remedial recommendations of problems related to roof, wall, and window systems. Mr. Malnar was a key team member for the time sensitive historic façade and roof restoration for Soldier Field in Chicago, in anticipation of the World Cup Soccer in 1994. He managed the construction phase of the historic copper roof restoration for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. He was the primary investigator of all building facades and remedial repair supervision for Fulton House, 345 North Canal Street, Chicago, IL. View Curriculum Vitae.

Craig Meinhard is a Construction Manager, Superintendent, and Contractor with over 35 years of experience. Mr. Meinhard has personally supervised over two million square feet of building construction in the retail, office, industrial, and residential sectors. He has detailed knowledge of all aspects of field construction from the ground up including core and shell, interior build-out / renovation, and on- and off-site improvements. Mr. Meinhard has accepted projects up to several hundred thousand square feet and up to low eight-figure cost - big box retail, car Dealerships, storefronts, tenant improvements, etc. He is experienced with wood-framed construction, structural steel, structural concrete, tilt-up, and structural masonry.

As a Construction Consultant, Mr. Meinhard is available to:

• Review contract documents
• Conduct site inspections
• Consult with design professionals
• Consult with owners and contractors, etc.

View Expert Witness Profile.