Floors / Flooring Expert Witnesses

Brent A. Johnson is nationally recognized in the Walkway Traction Testing Industry and the author of many articles on the application of national standards for Slip and Fall Prevention.

Background Experience - Mr. Johnson served as a facilities manager in the healthcare industry for 12 years before moving to the Floor Safety Industry. In his experience, he has recognized the need for extensive research in the reduction of the risks contributing to slip and fall incidents. He has witnessed, first hand, the physical, mental, and financial devastation that can result from unsafe walkways, thus resulting in his proactive, rather than reactive management philosophy.

During his tenure in the healthcare industry, Mr. Johnson has served on Environment of Care, Safety, and Emergency Management committees for a major suburban hospital network focusing on the prevention of injuries and identification of potential hazards. As a Facility Safety Officer, he has proposed and implemented solutions to minimize risks and enhance the safety for all users of a healthcare facility.

Mr. Johnson’s experience also includes a background in education and the physical sciences which enables him to apply and articulate the physics and properties of the coefficient of friction and it’s implications with walkway surfaces and safety. His ability to apply the scientific standards for measurement of floor safety established by the National Floor Safety Institute and ANSI as part of a comprehensive walkway management program can help reduce the exposure of a facility to litigation as well as create a safer environment for employees and patrons.

Mr. Johnson is a member of ASTM, ASSE, the ANSI B101 main committee and the chairman of the ANSI B101.0 Walkway Auditing Procedure subcommittee. He was the first Certified Walkway Auditing Safety Specialist and is now an instructor for the NFSI’s Walkway Auditor Certification Class as well as a Certified XL Tribometrist.

Litigation Support - Brent A. Johnson specializes is Forensic Walkway Testing in slip and fall cases for both defense and plaintiff attorneys. He offers unbiased, objective walkway test data for slip and fall litigation based on the ANSI/NFSI B101 national consensus walkway testing standards. His services include the coefficient of friction (COF) measurements under both dry and wet conditions.

View Brent Johnson's Consulting Profile.

Gerald M. Halweg, CTC, CSI, TTA, President/CEO of the TILE INSTITUTE of AMERICA, has earned the recognition of being an internationally acclaimed Master Expert Witness and Consultant. He has over 45 years of experience specializing in Ceramic and Natural Stone Tile.

Background - Tutored by tile masters for decades, Mr. Halweg received his Ceramic Tile Consultant (CTC) degree in 1978. After receiving his degree, he taught and administered the Ceramic Tile Consultant (CTC) program (180-hour course) until 1992. Mr. Halweg worked in testing laboratories, tested materials for the construction trades, and developed test procedures. He administered the Official Quality Control & Testing Agency for the Tile Trade authorized by International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO).

Litigation Support - Mr. Halweg provides expert witness services for cases involving Construction Defects and Tile Installations. His job site inspections, consultations, and research for the tile and legal industries number in excess of 200 projects per year. Mr. Halweg's services are available to both plaintiff and defendant and include site review, written reports, depositions, arbitration, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise

Tile Installation Failures Tile Product Investigation Tile Penalization Veneer Tile Systems Marble Slabs Sound-Rated Tile Flooring Systems Tile Industry Codes Natural Stone and Allied Materials Lathe and Plaster Flooring Surfaces (Terrazzo, Pavers, etc.)

Decking and Roof Tiles Pools and Showers Mold & Mildew Testing Construction Safety Standards Slips, Trips, Falls Stairs & Ramps Coefficient of Friction Testing Leak Detection Waterproofing Concrete Slabs, Sub-Floors

Daniel D. Bawden, GMB, CAPS, CGR, CGP, JD, has over 35 years of experience in the Construction Industry. He is a Graduate Master Builder, Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and a Certified Green Building Professional.

Mr. Bawden serves as an accredited Instructor for the National Association of Home Builders, certifying other builders in his own specialties. He earned both his Bachelor’s degree and Law degree from Baylor University. He is currently serving as Vice Chair of the NAHB Remodelers Council, on track to be the national spokesman for the remodeling industry in 2017.

Litigation Support - Mr. Bawden has an outstanding reputation for winning cases. His combination of legal and hands-on construction experience, along with his numerous certifications, make him a highly credible witness in all facets of residential construction.

Mr. Bawden helped write the "Residential Construction Performance Guidelines," which is the primary criteria for construction standards. With trial experience on behalf of both homeowners and builders, Mr. Bawden is a likeable persona, an excellent and clear communicator, effective before arbitrators, judges, and juries alike.

Areas of Expertise:

Construction Cost Estimates / Analysis Construction Defects Project Management Disputes

Construction for the Disabled (ADA) Construction Delays Code Compliance / Violation

View Dan Bawden's Consulting Profile.

David M. Bekus has over 35 years in the Construction Industry specializing in home design, construction, and remodeling. Mr. Bekus has been a project manager, overseeing all aspects of construction from conception and approvals to final sales for single homes and developments.

Mr. Bekus is licensed by the State of New Jersey as a building inspector (RCS, ICS, and HHS), a licensed home remodeler, and a licensed new home builder. He is also certified in Project Management, Cost Estimating, Construction Methods, Construction Site Safety, and is a EPA Lead Safe Certified Contractor.

Litigation Support - As a seasoned expert in the construction field, Mr. Bekus adheres to building code practices and high construction standards to provide reliable advice and credible expert witness testimony. His services include project evaluations, building code inspections, and clearly and precisely written reports. Mr. Bekus' expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant and has testified in NJ superior court Areas of Expertise:

Industry Standards Building Code Compliance, Specifications Contract and Plan Specifications New Construction Defects Roof Issues Water Issues

Framing Defects Siding Defects Concrete Defects Insurance Claims Poor Workmanship Home Owner Association Issues

View David Bekus' Consulting Profile.

David Neagley, AIA, Architect: Over thirty-two years of architectural design and construction administration experience with all building types, including educational, medical, R&D, corporate, commercial, custom residential, multi-family housing, military and industrial projects, totaling over 12.4 million square feet. Emphasizing use of durable, low maintenance materials including stainless, copper, bronze, zinc, cement-fiber, plastics, composites, specialty sealants & industrial paints.

Building Reconstruction Specialist: Reconstruction design, details and specifications focused on solving complex construction problems and developing effective repairs for commercial and institutional buildings. Services include design for waterproofing, flashing, exterior finishes, roofs, decks, windows, and remediation of mold, wood rot, corrosion and structural damage.

Construction Industry Expert: Visual inspection, intrusive testing, defect analysis, repair recommendations and forensic expert services for both plaintiff and defense parties. Specialized knowledge of construction materials, industry standards, code compliance, waterproofing, vapor transmission, exterior finishes, corrosion, condensation, ventilation, mold, wood rot, suspended ceilings, interior partitions, and structural issues.

Sanford C. Loy , CCM, B.Arch, MSCE, has 40 years of experience in the Construction Industry. Mr. Loy has Degrees in Architecture and Engineering. A Certified Construction Manager (CCM), he is committed to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice established by the Construction Management Association of America. CCM is the ANSI accredited professional designation for construction management and is the gold standard for CM service providers in over 145 countries.

Background Experience - Mr. Loy's experience spans virtually every type of building and design process. His strength centers on his understanding of the dynamics and interactions of the various trades and professions unique to every building project. He has experience with Construction Management at Risk, Construction Management Agency, Design-build, and Design-bid-build.

Having successfully managed the completion of over one billion dollars of construction, Mr. Loy served as a Regional Engineer for the American Institute of Steel Construction for 2 years and as Director of Construction and Development for Belz Enterprises, the largest development company in Tennessee, for two years before founding Construction Strategies and Solutions in 1988.

Litigation Support - Mr. Loy provides Construction Claim and Dispute Analysis services, with special expertise in Concrete Design and Design-Build. Having been a teacher of many of the principles and processes used in the industry he knows how to explain the difficult technical aspects of the information and analysis in a way which makes the facts understandable and believable to opposing counsel, insurance companies, judges, and juries. Mr. Loy has experience and provides assistance with various dispute resolution approaches, such as Owner / Contractor dispute resolution boards, arbitration, mediation, and provides expert witness testimony if necessary.

View Sanford Loy's Consulting Profile.

Peter Craig has over 42 years experience as a concrete slab construction and repair specialist. Mr. Craig provides attorney and client support in litigation, arbitration and mediation involving concrete floor slabs.

His cases include issues pertaining to concrete slab design, construction and repair that involve:

Below-slab Vapor Retarders/Barriers Moisture Testing Slab Curling Slab Cracking

Moisture-related Flooring Problems Moisture-related Coating Problems Slab Stabilization Moisture Mitigation of Concrete Floor Slabs

Background - Peter Craig began his career on the materials side and moved full-time into consulting in 1999. Although originally recognized for his work developing solutions for curled and cracked slabs, today he is best known for his work with Moisture-related Flooring and Coating problems over concrete slabs. This developed from his background study of below-slab vapor retarders and their effect on moisture and slab curling.

In 2012 Mr. Craig was voted as one of the 5 most influential people in the concrete industry by Concrete Construction Magazine for his efforts in helping to develop and teach the ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Certification Program which to-date (2015) has certified over 800 moisture testing technicians nationwide.

Professional Affiliations:

• International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)
• American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM)
• American Concrete Institute (ACI)

View Peter Craig's Consulting Profile.