Construction Quality Control Expert Witnesses

William R. Acorn is founder of Acorn Consulting Services, LLC, an engineering firm. As a consulting mechanical engineer, Bill provides project analysis, forensic reconstructions and litigation support services relating to the design, delivery, and functioning of high-tech manufacturing facilities, semiconductor fabrication facilities, institutional laboratories, data centers, health care facilities and a variety of commercial buildings. He is a recognized expert in the evaluation of deficiencies in HVAC systems, cleanrooms, piping systems, refrigeration systems, construction defects, building and fire code compliance, and patent and trade secret disputes. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants.

Bill has more than 40 years of experience as a professional engineer and is a recognized expert in assessing, evaluating, remediating and providing testimony on complex project design, construction and operational matters. His consulting expertise has been influential in shaping approaches to code compliance and life safety in semiconductor and similar advanced technology facilities.

• Registered as a Professional Mechanical Engineer in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
• Registered with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying NCEES (Certificate No. 6999)
• Fellow in the HVAC industry leading organization ASHRAE
• Visiting lecturer at the Arizona State University Del E. Webb School of Construction in Tempe, AZ
• Advisor to CREATE, ACE – Alliance for Construction Excellence and the IAB – Industry Advisory Board, all affiliated with ASU

Building Systems Analysis:

• HVAC and Refrigeration
• Process and Power Piping
• Plumbing Systems
• Standard of Care in Design and Construction
• Chemical Exposures in the Workplace
• Cleanroom Design and Performance
• Codes and Standards
• Patent and Trade Secret Disputes

Bill’s pragmatic approach to both forensic and litigation consulting as well as project consulting is based on more than 40 years of real-world experience as a design professional, mentor and forensic analyst, as well as many years as an instructor in professional and academic settings.

Litigation Support:

• Forensic Analysis
• Strategic Litigation Consulting
• Trial Demonstratives
• Expert Testimony

Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of jurisdictions throughout the US and Asia. Bill’s ability to explain complex issues to non-technical audiences, including juries, mediators and judges, is a key to successfully solving your litigation challenges.

Acorn Consulting Services

Consulting Services: Services range from peer review to conceptual design to development of strategies and programs for expedited project delivery.

Bill frequently acts as an owner’s agent and mentor, functioning as an extension of the owner’s project team. On other projects, Bill serves as a subject matter expert assisting project delivery firms in their development of viable solutions and review of construction documents.

As a project consultant, Bill assures the project gets off to the right start and provides his expertise through completion and operation to maximize return on investment.

Consulting Expertise Includes:

• Project Design and Management Consulting
• Forensic Analysis and Litigation Consulting
• Mentoring & Advanced Education

Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell is a Chartered Engineer who practices as an Arbitrator, Adjudicator and Expert for Determination. Geoffrey is the former Senior Partner of Consulting Mechanical and Electrical Engineers BHA Cromwell House.

A one time Chairman of the Expert Witness Society, Geoffrey Hartwell has experience giving evidence in court (in both civil and criminal matters) and in International Arbitration. He sometimes is retained as a Single Joint Expert or as a Tribunal Expert. His services are offered to both Plaintiff and Defense. Even when retained on behalf of a Client he, like all Experts, has an overriding responsibility to the Court or Tribunal.

After his early career in aerospace and nuclear energy, Geoffrey entered private practice in association with the late Leslie Heap and Gerald Lewis of Heap and Digby, Consulting Engineers, in 1969. While with them he designed water and sewage equipment and also the bascule moving machinery for the Lowestoft Bridge, in Suffolk. He practiced also as Beresford Hartwell and Associates and, in 1971 established a separate office in Wallington, South London.

In parallel with his design career, Geoffrey was first appointed as arbitrator in 1972 and his first foreign arbitration, an ICC appointment in Switzerland, took place later that year. He studied Law to Intermediate level and then transferred to the examinations of the Institute of Arbitrators (now Chartered) of which he became Chairman in 1996-1997 and for whom he taught in various countries on several courses, including the prestigious Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.

Technical Expertise:

Electrical Engineering and Design Mechanical Engineering and Design Instrumentation Automation and Computer Control Systems Maritime and Infrastructure Engineering Process Engineering Solid Waste Handling

Communications Manufacturing Computer Cartography Moving Bridges and Lock Gates Construction Project Management Nuclear Energy Water and Waste Water Treatment

Arbitration: Geoffrey Hartwell also acts as an arbitrator and adjudicator, as an expert mediator and conciliator, as an expert investigator and assessor for arbitral tribunals, and also as a Special Referee in the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man. His services have been required in the UK and internationally.

Dispute Boards: Geoffrey Hartwell has experience both as Member and as Chairman of Dispute Boards?. He has been a member of Dispute Boards, retained from the beginning of a project or, alternatively, appointed on an ad hoc basis when a problem arises, Dispute Adjudication Boards to determine a binding decision, and on Dispute Review Boards to make decisions that are advisory but not binding.

Adjudication: Similar to arbitration, Mr. Hartwell adjudicates domestic and international disputes which are only temporarily binding unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.

View Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell's Consulting Profile.

FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE: Plaintiff and Defendant ™
David Erik Chase, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA, is an Architect with over 50 years of experience, personally responsible for more than $1 billion of constructed projects, as designer, interior designer, specifier, project manager, Architect-of-record, or Principal-in-charge.

Litigation Support - Based on this foundation of technical and practical experience, Mr. Chase has served as an expert witness, testifying in depositions and at trial on over 75 cases, for forensic construction assignments for plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of matters. His cases have included insurance issues, standard of care, schedule delay, construction defects, contract disputes, copyright, water intrusion, mold, errors and omissions together with a specialty in Florida 718 Statutes for condominiums.

Currently practicing Architecture in Florida, Mr. Chase is licensed in 21 states. He has extensive experience in educational, stadium, criminal justice, housing (senior, assisted living, public, multi-family and single detached), health care, commercial, hospitality and retail projects. Mr. Chase has negotiated, authored and administrated design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager-at-risk, fast-track, fixed price, bridging, sole source and private/government contracts.

Mr. Chase serves as an Expert Witness to highlight issues of fact, to bring clarity to due diligence on both sides of the table, and to advance resolution. As a Mediator and neutral third party, he has expertly guided parties in dispute through an informal, non-adversarial process toward a mutually agreeable resolution without prescribing what that solution should be. Mr. Chase has also served as an Arbitrator on a dozen cases to guide opposing parties through a formal, rule-based process that establishes a binding resolution and reasoned awards.

Areas of Expertise:

Architectural Standard of Care Architectural Contracts Building Codes, Standards Construction Defects Building Envelope Systems Design – Build Delivery

Water Intrusion Matters Errors and Omissions Claims Stucco and EFIS Systems Betterment Issues Florida 718 Condominium Statutes Wrongful Death Events

Fast Track Processes 1990 A D A Guidelines Architectural Copyright Infringement Change Order Analyses Breach of Contract Government Contracts

Since 2010, Craig Moskowitz, MBA, MS, PE, the President and Managing Member of CLM Engineering Associates, LLC (CLM), has been concentrating the comapny's focus on forensic engineering/expert witness work for the insurance industry and legal community. In addition, they offer construction management, civil engineering and building inspection services. 

CLM has extensive construction management experience on both commercial and residential projects. Projects have included:

•  Safety inspections on both civilian and military projects through application of OSHA regulations. Designed drainage systems for the government while an officer with the United States military. Cost estimating for various projects exceeding $500 million<li>
• Designed document creation and management of high-rise construction in Manhattan
• Management of telecommunications projects for Verizon in Manhattan including CPM schedule creation and updating
• Directed and managed all water distribution system and sewer system work while working as a contractor to the New York City Department of Design and Construction. 
• Marketplace Services

Litigation Support - Forensic work related to evaluation of structural steel systems with commercial building construction and insurance-related claims due to storm damage on commercial and residential structures. Craig Moskowitz has been deposed several times in litigation matters. Mr. Moskowitz has testified 17 times in the past four years. 

View Craig Moskowitz's Consulting Profile.

John G. Minor, President of Complete General Contractors, is a third-generation Contractor and licensed instructor certified by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. He is a recognized expert on the costs and applications necessary to repair buildings damaged by manufacturer, builder liability, water damage or intrusion, mold, or asbestos.

Mr. Minor has worked in construction and contracting dispute resolution throughout the Southeast for over 17 years. He has been involved in the successful discharge of 150+ million dollars as an expert witness in property claim lawsuits and disputes. He is retained by both the plaintiff and defense for a fair appraisal of the issues at hand.

Mr. Minor works with attorneys to generate a plan based on damages to property and in compliance with the provisions and spirit of the insurance policies in effect at the time of the loss. For personal injury cases, he works to establish the code requirements in place at times of the injury to find how they relate to the cause of action.

Areas of Expertise:

Loss Appraisals Construction Claims Construction Disputes Construction Safety Construction Damages

Fire Damage HVAC Issues Insurance - Property, Casualty Mold Asbestos

View John Minor's Consulting Profile.

Randall S. Stout, Founder of Construction Services and Investigations, Inc (aka CSI Inc.) provides Expert Witness services for Construction Defect, Personal Injury, and Reconstruction Litigation Projects.

Over the past 35 years, Mr. Stout has mastered his construction knowledge holding such positions as director of purchasing, director of special projects, and director of construction while working for several large construction development companies. He holds both a "General Engineering" "A" License and a General Contracting 'B" License with the California State Licensing Board. Mr. Stout is certified with the ICC as a "Combo Building Inspector" for building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. He 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 Concrete Slab Moisture Testing to identify interior flooring failures installed on concrete slabs.

Litigation Support - Mr. Stout assists small to medium-sized law firms, insurance, and property management companies in need of construction expertise in all phases of complex construction defect litigation, both residential and commercial. His "hands-on" construction experience allows him to bring a unique set of problem-solving skills during tough negotiations. Mr. Stout has testified and opined at joint expert meetings, expert presentations, mediations, arbitrations, criminal court, superior / civil court, bankruptcy court, and at Contractors State License Board Hearing (CSLB).

Cases and Projects:

• Construction Defect
• Personal Injury
• ADA Site Evaluations
• Tenant Landlord Disputes
• Real Estate Disclosure Disputes
• Concrete Moisture Suppression Systems / ASTM F 2170 Testing

Northern California Office CSI, Inc 101 Parkshore Drive Suite 100 Folsom, CA 95630 Office: 916-932-7146 Fax: 916-932-2001

Southern California Office CSI, Inc 17901 Von Karman Ave Suite 600 Irvine, CA 92614 Office: 949-556-8743 Fax: 949-556-8701

View Randall Stout's Consulting Profile.

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.

John (Jack) P. Diehl, AIA NCARB LEED AP, has over 40 years of experience as an Architect. Mr. Diehl currently specializes in Forensic Architecture and Construction Defects. He is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

Mr. Diehl is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the International Code Council (ICC). He is also a LEED AP Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, Construction Document Technician, and General Contractor California, "B" License.

As President of The Diehl Group Architects, Inc., Mr. Diehl is:

• Responsible for field investigations, failure analysis, building code research, and development of repair solutions
• Performs technical investigations and research of suspected design and construction problems
• Verifies and compares as-built conditions, design parameters, building jurisdiction requirements and applicable industry standards of care
• Provides construction administration and quality control review for Type I and Type V building types
• Provides quality assurance, evaluation, and supervision of in-progress construction for major commercial and high rise structures for conformance to design, material, and workmanship standards

Litigation Support: Jack Diehl has provided trial preparation services and expert witness testimony in over two hundred (200) cases, residential or commercial, in support of construction defect litigation. He offers his expertise to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. His services include arbitration and mediation.

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Architect Architectural Professional Liability Building Envelope Water Intrusion and Damage ADA Consulting Slip and Fall Building Code

Construction Defects Waterproofing Roofs Fenestration Construction Administration EIFS Consulting Construction Standards

View Jack Diehl'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.

Gene Farmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP, is president of Gene Farmer and Associates, Architects and Planners an award winning architecture firm. He has over thirty years of experience in the Design of numerous Residential and Commercial Projects in Florida, Texas, Illinois and Minnesota. His work has been published both locally and nationally and he has received numerous awards including two F.A.M.E. awards and the prestigious Price Waterhouse South Florida Business Journal "Up and Comer Award for 1990."

Mr. Farmer holds a license to practice architecture in the State of Florida, an N.C.A.R.B. Certification, and a Dade County Sub-Builder Certificate. He is also a certified Florida Building Inspector, a certified Florida Building Plans Examiner, a certified International Code Council ICC Commercial Building Inspector and a certified International Code Council ICC Building Plans Examiner. Mr. Farmer currently holds an OSHA 30 hour certification and has been a certified OSHA 500 instructor.

Mr. Farmer has served as an Expert Witness in numerous cases ranging from Construction Defects to Construction Claims Analysis.

Gene Farmer is a Professor Emeritus in the Moss School of Construction, in the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University. His teaching specialties include Principles of Construction Management, Building Construction Materials, Sustainable Construction, Building Codes, Quality Control in Construction, and Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems in Buildings.

In addition to his book entitled Architectural Detailing for Commercial Construction, published by McGraw Hill in 1991, he has a book entitled “A Contractor’s Guide to LEED Certified Construction” which was published in 2013 by Delmar-Cengage.

Paul Gentosi, CFLC, FEWA has over 45 years of very diverse and extensive General Contracting experience from journeyman tradesman to upper-level management throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. He has general contracting experience in varied disciplines including commercial, industrial and multi-family construction. Litigation Support - Mr. Gentosi and his team at Gentosi Construction Consulting & Litigation Support have been providing Construction Management expert witness services for over 10 years. They have been involved in three trials in Superior Court, five depositions, five mediations, and two arbitrations, and many cases that settled due to their expertise. With four decades of experience, they are in a strong position to provide services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Construction Defect Contract Disputes Claims Building Code Interpretation

Standard of Care / Industry Standards Cost of Repair Water Intrusion Implementation of Repairs

View Gentosi Construction's Consulting Profile.

Prof. Makarand (Mark) Hastak, PhD, PE, CCP, CRIS, is the Professor and the Dernlan Family Head of Construction Engineering and Management as well as Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Dr. Hastak has been involved with the construction industry for the past 32 years providing his expertise through consulting, research, teaching, and service to the industry. He is a world renowned expert in the area of construction engineering and management including process improvement, disaster risk reduction, resilience and capacity building, infrastructure management, intelligent planning for the built environment, cost control, project management decision-making, risk management, and strategic planning. Dr. Hastak is a Professional Engineer (PE), a Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS), and a Certified Cost Professional (CCP). Prof. Hastak has worked on numerous projects sponsored by the Construction Industry Institute (CII), NSF, State DOTs, and City Agencies. He has authored over 200 publications on process improvement, project controls, capital rehabilitation planning, strategic planning, and decision-making. He has co-authored a widely used book on Infrastructure Planning, Engineering, and Economics (McGraw-Hill 2006 and 2015). Dr. Hastak served on the Education Board of the Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering (2004-2016). He was Editor for two AACE books, the Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering (6th Ed. 2015) and the CCP Certification Study Guide (2nd Ed. 2016). He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering (2009-2016). Dr. Hastak has given over 40 keynotes and invited lectures around the world. As a prominent educator and consultant, he also engages in developing training material and workshops as well as regularly teaching professional courses for the A/E/C industry. His services include consultation, on-site investigation, data collection, assessment, and reporting. He has completed the 30-Hour OSHA Hazard Recognition Training for the Construction Industry 

Dr. Hastak Lectures at the 2015 International Conference on Building Resilience

Litigation Support - Dr. Hastak offers expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He has served as an Expert Witness on six cases since 2017 and was deposed on two plus one evidence deposition. His services include case reviews, written reports, depositions, arbitrations, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Construction Engineering Construction Management Cost Overruns Schedule Delays Construction Safety Modular Construction Patent Infringement

Factory Built Construction Infrastructure Planning Data Center Construction Project Risk Management Disaster Recovery / Disaster Mitigation Trade Secrets Misappropriation Contracts & Warranties

View Dr. Hastak's Consulting Profile.

George Hedley is the founder and President of Hedley Construction and Development Inc., a major General Contractor, Owner’s Representative, and Construction Manager headquartered in Orange & Riverside Counties, Southern California. Since 1977, Mr. Hedley has built and / or developed more than 1,000 projects totaling in excess of 15 million square feet of commercial, office, industrial, and residential projects valued at more than $700,000,000. As a general contractor and construction manager, he has constructed numerous projects ranging from $3,000,000 to $10,000,000 each. Mr. Hedley has served as a Past President of Associated Builders & Contractors and Southern California Builders Association. He has presented over 500 presentations and workshops to national construction conventions including over 60 programs at the World Of Concrete. He is author of 10 construction business books including “Get Your Construction Business to Always Make A Profit!”, and several workbooks on Estimating, Project Management, Field Management, and Contracts. He has also written over 250 published articles in major construction industry publications including Construction Business Owner magazine. Construction Expert Witness - Mr. Hedley offers construction expert witness and consulting services. His areas of expertise include:

Cost Estimating & Cost of Replacement Defect Analysis and Inspections Claims and Disputes Standard Industry Practices

Schedule Delays Contractor / subcontractor Disputes Contracts and Change Orders Field and Project Management

Real Estate Expert Witness - Mr. Hedley also offers Real Estate Development and Asset Management expert witness and litigation support services. His areas of expertise include:

• Standard Practices Of Developers
• Permits and Approval Processing
• Architecture, Engineering & Planning Issues
• Partnership and LLC Disputes
• Financing, Construction Loans and Banking Disputes
• Liability and Responsibility
• Budgets and Proformas

View George Hedley's Consulting Profile.

Philip J. Isaak, PE, P.Eng., DCDC, RCDD, SMIEEE, is an expert witness, consultant & trainer in the design, construction, procurement, implementation, commissioning & operations of information technology, telecommunications & critical data center facilities. Mr. Isaak provides clear analysis for complex disputes, incorporating industry standards, best-practices and over 20 years of consulting & training expertise working with clients located in 28 countries and territories across 6 continents. In recognition of Mr. Isaak’s professional standing, the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association for advancement of technology, certified him to the grade of Senior Member, a level only 9% of IEEE’s over 400,000 global members hold. Mr. Isaak is also an author of several industry standards published by TIA & ANSI/BICSI, whitepapers published by The Green Grid, and the Data Center Handbook published by John Wiley & Sons.

Expert Witness Services	Areas of Expertise
IP, Trade Secrets, Contracts Analysis Design, Construction, Implementation Claims, Damages, Defects, Delays, Failure & Quality Control Analysis Failed System Analysis Unfulfilled SLA Analysis Technical Investigations Claims Preparation & Analysis Expert Reports Settlement Opinions & Strategies Deposition & Trial Testimony	Cloud Computing Services Colocation Services Construction Data Centers Electrical Engineering Fiber Optic Cabling Forensic Engineering IT Systems Capacity Planning & Forecasting Life Safety Systems Network Systems, Services & Infrastructure Operating Procedures Telecommunications

View Philip Isaak's Consulting Profile.

Scott Friesen, PE, is a licensed Professional Engineer in California, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Mississippi and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Manitoba), and is LEED Accredited (CaGBC) and certified as an Energy Manager. Scott has more than 14 years of experience in Design and Construction of HVAC, Plumbing and Building Energy Conservation, System Design, Construction and Forensic Analysis. He has also performed commissioning, energy audits and was involved in marketing and business development.

Scott's responsibilities at Ivey include design and forensic analysis of HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and energy management systems. He performs site inspections, testing, research, product analysis, cost estimating and is responsible for writing reports and testifying in depositions, hearings and trials.

Scott is a member of Association of Professional Engineers, Geologist, Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).

Experience (partial listing):

• Approximately 75 HVAC, fire protection and plumbing design projects
• Approximately six design error and omission expert engagements
• Approximately 20 residential construction defect expert engagements
• Approximately 16 commercial construction defect expert engagements
• 10 LEED design projects
• 8 HVAC and plumbing commissioning projects