Recent Legal Cases & Consulting

Presented here are some recent examples of legal cases and other matters that HG Cornerstone has consulted on.
Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony Environmental Contamination

Environmental Contamination, Potential Effects on Building Materials, City of Carson, CA

In early 2017, HG Cornerstone was retained by the City Attorney for the City of Carson, CA to perform a forensic engineering study aimed at identifying a possible causal connection between petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil and the degradation of buried cast iron sewer pipes. In 2017, the study was performed by HGC within the City’s Carousel Track residential development comprising about 285 single-family homes largely constructed from between 1967 to 1969.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony

Construction Defects, Restaurant, Brighton, MA

HG Cornerstone worked as a construction expert witness with legal counsel for restaurant owners who alleged construction defects against their general contractor. HG Cornerstone identified multiple construction defects along with numerous building code violations, incomplete work, and poor workmanship.

Joel E. Breuer, PE provided expert witness testimony at the arbitration. A favorable decision was rendered on behalf of HG Cornerstone’s client.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony Construction Vibrations Ground Induced Vibrations

Construction Equipment Vibration Damage, Braintree, MA

A custom-built luxury home was subjected to construction vibrations allegedly caused by heavy equipment operating at an adjacent lot including rock drilling and breaking equipment. As a construction expert witness for the homeowners, HG Cornerstone identified and quantified the damage to the home and prepared a comprehensive engineering report regarding extent and cause of damage. HG Cornerstone’s focus was on construction-induced vibration damage mechanisms, the science and research behind such phenomenon and proper vibration monitoring measures and techniques.

A favorable settlement was reached for the property owners. HG Cornerstone then worked with the insurer’s legal counsel on the subrogation action. Mr. Breuer opined on the contractor’s duty of care.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony CMU Failure Block Wall Defects

Design & Construction Defects, Woman's Prison, Niantic, CT

During 2016, HG Cornerstone was retained as a construction expert witness by legal counsel for one of several general contractors, and its insurer, responsible for the construction of a state correctional facility for women. The Connecticut State Attorney General had filed a lawsuit in 2008 against a number of general contractors and others involved in the facility’s design, testing and construction-related insurance. The lawsuit contended that the contractors knew, or should have known, that their work was defective. Cracked concrete masonry walls and water leaks were alleged.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony ACV

Plumbing Product Defects, ACVs & Water Pressure Regulators, Condominium Towers, Bellevue, WA

HG Cornerstone was retained by the manufacturer of domestic water automatic control valves (called “ACVs”) and water pressure regulators as an expert witness for an insurance defense matter regarding the alleged failure of their products installed in a new high-rise condominium development. A lawsuit had been filed against many parties associated with the design and construction of the new condominium towers and there were numerous co-defendants.

Plumbing Product Defects, Catastrophic Water Damage, Gate Valve, Outpatient Medical Facility, Council Bluffs, IA

HG Cornerstone was retained by the manufacturer of domestic water gate valves (also known as control valves) as an expert witness for an insurance defense matter. A claim was made regarding the alleged failure of one of the manufacturer’s gate valves installed at a medical care facility, allegedly resulting in catastrophic water damage to the entire medical facility, resulting in an inordinate loss.

Joel E. Breuer, PE performed a forensic inspection of the gate valve and other plumbing components at the facility and was able to help HG Cornerstone’s client affect a favorable settlement.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony Worker Safety Scaffolding

Worker Injury Claim, Scaffolding Accident, Municipal Building, Gloucester, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel for a scaffolding company. A worker was allegedly injured on one of the company’s leased and assembled scaffolds while preforming work.

HG Cornerstone recreated the accident scene on an exemplar scaffold arrangement and was able to demonstrate that the accident could not have occurred in the manner that was described by the allegedly injured worker. As such, HG Cornerstone was able to help its client achieve a favorable settlement quickly.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony HVAC

HVAC DEFECTS, Improper Installation, Catastrophic Water Damage, Office Building, Boston, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing a general contractor’s insurer. The general contractor had subcontracted the HVAC replacement portion of an office remodel project to an HVAC subcontractor. After the remodel work was complete, a catastrophic water leak occurred at one of the water source heat pump units that was replaced during the work. At issue was whether or not the general contractor was responsible for directly overseeing and inspecting the HVAC subcontractor’s work.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony

Defective Concrete, Public School, Reading, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing a general contractor that constructed a public school.  In a lawsuit against the general contractor, it was alleged that some of the concrete work was improper and defective and cracking and spalling resulted due to the allegedly defective concrete work.

Joel E. Breuer, PE, retained as a rebuttal expert witness, testified regarding concrete placement, curing and concrete chemistry, and the potential detrimental effects of certain deicer chemicals applied to new concrete. Based on Mr. Breuer’s oral testimony, he was able to help HG Cornerstone’s client affect a favorable settlement on the issue at hand.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony Worker Safety

Personal Injury, Severed Child's Finger, Entertainment Venue, Massachusetts

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing an injured party. At a popular children’s party/entertainment venue, a child’s finger was completely severed by the closing of an interior door.

Mr. Joel E. Breuer, PE of HG Cornerstone provided relevant building code research regarding the door installation, hardware, and closure apparatus. Based on Mr. Breuer’s research and opinion, he was able to help the client affect a favorable settlement.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony

Structural Damage caused by Commercial Tenant, Retail Building, Alston, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing the insurer of a former lessee of a commercial building. The tenant’s former activities involved operating a fitness center and indoor gym. It was alleged that the former tenant’s activities directly caused damage to a number of the building’s structural members, necessitating their complete removal and replacement, along with consequential repairs including the replacement of hardwood flooring throughout.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony Worker Safety

Personal Injury, Slip & Fall, Building Code Violations, Fitness Center & Spa, Cambridge, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing an injured party. The injured party slipped and fell while entering a heated whirlpool spa at a fitness center.

Joel E. Breuer, PE performed an inspection of the accident scene, performed building code research, and reviewed the building permit records concerning recent physical improvements made to the fitness center. Our client was then able to achieve a favorable settlement regarding this matter. 

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony

Structural Damage caused by Commercial Tenant, Hollow Sidewalks, Restaurant, Boston, MA

HG Cornerstone was retained by legal counsel representing a restaurant operator leasing space in a commercial building. The landlord of the building alleged that the restaurant’s activities caused structural damage to the building, including structural damage associated with water infiltration via hollow sidewalks adjacent to the building.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony ACV

Plumbing Product Defects, Catastrophic Water Damage, ACV, Apartment Complex, Birmingham, AL

HG Cornerstone was retained by the manufacturer of domestic water automatic control valves (ACVs) and water pressure regulators as an expert witness for an insurance defense matter. A claim was made regarding the alleged failure of one of the manufacturer’s ACVs installed at a multifamily residential apartment complex, resulting in catastrophic water damage. 

Joel E. Breuer, PE performed forensic testing on the ACV and was able to help the client affect a favorable settlement.

Construction Expert Witness Construction Defects Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Design Expert Witness Construction Products Expert Catastrophic Insurance Claims Surety Claims Forensics Accident and Injury Construction Expert Inspection Engineer Expert Witness Testimony Expert Testimony ACV

Plumbing Product Defects, ACVs & Water Pressure Regulators, Condominium Towers, Scottsdale, AZ

HG Cornerstone was retained by the manufacturer of domestic water automatic control valves (ACVs) and water pressure regulators as an expert witness for an insurance defense matter regarding the alleged failure of their products in a new high-rise condominium development. A lawsuit had been filed against many parties associated with the design and construction of the new condominium towers and there were numerous co-defendants.

Plumbing Product Defects, Catastrophic Water Damage, Backflow Prevention Assembly, Industrial Building, Fairview Heights, IL

HG Cornerstone was retained by the manufacturer of domestic water backflow prevention assemblies as an expert witness for an insurance defense matter. A claim was made regarding the alleged failure of one of the manufacturer’s backflow prevention assemblies installed at a commercial/industrial building, resulting in catastrophic water damage. 

Joel E. Breuer, PE performed forensic testing on the backflow prevention assembly and opined on his findings and a favorable settlement was reached.

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