Expert Witness
Impartial Analysis, Honest Opinions
Having lived it from the inside, I assist Clients in assessing the merits of architectural and construction cases. I also help Clients defend/pursue matters based on my 46 years of experience understanding the design and building process, the technical issues, as well as the roles of each party.
As a Registered Architect (MA, RI, NY) and Building Envelope Consultant, I focus on architectural standard of care issues and construction defects associated with leaks, roofing, windows, masonry, concrete, ice dams, sealants and caulking, wood trim and wrought iron. I specialize in Massachusetts Chapter 149 bidding issues and disputes associated with the renovation of existing and historic buildings as well as new construction.
Opinions have to be based on facts. Construction cases can generate a great deal of data such as drawings, specifications, contracts, correspondence, documentation of meetings, calls, and emails, product submittals, shop drawings, change orders, change directives, schedules, budgets, estimates, photographs, and videos. The information is there, you just have to look in the right places. It's a forensic process that includes looking at the construction in place (or completed), interviewing the key players, and finding the appropriate details, clauses, notations, or omissions that answer the questions: "What happened?", ”Who is responsible?", or “Are they responsible?”.
Our industry has too much jargon and technical terms that are industry specific. One has to state clearly, in terms that anyone can understand, the basis of your opinion. If it is too complicated, it will be hard to comprehend. If it is too vague, it will not feel authentic. The facts will support (or dispute) the case, and I specialize in distilling the information into a form that is easily understandable by the average person.
Sometimes the Expert has to deliver the bad news: "There is no case", “I can’t support your case”, "Your client really messed up", or "It's impossible to tell who is at fault, based on the data available”.
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“Michael consulted with me on a case and was a pleasure to work with. He made complex concepts easy to understand, both for me and the jury. Most importantly, I knew he was giving me his honest opinions, so I could accurately evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of my case. If you consult with Michael he may not always tell you what you want to hear, but he’ll always tell you what you need to hear.”