ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

Buffalo, NY Stadium Work Resumes After Suspects ID'ed in $150K Graffiti Vandalism

March 17, 2026 — Emell D. Adolphus - Engineering News-Record
Construction work is back on track at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., after police identifed, but did not arrest two suspects in connection with $150,000 in property damage that paused work for nearly one week at the $2.1 billion stadium project, said the Gilbane Building Cos. and Turner Construction joint venture building it for the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Emell D. Adolphus, Engineering News-Record
Mr. Adolphus may be contacted at adolphuse@enr.com

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Circuit Court Supports Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Protections in Connection with Internal Investigations

November 21, 2025 — Jason Spitalnick, Taryn J. Gallup & Kourtney George - Snell & Wilmer
On October 3, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reaffirmed that the attorney-client privilege and work-product protections cover documents and communications concerning corporate internal investigations - even when companies later use those documents or related findings to make business decisions.1 In doing so, the court vacated a district court order that would have required FirstEnergy Corporation to produce, in civil litigation, privileged and work-product-protected documents related to two internal investigations. FirstEnergy, a public utility company headquartered in Ohio, became embroiled in a high-profile public-corruption scheme involving substantial alleged payments to state officials in exchange for favorable legislative efforts. In response, FirstEnergy and an independent committee of its board retained separate outside counsel to conduct internal investigations. FirstEnergy then faced civil litigation related to the same underlying facts. Reprinted courtesy of Jason Spitalnick, Snell & Wilmer, Taryn J. Gallup, Snell & Wilmer and Kourtney George, Snell & Wilmer Mr. Spitalnick may be contacted at jspitalnick@swlaw.com Ms. Gallup may be contacted at tgallup@swlaw.com Ms. George may be contacted at kegeorge@swlaw.com Read the full story...

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American Roads Are Paved With Inefficiency

November 09, 2025 — David Zipper - Bloomberg
North Carolina and South Carolina are neighboring southeastern states, but despite their similar climate and terrain, their costs of highway projects are vastly different. For repaving work begun in 2018 or 2019, South Carolina’s Department of Transportation spent an average of $375,500 per mile, more than twice as much as its northern neighbor. That discrepancy is one of many intriguing findings about state DOTs uncovered by Zachary Liscow, a professor at Yale Law School who is trained as an economist as well as a lawyer. For more than a decade, Liscow has examined how state DOTs pay for infrastructure, and he’s reached a series of striking conclusions about why their costs have risen over time, albeit at very different rates. He also offers suggestions about ways transportation agencies can get more bang for taxpayers’ dollars. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of David Zipper, Bloomberg

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When “Normal Cracking” Isn’t So Normal: Parra v. Gillaspie Construction and the Two-Year Clock on Construction Defect Claims

November 18, 2025 — David McLain - Colorado Construction Litigation Blog
In Michelle and Michael Parra v. Gillaspie Construction, Inc. and Johnson Excavation, Inc. (Colo. App. No. 18CA0800, Mar. 21, 2019), not selected for official publication, the Colorado Court of Appeals reaffirmed an essential principle for builders, homeowners, and insurers alike: under the Colorado Construction Defect Action Reform Act (“CDARA”), the statute of limitations begins to run when a homeowner first observes physical manifestations of a defect, not when the homeowner later learns what caused those problems or concludes they are “excessive.” The case underscores how critical it is to identify, document, and evaluate early signs of construction distress, because waiting for confirmation of a defect can mean the difference between a viable claim and one that is time-barred. Background: Cracks, Gaps, and Growing Concern The Parras hired Gillaspie Construction and Johnson Excavation to build a custom home in Routt County. They moved in January 2010. Within the first year, they noticed cracks in walls, a kitchen backsplash pulling away, and flooring that was “[c]upping and gapping.” By 2013, additional cracking appeared in the office and hallway, gaps opened around the fireplace and hearth, and certain cabinet doors began to misalign. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of David McLain, Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC
Mr. McLain may be contacted at mclain@hhmrlaw.com

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New LA Home Designs, Reimagined By Fire

January 13, 2026 — Patrick Sisson - Bloomberg
One year after wildfires tore through neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, killing at least 31 people and destroying more than 10,000 buildings, architects and developers are rethinking what home looks like in LA, and how resilient residential architecture evolves. Recovery from the costly disaster is a long way away. So far, hundreds of new homes have been submitted for permitting, but it’s a process shaping out to be an uneven one, based on damage, insurance and wealth. Affected homeowners are grappling with the details of fire-resilient construction and landscaping techniques, along with some more fundamental questions about what their communities should look like. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Patrick Sisson, Bloomberg

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GRSM New York Founding Partner Mercedes Colwin Honored with 2025 Excellence in Diversity Award by PLUS Foundation

November 09, 2025 — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
The Excellence in Diversity Award is presented annually to a member of the insurance industry who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession. Honorees are recognized for creating meaningful change through mentoring, advocacy, thought leadership, and the development of inclusive policies and initiatives that broaden opportunities for underrepresented groups. Colwin was selected for her longstanding dedication to fostering inclusive workplace cultures, her active mentorship of diverse attorneys and professionals, and her visible role as a thought leader on the national stage. In addition to her leadership within GRSM, she has made a significant impact on the broader insurance and professional liability industries by raising awareness of equity issues, supporting educational initiatives, and championing the next generation of diverse talent. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

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Recognize: A Construction Safety Week Technical Bulletin

February 23, 2026 — Construction Safety Week - Construction Executive
Construction Safety Week has long been a powerful show of force, a catalyst for bringing the industry together and putting a spotlight on the critical importance of safety. It represents a shared commitment across an expansive and impactful Industry. The construction industry is a major employer and significant contributor to the U.S. economy, creating nearly $2.1 trillion worth of structures each year—and with that scale comes immense responsibility— and opportunity. Over the last decade, we’ve made meaningful strides: advancing best practices, transitioning from hard hats to helmets, shedding light on vital issues that affect safety, like mental health, fostering a culture of care and accountability, and creating partnerships and initiatives for improving jobsite safety. Reprinted courtesy of Construction Safety Week, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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Substantial Evidence of Flood Loss is Not a Substitute for Required Proof of Loss

April 20, 2026 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The court found that the insurer properly denied the insured’s claim for loss due to flood because a proof of loss was never submitted. Bay Haven at Coco Bay Condominium Association, Inc. v. Hartford Ins. Co. of the Midwest, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6847 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 14, 2026). Bay Haven managed several condo buildings. When Hurricane Ian hit, it caused significant flood damage to these properties. Bay Haven held federal flood insurance policies through Hartford under “Write-Your-Own” policies. This meant Hartford was essentially a fiscal agent that managed policies and handled claims but paid them using federal funds. Following the storm, FEMA extended the usual 60-day deadline for filing a proof of loss to one year, or until September 28, 2023. Bay Haven did not submit its proofs of loss until November 2023. FEMA granted an extension but only for the specific amounts in the November requests. Hartford did not waive the 60-day proof of loss requirement for any other proof of loss. Hartford paid the amounts reflected in the November submissions. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

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