Cambridge Massachusetts Construction Expert Witness Directory

GRSM Named #1 Fastest-Growing Am Law Firm

May 23, 2025 — Dion N. Cominos - Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has been recognized as the fastest-growing top-100 law firm in the country by The American Lawyer. Over the past year, GRSM rose ten spots, marking the largest jump of any firm on the Am Law list. “This recognition reflects yet another validation of the firm’s commitment to and execution of our focused strategy on scaling the business into a national juggernaut with the capability of delivering superior legal services throughout the country wherever our clients may have needs,” noted Firmwide Managing Partner Dion Cominos. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and look forward to even greater growth and success in the years ahead.” Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Dion N. Cominos, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Mr. Cominos may be contacted at dcominos@grsm.com

Traub Lieberman Partner Jessica Kull and Associate Jonathan Powell Win Motion to Dismiss in Favor of General Contractor

September 30, 2025 — Jessica N. Kull - Traub Lieberman
Traub Lieberman Partner Jessica Kull and Associate Jonathan Powell obtained dismissal on behalf of a general contractor of an improper attempt to confirm an arbitration order as a final arbitration award under the Illinois Uniform Arbitration Act (710 ILCS 5/1 et seq.). The matter arose from an underlying construction arbitration. Certain subcontractors involved in the arbitration as third-party defendants filed a petition in court to confirm a dismissal order entered by the arbitrators as a final award. The arbitration order that the subcontractors sought to confirm as final was issued at the outset of what would be a year-long, multi-party arbitration hearing. Using the American Arbitration Association’s Construction Industry Arbitration Rules, Jessica and Jon argued that the Court lacked jurisdiction to confirm the arbitration order because it was not a “final award” as required under the Uniform Arbitration Act, and rather, was akin to an interlocutory order. They argued that the subcontractors’ attempt to confirm the interlocutory order as final would permit parties to engage in piecemeal litigation thereby defeating the purpose of arbitration, which is to resolve disputes efficiently and economically. The Court agreed and dismissed the subcontractors’ petition, finding that it lacked jurisdiction. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Jessica N. Kull, Traub Lieberman
Ms. Kull may be contacted at jkull@tlsslaw.com

Turner, Subcontractor Reach $23.5M Settlement in Worker Death on Chicago Project

July 01, 2025 — Annemarie Mannion - Engineering News-Record
A $23.5-million settlement has been reached with Turner Construction and subcontractor Adjustable Forms Concrete in the death last year of a 27-year-old construction engineer who fell 145 ft from scaffolding at an $815-million cancer pavilion project under construction at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Annemarie Mannion, Engineering News-Record
Ms. Mannion may be contacted at manniona@enr.com

California Court Affirms $1.8 Million Judgment Against HOA for Failing to Investigate and Remediate Water Intrusion

November 04, 2025 — Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
When an HOA ignores its duties under its covenants and restrictions, the consequences can be devastating. In Ridley v. Rancho Palma Grande Homeowners Association (Cal. Ct. App., Aug. 28, 2025, No. H052560), a Santa Clara couple secured a $1.8 million judgment after their condominium was rendered uninhabitable due to water intrusion, mold, and a sinkhole caused by an abandoned well beneath the property. The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment, finding that the HOA’s delay, deception, and failure to act breached its duties under the CC&Rs. What Went Wrong at Rancho Palma Grande HOA Retirees Doug Ridley and Sherry Shen owned a condominium in Santa Clara County. In 2018, their tenants discovered persistent water pooling in the crawlspace beneath the unit - part of the building’s common area under the HOA’s control. The issue worsened over time, culminating in severe water damage, mold growth, and ultimately, a sinkhole beneath the living room floor. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP

Contractor Entitled to Defense in Suit Filed by Performance Bond Carrier

July 08, 2025 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
Interpreting Kentucky law, the Sixth Circuit determined that the contractor who failed to complete a project was entitled to a defense in an action brought by its performance bond carrier. Phoenix Ins. Co., et al. v. Wehr Constructors, Inc., 2025 U.S, App. LEXIS 9258 (6th Cir. April 18, 2025). Wehr entered into a contract with St. Claire Medical Center to construct a Medical Services Pavilion as an addition to the main hospital facility. A standard form issued by the American Institute of Architects, AIA document form A101-1997, was used. (Construction Agreement). Section 14.2 of the form contained a termination clause that allowed St. Claire to terminate the contract if Wehr committed a "substantial breach," provided that the architect on the project certified that sufficient cause existed (the Termination Clause). If the Termination Clause was invoked, Wehr would not be entitled to the remaining unpaid balance of the contract and St. Claire could seek damages from Wehr if the cost of completing the project exceeded the unpaid balance. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

Best Construction Technology Podcasts in 2025

August 12, 2025 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
Discover the top construction technology podcasts to follow in 2025, vetted by FeedSpot. My AEC Business podcast, started in 2012, is included! Here are the first five on the list:

Bricks And Bytes: Explore construction technology and entrepreneurship with Martin Piekarz and Owen Drury.
CONEXPO CON/AGG Podcast: Gain insights from construction business experts and tech providers, hosted by Taylor White.
The Preconstruction Podcast: Hear stories of innovation in commercial construction across the US with Gareth McGlynn.

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

Two Paths to Industrialized Construction: Lessons from China

May 19, 2025 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
Chinese construction has been in the headlines for record-breaking speed: a 10-story residential building erected in 28 hours and 45 minutes, or a 57-story skyscraper built in 19 working days. These projects rely on meticulous planning, extreme prefabrication, and clockwork execution. Besides those unique showcase projects, I wanted to learn how Chinese AEC firms are industrializing construction at scale. My recent conversation with three China Construction Third Engineering Bureau (CSCEC 3rd Bureau) experts shed light on two breakthrough technologies that exemplify this shift. Two strategies for industrialization As the construction industry evolves, two powerful strategies are emerging to drive industrialization: bringing construction into the factory or bringing the factory to the construction site. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

Fairness is Relative. Workers Compensation and the Dreaded Section 7031

August 12, 2025 — Garret Murai - California Construction Law Blog
I’ve lost my share of cases over the years. Winning of course, feels great, and losing doesn’t. But losing teaches lessons that winning rarely can. At the most practical level, it forces you to take into consideration things that you could have done better or differently. More philosophically, it reminds you that no matter how much we think we’re in control, we often have less control than we think. Witnesses will surprise you or come across differently than what you expected. Documents will contain something you overlooked or thought was less important than what it turns out to be. And despite what you might tell yourself, you will never truly know what is going on in the mind of the trier of fact. As to this last point, it’s not that people do crazy things. Rather, it’s that what you think is crazy might be less crazy than you think. Case in point: American Building Innovation LP v. Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC, 104 Cal.App.5th 954 (2024). Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES