GOOD THUNDER MINNESOTA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

How Engineers Will Determine Why NYC's Pfizer HQ Conversion Buckled

July 13, 2026 — Bryan Gottlieb - Engineering News-Record
Construction crews have stabilized the former Pfizer headquarters redevelopment in Midtown Manhattan after two load-bearing structural columns buckled on the 21st floor July 7. The focus has now shifted from emergency response to determining what caused the office-to-residential conversion to suffer a major structural failure. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Bryan Gottlieb, Engineering News-Record
Mr. Gottlieb may be contacted at gottliebb@enr.com

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Presumption of Prejudice Applies to All Affirmative Defenses Regarding Insured’s Failure to Comply with Post-Loss Policy Conditions

June 23, 2026 — David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal Updates
n a recent property insurance coverage dispute, an issue on appeal pertained to the “prejudice” jury instruction associated with the insured’s failure to comply with post-loss policy conditions. The trial court found that the prejudice only pertained to prompt notice and not other post-loss policy conditions. This was reversed on appeal as prejudice applied to ALL the post loss policy conditions that the insured failed to comply with, not just the prompt notice requirement. The prejudice presumption applies to all affirmative defenses regarding an insured’s failure to comply with post-loss policy conditions. Consider this discussion when dealing with an insurer raising prejudice as an affirmative defense to do an insured’s failure to comply with post-loss policy conditions, and the associated burdens of proof: On appeal, [the insurer] contends the trial court erred by instructing the jury that the presumption of prejudice was inapplicable to all of its post-loss obligation defenses except prompt notice. We agree. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris
Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

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From Dark Data to Building Intelligence

July 13, 2026 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
In this episode, I talk with Mark Sorsa-Leslie, founder and CEO of Auttaa AI, whose team just won first place in Luotea’s inaugural hackathon in Helsinki for turning property maintenance from reactive firefighting into proactive forecasting with AI. Mark is a chartered surveyor with 30 years of real estate data experience, previously the founder of the UK sensor company Beringar. We discuss why so much building data stays dark and siloed, from outdated networking technology to the shortage of people who understand both engineering and property. Mark explains how Auttaa bridges real-time building data with large language models, using what he calls an “influence graph” to surface correlations and causation across previously disconnected systems, such as linking occupancy patterns to CO2 readings to diagnose ventilation problems in minutes rather than days. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

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Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (4/1/26) – President Trump’s EO Affects Federal Funding, Fannie Mae Accepts Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Private Sector Construction Weakness Offsets Public Sector Gains

April 08, 2026 — Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
In our latest roundup, California to pursue office-to-housing conversions, hoteliers to increase investment in artificial intelligence, private credit exodus to boost commercial real estate capital, and more!

• President Donald Trump’s executive order to remove regulatory barriers to affordable home construction could affect federal funding for cities and states that don’t follow what the order calls “regulatory best practices,” including faster permitting, fewer green building mandates and relaxed limits on exurban development. (Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Multifamily Dive)
• California state policymakers have been pursuing policy changes that remove barriers to converting older commercial buildings into housing. (Keith Loria, Construction Dive)
• Private sector weakness largely offset modest gains in public construction spending, despite data center gains. (Sebastian Obando, Construction Dive)

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team

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Massachusetts Nuclear Verdict Leads To $90M Bad Faith Award

February 10, 2026 — Eric B. Hermanson & Timothy J. Langan - White and Williams
Insurers in Massachusetts have long struggled with the demands of MGL ch. G.L.c 176D, § 3(9)(f), which requires “prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear.” Last month a Superior Court ruling illustrated the potentially draconian consequences of a violation: finding an insurer liable for more than $90 million in bad faith damages, in a case that might have settled under $3 million with proper handling. The claimant, John Rooney, was a mason who fell off a scaffold at a construction site. He sued the general contractor. The general contractor, in turn, sought coverage as an additional insured under a series of Liberty Mutual policies issued to Rooney’s employer – the masonry company – with combined aggregate limits of $19.5 million. Reprinted courtesy of Eric B. Hermanson, White and Williams and Timothy J. Langan, White and Williams Mr. Hermanson may be contacted at hermansone@whiteandwilliams.com Mr. Langan may be contacted at langant@whiteandwilliams.com Read the full story...

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Meet BWB&O’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Colorado!

April 08, 2026 — Dolores Montoya - Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP
Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP is thrilled to share that Partner Devin Brunson and Associate Melissa Youngpeter have been named to the Super Lawyers 2026 Colorado Rising Stars list. This recognition reflects their exceptional work in Personal Injury and Civil Litigation.

SUPER LAWYERS RISING STARS

Devin Brunson: 2024-2026

Melissa Youngpeter: 2026

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP

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Nevada’s Mandatory Nonbinding Arbitration Law for Civil Cases is Going Through Changes

May 14, 2026 — Brandon Wright & Manuel Gurule - Lewis Brisbois
Nevada currently operates an expedited litigation program designed to resolve civil disputes with a value up to $50,000 without incurring the “usual” expense of litigating these disputes. Over time, however, the number of civil cases that have been “exempted” from this program based on the claimed damages exceeding $50,000 has grown dramatically. In response, the Nevada Legislature recently enacted a number of rule changes designed to streamline Nevada’s arbitration process and include more cases. Among these changes are increasing the arbitration “cap” from $50,000 to $100,000. By way of background, the Nevada’s Court Annexed Arbitration program is a mandatory, non-binding program for civil cases in judicial districts that have county populations of 100,000 or more [1]. Nevada’s Court Annexed Arbitration was born out of NRS 38.250, which was enacted in 1991 and went into effect in the summer of 1992. The newly enacted NRS 38.250 was regarded as a way to address the problem of increased court caseloads while promoting judicial economy and efficiency in civil cases having a probable jury award of less than $25,000 [2]. Initially, cases that were automatically exempt from the program included class actions, medical malpractice disputes, divorce proceedings, and other domestic relations matters [3]. Reprinted courtesy of Brandon Wright, Lewis Brisbois and Manuel Gurule, Lewis Brisbois Mr. Wright may be contacted at Brandon.Wright@lewisbrisbois.com Mr. Gurule may be contacted at Manuel.Gurule@lewisbrisbois.com Read the full story...

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Delay Matters: Florida’s Fourth DCA Reverses Hurricane Irma Dismissal

June 08, 2026 — Andrea DeField, Machaella Reisman & Cary D. Steklof - Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog
The mantra “delay, deny, defend” is frequently referenced in discussions of insurance claims handling, though insurers will invariably disavow these tactics. While it would be facially improper for an insurer to delay a coverage decision to gain a tactical advantage, empirical examples nonetheless exist. This very dynamic was addressed by Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals when it handed policyholders a win in Hypoluxo Mariner’s Cay Condo. Assoc’n, Inc. v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s London, No. 4D2024‑2250 (Fla. 4th DCA Apr. 1, 2026), reversing a trial court order dismissing a condominium association’s Hurricane Irma coverage lawsuit against its property insurer. Delay to Run the Statute of Limitations Following Hurricane Irma, a condominium association suffered roof and exterior envelope damage, reported an insurance claim, and submitted a sworn proof of loss to its property insurer in compliance with Florida Statute § 627.70132 (2020). The statute establishes a timeframe within which a policyholder must submit a claim for hurricane damage. Reprinted courtesy of Andrea DeField, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Machaella Reisman, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP a
Read Before You Sign: Claim Waivers in Project Documents

School System Settles Design Defect Suit for $5.2Million

Firm Leadership – New Co-Chairs for the Construction Law Practice Group

Economist Predicts Housing Starts to Ri
Virginia General Assembly Tweaks Pay-if-Paid Ban

Quick Note: Submitting Civil Remedy Notice

Sixth Circuit Holds that Some Official Actions Taken in the “Flint Water Crisis” Could Be Constitutional Due Process Violations

Death, Taxes and Attorneys’ Fees in Construction Disputes

Condo Owners Allege Construction Defects at Trump Towers

From Shale to Salt: Texas Supreme Court Applies Uniform Rule for Ownership of Subsurface Caverns

A Quick Checklist for Subcontractors

Trump Signs $2-Trillion Stimulus Bill for COVID-19 Emergency

Coverage for Injury to Insured’s Employee Not Covered

Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause Prevents Coverage for Collapse

AEM Pursuing ISO Standard for Earthmoving Grade-Control Data

2011 West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar – Recap

NYC Condo Skyscraper's Builder Wins a Round -- With a Catch

Insured's Claim for Replacement Cost Denied

Stadium Intended for the 2010 World Cup Still Not Ready

Third Circuit Holds No Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Despite Insured’s Expectations

Roots of Las Vegas Construction Defect Scam Reach Back a Decade

Building Recovery Comes to Las Vegas, Provides Relief

New OSHA Vaccination Requirements For Employers With 100 Or More Employees (And Additional Advice for California Employers)

Vinci Will Build $580M Calgary Project To Avoid Epic Flood Repeat

Super Lawyers Names Five White and Williams LLP Attorneys to its Metro New York Lists

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Strikes a Deathblow to Substantial Factor Causation in Most Cases; Is Asbestos Litigation Next?

Developer’s Fraudulent Statements Are His Responsibility Alone in Construction Defect Case

Owners and Contractors Beware: Pennsylvania (Significantly) Strengthens Contractor Payment Act

National Demand Increases for Apartments, Refuting Calls for Construction Defect Immunity in Colorado

No Coverage for Sink Hole Loss

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (10/23/24) – Construction Backlog Rebounds, Real Estate Sustainability Grows, and Split Incentive Gap Remains Building Decarbonizing Barrier

South Dakota Supreme Court Holds That Faulty Workmanship Constitutes an “Occurrence”

The Evolution of Construction Jobsite Safety: Lessons From the Field

Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized as 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

Kahana Feld Secures Discontinuance with Prejudice in Fraudulent Case

Not Our Territory: 11th Circuit Dismisses Hurricane Damage Appraisal Order for Lack of Jurisdiction

Preliminary Notice Is More Important Than Ever During COVID-19

Alleged Damage to Personal Property Does Not Revive Coverage for Construction Defects

Counsel Investigating Coverage Can be Sued for Invasion of Privacy

Vaccine Mandate Confusion Continues – CMS Vaccine Mandate Restored in Some (But Not All) US States

Home Improvement in U.S. Slowing or Still Intact -- Which Is It?

Pine River’s Two Harbors Now Targets Non-Prime Mortgages

Housing Starts in U.S. Slumped More Than Forecast in March

Washington High Court Holds Insurers Bound by Representations in Agent’s Certificates of Insurance

Preparing Your Business For Internal Transition

How the Election Could Affect the Housing Industry: Steven Cvitanovic Authors Construction Today Article

Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

Hawaii Appellate Court Finds Duty to Defend Group Builders Case

New York High Court: “Issued or Delivered” Includes Policies Insuring Risks in New York

New Jersey Rules that Forensic Lab Analysts Can’t be Forced to Testify

Standard Lifetime Shingle Warranties Aren’t Forever

Construction and AI: What Contractors Need to Know from ABC’s New Report

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/17/24) – Housing Inflation to Remain High, Proptech Investment to Fall and Office Vacancy Rates to Reach Peak in 2025

July Sees Big Drop in Home Sales