DUBLIN PENNSYLVANIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

Greg Katz Quoted in Insurance Journal Article About How Big Data & AI Are Driving Up Verdicts, Settlements

October 06, 2026 — Lewis Brisbois
National Managing Partner Greg Katz was recently quoted in an Insurance Journal article about how plaintiff's lawyers are harnessing big data and artificial intelligence to attempt to drive up jury awards and settlement demands. The article, titled "The Big Data/AI ‘Revolution’ Is Driving Up Verdicts, Settlements as Plaintiffs Buy In," points out that a growing number of personal injury and claims law firms, some of which are working with an influx of cash from investors and litigation funders, are using a multitude of high-tech tools to try to gain an advantage in litigation. They are using large online mock juries to test legal theories, big data to find sympathetic jurors and venues in which to try cases, and AI programs to analyze their own arguments and those of opponents. “They’re taking instincts and intuition out of the equation,” Mr. Katz told Insurance Journal. “They think they’ve come up with a different way to ring the bell and, in their words, add zeroes to awards.” Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

---

Can Anything Supersede Excel in AEC?

April 27, 2026 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
If there’s one piece of software that dominates the business world across industries, it’s Microsoft Excel. Can AI finally dethrone the mighty spreadsheet? Memorable Spreadsheet Moments Everyone has memorable spreadsheet moments. I have a few. For example, my then-architecture firm was involved in more than a dozen housing developments abroad. I developed an Excel workbook that took the required number of households as input and automatically generated a breakdown of buildings and their apartment types for AutoCAD. This was urban planning and architectural design done with a spreadsheet. I also developed business software using Excel for project portfolio management. The prototype was later scaled into a commercial SaaS that is now used globally. Another memorable moment was when a property owner told me their Excel file grew so large that it ran out of rows and columns. That must have been before 2007, when the maximum number of columns on a sheet was still just 256 and the maximum number of rows was 65,536. The current limits are 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns, which I hope no one will exceed. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

---

Anomaly in Adding a Third-Party Claimant to a Liability Insurance Coverage Dispute

May 05, 2026 — David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal Updates
In an insurance coverage lawsuit seeking declaratory relief, an insurer sued the third-party claimant. The insurer was seeking a declaration that there was no coverage, which naturally would impact the third-party claimant. The insured did not respond to the lawsuit and the insurer moved for a default judgment which was objected to by the third-party claimant. The trial court granted a final judgment in favor of the insurer, which prompted an appeal from the third-party claimant because the final judgment impacts its rights to coverage if it obtains a judgment against the insured. The appellate court reversed but please take a look at this Court’s discussion on the issue of an insurer adding a third-party claimant to a coverage lawsuit when then the third-party cannot pursue a direct claim against the insurer until it obtains a settlement or judgment against the insured. It presents an interesting argument and counter-point for a third-party claimant that is added to the coverage lawsuit which has implications if it obtains a judgment against the insured: This case involves an apparent anomaly in Florida law. It is well-established that third-party claimants injured by an insured’s negligence have a right as third-party beneficiaries to payment from the insured’s insurance proceeds. It is equally well-established that the third-party claimants’ rights in this regard do not accrue unless and until they obtain a verdict or settlement against the insured. A quick review of this law is helpful at this point. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris
Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

---

Mandatory Arbitration Isn’t All Bad, if. . .

July 13, 2026 — Christopher G. Hill - Construction Law Musings
In the past week or so mandatory arbitration has been all the rage. From those that argue that arbitration is becoming more burdensome than litigation, to my friend and fellow construction attorney Scott Wolfe who gives great advice on how to make arbitration worth it again. You can place me in the camp of those that think that mandatory arbitration clauses of the type typically found in contracts can add a layer of expense that can be unnecessary. However, if an arbitration clause is carefully drafted, and properly used, these clauses an be helpful in assuring that the streamlining effect for which arbitration was created actually occurs. Because the contract is king in Virginia, these provisions can essentially create the rule of civil procedure used to resolve any dispute relating to the project. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill
Mr. Hill may be contacted at chrisghill@constructionlawva.com

---

Beyond the Storm: How Non-Hurricane Catastrophes Expose Florida’s Construction Defect Blind Spot

August 11, 2026 — Franchesco “Frank” Soto & Amanda L. Gonzalez - Ball Janik
On June 8, 2026, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Gulf near the coast of Cuba, the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the Gulf since seismic monitoring began in 1950. Buildings swayed, offices were evacuated, and many residents along the east coast of Florida, from Miami-Dade to Jacksonville, felt the ground shake. Although no tsunami followed and reported structural damage was limited, this event exposed a blind spot that Florida property owners, developers, and their counsel cannot afford to ignore: catastrophic stress on Florida buildings does not always come in the form of a named storm. Florida property owners have grown accustomed to preparing for wind, storm surge, floods, and torrential rain. Far less attention is paid to earthquakes, sinkholes, tornadoes, hail, and non-tropical flooding, each of which can place unexpected stress on buildings not designed with those forces top of mind and can trigger deficiencies in buildings that were not otherwise known, expose design failures, and create an urgency for both insurance claims and subsequent litigation. Non-Hurricane Triggers of Latent Defects Seismic activity is the clearest example. Florida’s building code accounts for wind loads, not seismic forces, meaning even a moderate earthquake can reveal weaknesses in curtain wall systems, structural connections, or foundations that were already marginal. Sinkholes, driven by Florida’s karst limestone geology, remain a persistent threat, particularly in Central Florida, where subsurface voids can undermine foundations without warning. Non-tropical flooding, like the record rainfall that flooded South Florida in June 2024, can intrude through building envelopes and waterproofing systems that were never stress-tested for such volumes of water. Tornadoes and hail, while more localized, can cause roofing and envelope failures that mimic, mask, or trigger latent construction defects. The Litigation and Coverage Disputes That Follow When one of these events strikes a building already carrying undisclosed or unresolved construction defects, the resulting disputes become considerably more complex. Property owners and associations must move quickly to document existing conditions and distinguish damage caused by the event from pre-existing defective construction, the same causation issue that arises in the hurricane context under Chapter 558, but often without the benefit of established precedent or adjuster experience with these less common events. Insurance coverage disputes frequently follow close behind. Carriers may dispute whether an earthquake, flood, or other peril is covered at all, particularly where policies contain earthquake or flood exclusions requiring separate endorsements, or anti-concurrent causation language that can bar coverage entirely when a covered peril combines with an uncovered one, such as pre-existing defective construction, to cause a loss. Sinkhole claims carry their own statutory framework under Florida law, requiring specific testing protocols and reporting before a claim is compensable. Developers and contractors, in turn, may find themselves defending Chapter 558 claims while simultaneously litigating with their own carriers over defense and indemnity obligations. Practical Risk Mitigation Strategies Property owners, associations, and developers can take several concrete steps to reduce their exposure. First, maintain thorough documentation, including engineering reports, maintenance logs, and photographs, well before any event occurs. This documentation is often the deciding factor in causation disputes. Second, engage structural engineers and consultants immediately following any seismic event, unusual flooding, or storm damage, regardless of whether a hurricane is involved. Prompt inspection preserves evidence and can help prevent inadvertent waiver of construction defect claims. Third, review insurance policies regularly with counsel or a broker to confirm earthquake, flood, and sinkhole coverage matches the property’s actual risk profile, rather than assuming a standard property policy responds to every peril. Fourth, avoid rushing to remediate before conditions are docu
Veolia Agrees to $25M Settlement in Flint Water Crisis Case

How to Challenge a Project Labor Agreement

US Appeals Court Slams FERC on Long-Muddled State Environmental Permits

Investigators Explain Focus on Pre-Collapse Cracking in Florida Bridge

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/19/26) – Single-Family Housing Investors Worry, Confidence in Multifamily REITs and Construction Backlog Falls

Alabama Court Upholds Late Notice Disclaimer

A Year After Fatal Genoa Viaduct Collapse, Replacement Takes Shape

Materialmen’s Lien Against Condominium Name the Proper Parties

Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up (11/30/22) – Proptech Trends, Green Construction, and Sustainable Buildings

Three Steps to a Safer Jobsite

Scientists found a way to make Cement Greener

EEOC Suit Alleges Site Managers Bullied Black Workers on NY Project

Port Authority Reaches Deal on Silverstein 3 World Trade

User Interface With a Building – Interview with Esa Halmetoja of Senate Properties

Temporary Obstructions Are a Permanent Problem Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Out of Eastern Europe, a Window Into the Post-Pandemic Office

Insurer Must Produce Documents After Failing To Show They Are Confidential

Washington Trial Court Narrows Definition of First Party Claimant, Clarifies Available Causes of Action in Commercial Property Loss Context

Construction Defects as Occurrences, Better Decided in Law than in Courts

Brookfield to Start Manhattan Tower After Signing Skadden

Public Projects in the Pandemic Pandemonium

Beyond the COI: The Importance of an Owner's or Facilities Manager's Downstream Insurance Review Program

Residential Construction Rise Expected to Continue

South Carolina Clarifies the Accrual Date for Its Statute of Repose

Congratulations to San Diego Partner Alex Giannetto and Senior Associate Michael Ibach on Settling a Case 3 Weeks Into a 5-Week Trial!

California Supreme Court Holds Insured Entitled to Coverage Under CGL Policy for Negligent Hiring

Does “Faulty Workmanship” Constitute An Occurrence Under Your CGL Policy?

Build, Baby, Build. But Not Like This, Britain.

XL Group Pairs with America Contractor’s Insurance Group to Improve Quality of Construction

When Rule 702 Motions Fail: A Close Look at AECOM v. Flatiron

Brazil World Cup Soccer Crisis Deepens With Eighth Worker Death

Court of Appeals Finds Arbitration Provision Incorporated by Reference Unenforceable

In Massachusetts, the Statute of Repose Applies to Consumer Protection Claims Against Building Contractors

That Boilerplate Language May Just Land You in Hot Water

Acceptable Worksite: New City of Seattle Specification Provisions Now In Effect

Construction Law: Unexpected, Fascinating, Bizarre

Energy Company Covered for Business Interruption Losses Caused by Fire and Resulting in Town-Ordered Shutdown

Cable-Free Elevators Will Soar to New Heights, and Move Sideways

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (10/18/23) – Zillow’s New Pilot Program, Production Begins at Solar Panel Plant in Georgia, and More Diversity on Contracts for Buffalo Bills Stadium

Best Lawyers Recognizes Hundreds of Lewis Brisbois Attorneys, Honors Four Partners as ‘Lawyers of the Year’

Achieving Sustainability Through Design-Build Delivery: Part I – An Overview

Beyond the Storm: How Non-Hurricane Catastrophes Expose Florida’s Construction Defect Blind Spot

Construction Litigation Roundup: “Based on New Information …”

Building 47 Bridges in Two Years

Sixth Circuit Affirms Liability Insurer's Broad Duty to Def
Herman Russell's Big Hustle

Contract Not So Clear in South Carolina Construction Defect Case

Anthony LaPlaca Selected as a 2025 Go-To Construction Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Colorado Court of Appeals to Rule on Arbitrability of an HOA's Construction Defect Claims

New Jersey Appellate Decision Reminds Bid Protestors to Take Caution When Determining Where to File an Action

Fire Tests Inspire More Robust Timber Product Standard

Ethical Limits on Preparing a Witness for Deposition or Trial

Gillotti v. Stewart (2017) 2017 WL 1488711 Rejects Liberty Mutual, Holding Once Again that the Right to Repair Act is the Exclusive Remedy for Construction Defect Claims

Claim for Vandalism Loss Survives Motion to Dismiss

Honoring Veterans Under Our Roof & Across the World

Coverage for Collapse Ordered on Summary Judgment

Eliminating Waste in Construction – An Interview with Turner Burton

Traub Lieberman Partner Gregory S. Pennington and Associate Emily A. Velcamp Obtain Summary Judgment in Favor of Residential Property Owners

Housing Advocacy Group Moved to Dissolve New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing

Delays Caused When Government (Owner) Pushes Contractor’s Work Into Rainy / Adverse Weather Season

Gloria Gaynor Sues Contractor over Defective Deck Construction

Mid-Session Overview of Colorado’s 2017 Construction Defect Legislation

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (3/19/25) – Data Center REITs, AI-Based Tools and CHIPS on the Chopping Block

DOJ to Prosecute Philadelphia Roofing Company for Worker’s Death

Angela Cooner Named "Top Lawyer" by Phoenix Magazine in Inaugural Publication

Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Duty to Defend Construction Defect Case

Why Being Climate ‘Positive’ Is the Buzzy New Goal of Green Building

Kaboom! Illinois Applies the Anti-Subrogation Rule to Require a Landlord’s Subrogating Property Insurer to Defend a Third-Party Complaint Against Tenants

Designing the Process to Deliver Zero-Carbon Construction – Computational Design in Practice

New Jersey Strengthens the Structural Integrity of Its Residential Builds

Women Make Their Mark on Construction Leadership

Senate Bill 15-091 Passes Out of the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee

Third Circuit Holds That Duty to Indemnify "Follows" Duty to Defend

Providing “Labor” Under the Miller Act

John Boyden, Alison Kertis Named “Top Rank Attorneys” by Nevada Business Magazine

Question of Parties' Intent Prevents Summary Judgment for Insurer

Ball Janik LLP Elevates Construction Litigation Attorneys Keegan A. Berry and Nicholas B. Vargo to Partner

When Your “Private” Project Suddenly Turns into a “Public” Project. Hint: It Doesn’t Necessary Turn on Public Financing or Construction

Construction and Design Contracts—They Are More Important Than You Might Think! (Law Note)

Candis Jones Named “On the Rise” by Daily Report's Georgia Law Awards

Michigan Bid-Rig Plea Lands Former Asphalt Paving Executive in Prison

Hunton Andrews Kurth Insurance Attorney, Latosha M. Ellis, Honored by Business Insurance Magazine

Sinking Buildings on the Rise?

The Clock is Ticking: Construction Delays and Liquidated Damages

NEW DEFECT WARRANTY LAWS – Now Applicable to Condominiums and HOAs transitioning from Developer to Homeowner Control. Is Your Community Aware of its Rights Under the New Laws?

Toll Brothers Named #1 Home Builder on Fortune Magazine's 2023 World's Most Admired Companies® List

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Shares Fall on Wind-Down Measure

Hirer Liable for Injury to Subcontractor’s Employee Due to Failure to Act, Not Just Affirmative Acts, Holds Court of Appeal

Force Majeure Under the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Unlocking the Potential of AI and Chat GBT in Construction Management

Colorado Supreme Court Issues Decisions on Statute of Limitations for Statutory Bad Faith Claims and the Implied Waiver of Attorney-Client Privilege

Wildfire Risk Harms California Home Values, San Francisco Fed Study Finds

Another Municipality Takes Action to Address the Lack of Condominiums Being Built in its Jurisdiction

Loss Ensuing from Alleged Faulty Workmanship is Covered

Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up (03/08/23) – Updates on U.S. Mortgage Applications, the Inflation Reduction Act, and Multifamily Sector