Anaheim California Construction Expert Witness Directory

No Cross-Complaint Needed: Contractor Can Fight Co-Defendant’s Summary Judgment

October 21, 2025 — Keith E. Smith - Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP
In a decision of first impression, the California Court of Appeal in RND Contractors, Inc. v. WRSE (2025) 112 Cal.App.5th 697, clarified whether a co-defendant may oppose another defendant's motion for summary judgment without having first filed a cross-complaint. The case arose from the collapse of a high school gymnasium during construction, leading to negligence, wrongful death, and premises liability claims against the project participants. The court held that "any adverse party" may oppose another party's motion for summary judgment, even if the Plaintiff does not oppose the motion and there is no cross-complaint filed by the co-defendant opposing summary judgment. This ruling resolves a novel procedural question which had not been addressed by any Court of Appeal in California to date. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Keith E. Smith, Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP
Mr. Smith may be contacted at kesmith@wshblaw.com

Ninth Circuit Issues Injunction Halting SB 261 Climate Disclosure Laws

December 22, 2025 — Michael S. McDonough & Karen Eskander - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
On November 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an injunction temporarily halting the implementation of California’s SB 261, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, just weeks before the law’s first mandated disclosures on January 1, 2026. The court declined to stay California’s companion climate emissions disclosure bill, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253), due to that bill’s less immediately pressing compliance deadline of August 2026. Background on California Climate Disclosure Laws As we have discussed in previous posts, California enacted two comprehensive climate disclosure laws in 2023. The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261) impose greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risk reporting requirements that apply to thousands of public and private companies formed under U.S. law and “doing business in California.” The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released a preliminary list of companies it believes may be subject to the state’s new climate disclosure regime. Reprinted courtesy of Michael S. McDonough, Pillsbury and Karen Eskander, Pillsbury Mr. McDonough may be contacted at michael.mcdonough@pillsburylaw.com Ms. Eskander may be contacted at karen.eskander@pillsburylaw.com Read the full story...

Kiewit Seeks Millions in Added Connecticut Pier Renovation Costs

September 08, 2025 — Richard Korman - Engineering News-Record
Kiewit Corp. and the Connecticut Port Authority are preparing to begin mediation over tens of millions of dollars the contractor giant believes it is owed for the multiyear renovation of a critical state pier in New London, port officials said. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Richard Korman, Engineering News-Record
Mr. Korman may be contacted at kormanr@enr.com

How to Document Changes and Preserve Claims Without Starting a Fight

December 02, 2025 — Kristina Southwell - Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
Construction is a team sport, but you can play nice while still preserving your contractual rights. In every construction project, changes happen and disagreements arise. The trouble comes when during formal dispute resolution months (or years) later, the parties argue about the basic facts of what the issue was, what was authorized, who knew, and whether notice was given. In formal dispute resolution, the most compelling evidence is the contemporaneous, factual documentation in the project record, but many fail to document these issues for fear of harming the relationship with the owner, general contractor, or subcontractor. This article provides practical guidance on how to document changes and potential claims in a way that preserves relationships and avoids escalation during the project itself. Here’s how to document changes (or your disagreement) to preserve your contract rights and ability to make a claim later, without jeopardizing the working relationship during construction. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Kristina Southwell, Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
Ms. Southwell may be contacted at kristina.southwell@acslawyers.com

Louisiana State Legislature 2025 Regular Session: Tort Reform - Acts & Vetoed Insurance Bill

October 06, 2025 — Jennifer Kretschmann - Lewis Brisbois Newsroom
New Orleans, La. (August 25, 2025) - In 2025, Louisiana lawmakers passed several tort reform acts with the aim of reducing frivolous lawsuits and addressing insurance issues. The Governor also vetoed an “insurance reform” bill limiting bad faith lawsuits against insurers. This summary outlines key developments from the Louisiana State Legislature’s 2025 regular session. Modification of Comparative Fault Scheme Act No. 15 (HB 431) changes Louisiana’s pure comparative fault scheme to that of a modified comparative fault scheme, as set forth in La Civ. Code Art. 2323. Under this new scheme people who are mostly at fault (51% or more) are barred from recovering damages. If the injured party’s fault is less than 51%, the amount of damages recoverable is reduced in proportion to the injured party’s fault. Importantly, in cases where the issue of comparative fault is submitted to the jury, 2323(D) requires the jury to be instructed on the effect of this Article. Act No. 15 and its changes to Art. 2323 will become effective January 1, 2026. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Jennifer Kretschmann, Lewis Brisbois
Ms. Kretschmann may be contacted at Jennifer.Kretschmann@lewisbrisbois.com

Los Angeles Office Secures Summary Judgment for Electric Company Client in Asbestos Lawsuit

August 18, 2025 — Lewis Brisbois Newsroom
Los Angeles, Calif. (July 22, 2025) - Los Angeles Partner Rod Cappy recently obtained summary judgment for his electric company client in a lawsuit brought by an electrician who claimed he developed mesothelioma in part due to exposure to asbestos-containing products distributed by the client. The plaintiff filed his lawsuit in October 2024, alleging that he developed mesothelioma due to occupational exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing products sold by a slew of companies during his career as an electrician, first in the U.S. Navy from 1964-1967 and then in private industry from 1967-2001. He claimed that he was exposed to asbestos-containing electronic products distributed by Lewis Brisbois’ client to two of his employers. The plaintiff’s demand as to the client was in the mid-six figures. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

Kahana Feld Earns Recognition in Five Practice Areas in 2026 Best Law Firms® Rankings

December 15, 2025 — Eva Paulson - Kahana Feld
IRVINE, CA – Nov. 6, 2025 – Kahana Feld is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized across five practice areas in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®. Now in its 16th year, Best Law Firms provides a comprehensive guide to the top-performing firms across 127 practice areas and 188 local jurisdictions. A listing of Kahana Feld’s 2026 rankings follows: Orange County

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Metropolitan Tier 2)
Litigation – Real Estate (Metropolitan Tier 3)
Real Estate Law (Metropolitan Tier 3)

New York City

Litigation – Insurance (Metropolitan Tier 3)

Houston

Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (Metropolitan Tier 3)

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Eva Paulson, Kahana Feld
Ms. Paulson may be contacted at epaulson@kahanafeld.com

Will the YIMBY ‘Holy Grail’ Deliver an LA Building Boom?

December 08, 2025 — Patrick Sisson - Bloomberg
When California Governor Gavin Newsom signed State Bill 79 into law on Oct. 10, supporters of the pro-housing “Yes In My Backyard” movement celebrated a legislative victory that had been called a YIMBY “holy grail.” By legalizing multistory apartments near transit stops in the state’s most urbanized counties — and crucially, in areas formerly zoned for single-family homes — SB 79 was hailed as a huge step toward closing California’s longstanding affordable housing gap. Along with recent reform of the state’s infamous project-delaying environmental review law, CEQA, SB 79 boosters like the advocacy group California YIMBY say that the legislation can unlock the promised goal of “housing abundance” when it comes into effect on July 1, 2026. Now comes the hard part — especially in places like Los Angeles. There, SB 79 faces fierce opposition from community groups who see it as a destroyer of neighborhoods, and from lawmakers like Mayor Karen Bass and a majority of the city council who believe it usurps local control. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Patrick Sisson, Bloomberg

ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES