ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

Successful KF Defense Results in Dismissal with Prejudice

January 13, 2026 — Elliott Wright & William "Pat" Durland - Kahana Feld
Kahana Feld Partner Elliott Wright and Senior Counsel William “Pat” Durland secured a major victory for their client with a complete dismissal of all claims by establishing that the Plaintiff failed to satisfy the Texas Tort Claims Act’s jurisdictional prerequisites through our Plea to the Jurisdiction. Our Plea to the Jurisdiction demonstrated that governmental immunity applies unless a Plaintiff can prove a clear and unambiguous statutory waiver, and that the Plaintiff bears the burden of pleading and proving such a waiver. In this case, we showed that the Plaintiff provided no timely statutory notice as required by §101.101 of the TTCA and the City Charter’s six-month notice requirement, making jurisdiction impossible to invoke. Without proper notice—formal or actual—the court has no power to hear the case, and the defect cannot be cured by amendment.  Reprinted courtesy of Elliott Wright, Kahana Feld and William "Pat" Durland, Kahana Feld Mr. Wright may be contacted at ewright@kahanafeld.com Mr. Durland may be contacted at wdurland@kahanafeld.com Read the full story...

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Damage from Frozen Pipes Excluded from Coverage

March 31, 2026 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
Applying Texas law, the federal district court found there was no coverage for damage to the insured’s commercial building due to the bursting of frozen pipes. Barona v. State Farm Lloyds, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 257379 (S.D. Texas Dec. 12, 2025). Freezing weather froze Barona’s plumbing fixtures, causing significant water damage to the commercial property when the plumbing eventually expanded and burst. State Farm sent an inspector. During the inspection, Barona stated that he turned off the heat to his building but did not shut off the water supply or drain the pipes. State Farm denied covered based on the policy’s exclusion for frozen plumbing. 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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Why Travelers Fought a Fire Claim for Invisible Smoke Damage

February 23, 2026 — Elaine Silver - Engineering News-Record
Just 40 minutes after midnight on Sept. 27, 2018, the sky lit up over Birmingham, Ala. A fire engulfed an apartment building under construction—the last-to-be completed section of a wood-framed complex called the Metropolitan. It fueled one of the largest recorded blazes in the city’s history. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Elaine Silver, Engineering News-Record
ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com

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Snell & Wilmer Named Among the “Most Admired Law Firms to Work For” by Los Angeles Business Journal

December 22, 2025 — Snell & Wilmer
LOS ANGELES – Snell & Wilmer is proud to announce that its Los Angeles office has again been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 “Most Admired Law Firms to Work For.” The list highlights outstanding law fi­rms in the L.A. area that are consciously working towards creating diverse, positive, and supportive environments to help drive the success of their attorneys. Firms appearing on the list were judged on company culture, employee benefit and support programs, as well as diversity and women’s initiatives. “We are honored to be recognized once more as one of the ‘Most Admired Law Firms to Work For’ by the Los Angeles Business Journal”, said Joshua Schneiderman, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. “Our focus remains on building a workplace where people feel supported, encouraged to grow, and connected to their colleagues, clients, and communities. We are committed to investing in programs, relationships, and opportunities that create long lasting career fulfillment.” Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Snell & Wilmer

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Fire Protection You Can Trust Starts With the Right Testing

December 22, 2025 — Fernanda Gregati - Construction Executive
Steel’s strength and flexibility enable bold architectural design, fast project delivery and enduring structures. Despite its many advantages, steel has one critical vulnerability: It fails in fire of certain temperatures. According to the American Institute of Steel Construction, steel can lose roughly half its load-bearing strength at 1,100°F (593°C). The organization also reports that in real-world building fires, fueled by everyday office contents such as wood, paper and furniture, temperatures can exceed this threshold in minutes. That’s why many building codes mandate passive fire protection systems on exposed structural steel. Among the most effective prove thin-film intumescent coatings that expand under heat to form a charred insulating layer. These coatings delay heat transfer, allowing steel to maintain its integrity long enough to allow more time for evacuation and emergency response. Reprinted courtesy of Fernanda Gregati, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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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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Additional Insureds Owed a Defense in Underlying Personal Injury Suit

March 03, 2026 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The court granted partial summary judgment on the duty to defend to two additional insureds who were named as defendants in the underlying personal injury suit. In re Third St. Equity, LLC, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 234909 (E.D. N. Y. Dec. 2, 2025). Third Street Equity LLD hired Developing NY State, LLC as the contractor for a construction project. Developing NY entered a subcontract agreement with Capital Source Concrete NY LLC for concrete work as well as labor and services for a construction project. The subcontract required that Capital Concrete keep the construction site free of debris, waste material or rubbish. Further, Capital Concrete was responsible for compliance with OSHA safety regulations. It was also agreed that Capital Concrete would obtain liability and workers compensation insurance naming Third Street and Developing NY as additional insureds. 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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Snell & Wilmer Phoenix Partner Jody Pokorski Named Winner of Connect CRE’s 2025 Lawyers in Real Estate Awards

January 21, 2026 — Snell & Wilmer
Phoenix – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that Phoenix Partner Jody K. Pokorski has been named a winner of Connect CRE’s Lawyers in Real Estate Awards for the Phoenix and Southwest region. This recognition highlights commercial real estate lawyers throughout various regions of the U.S., who have significantly impacted commercial real estate through their contributions to the industry and community. Pokorski’s practice is concentrated in real estate transactions, finance and regulatory matters, including work relating to commercial purchase and sale transactions, real estate financing, master planned communities, subdivision matters, and leasing. She advises large and small corporate clients in real estate matters throughout the United States. Pokorski represents developers, owners, lenders, and contractors and has significant experience handling real estate matters for institutes of higher learning and other educational entities. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Snell & Wilmer

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