Anaheim California 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

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

A New Tariffs Twist: Aggressive Enforcement of False Claims Act Violations Could Potentially Trip Up Construction Companies

June 16, 2025 — Brian Perlberg - ConsensusDocs
There is a new twist on issues revolving around tariffs potentially impacting general contractors. AGC members Chris Denny, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Turner Construction Company, and Bob Lizza, Chief Legal Officer, Consigli Construction Co., Inc., highlighted recent developments that could have serious implications for the construction industry. At a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., there was a discussion about growing federal enforcement efforts that contractors should not ignore. It has been publicly reported that the U.S. Department of Justice intends to “aggressively” enforce the False Claims Act (FCA), as Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston said in a speech at the Federal Bar Association’s annual qui tam conference earlier this year. FCA cases alleging that an importer evaded customs duties by undervaluing imported products, misclassifying imports, or misrepresenting a product’s country of origin are on the rise. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Brian Perlberg, ConsensusDocs
Mr. Perlberg may be contacted at brian.perlberg@agc.org

Texas House Passes Medical Damages Reform: What It Means for Insurance Defense Attorneys

June 16, 2025 — Elliott Wright - Kahana Feld
A major development out of the Texas Legislature is poised to bring meaningful change to the landscape of personal injury litigation—and insurance defense attorneys should take note. Senate Bill 30, recently passed by the Texas House, would limit recoverable medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits to the amounts actually paid for medical treatment, rather than the often-inflated amounts billed. The goal is to reduce these “nuclear verdicts,” which have created uncertainty for businesses and insurers in both liberal and conservative counties in the state of Texas. By tying damage awards to more objective metrics like Medicare rates, the bill introduces a fairer and more consistent standard for evaluating medical costs in litigation. For those who defend insurance carriers and insureds, this legislation represents a step toward leveling the playing field. Plaintiffs will no longer be able to present inflated medical billing as a basis for extraordinary damages. The bill also makes several practical changes to the discovery and evidence process, shifting from itemized billing requirements to summary billing, preserving judicial discretion on the admissibility of certain medical history, and reaffirming privacy protections between patients, doctors, and attorneys. These changes help defense counsel focus more on the merits of the case and less on battling excessive or speculative medical figures. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Elliott Wright, Kahana Feld
Mr. Wright may be contacted at ewright@kahanafeld.com

Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai Recognized by Best Lawyers in America

September 02, 2025 — Garret Murai - California Construction Law Blog
Nomos LLP partner Garret Murai has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Construction Law. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

Proving and Defending Against Construction Defect Damages

August 25, 2025 — David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal Updates
Recent decisions in Florida (see here) have harshly come out against owners in construction defect cases that fail to properly measure their damages as of the date of the breach. The result has been a big “L” for owners in these cases based on an appeal even though the owners won at the trial level. In a recent case, an owner presented construction defect damages from an expert and prevailed at trial. However, the damages were NOT measured as of the date of the breach, but years after. The appellate court reversed and remanded in favor of the contractor, meaning the owner lost the case. If you are involved in a construction defect case, make sure the below is instilled in your thought process and analysis because you NEED to know how to prove construction defect damages and defend against construction defect damages:

“Damages for a breach of contract should be measured as of the date of the breach. Fluctuations in value after the breach do not affect the nonbreaching party’s recovery.” Damages are not supported by competent, substantial evidence when damages are assessed for a time other than that of the time of breach.

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

California Is Running Out of Safe Places to Build Homes Due to Fires, Rising Seas

July 28, 2025 — Eliyahu Kamisher - Bloomberg
California, gripped by a housing shortage that is forcing families from the state, wants to build 2.5 million homes. But it’s running out of safe places to put them. Much of the land best suited for new housing — wind-swept, grassy hills surrounding the state’s major cities — now faces an extreme threat of wildfire, brutally illustrated by the Los Angeles-area blazes in January that killed 30 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. Fires have also leveled entire towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills, often considered an affordable place to buy a home. With California’s peak fire season on the way, the state’s main firefighting agency recently updated its maps showing the places at risk, and the danger zone now encompasses an area the size of Georgia. The California coast, meanwhile, confronts the long-term threat of rising seas. The state forecasts eroding coastlines will endanger $18 billion of existing homes and commercial buildings in the coming decades, and San Francisco officials have already decided to close part of one seaside highway rather than defend it. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Eliyahu Kamisher, Bloomberg

Best Lawyers Honors Hundreds of Lewis Brisbois Attorneys, Names Two Partners “Lawyers of the Year”

September 30, 2025 — Lewis Brisbois Newsroom
(August 21, 2025) - Best Lawyers has selected 198 Lewis Brisbois attorneys across 49 offices for its 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America. It has also recognized two Lewis Brisbois partners on its "Lawyers of the Year" list: Charleston Partner Patricia Bello (Litigation - Environmental) and Northwest Indiana/Indianapolis Managing Partner Renee J. Mortimer (Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants). Please join us in congratulating the following attorneys on their Best Lawyers recognition! You can see the full list of attorneys named to Best Lawyers' Ones to Watch in America here. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES