ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

No Bad Faith Despite Insurer’s Appraisal Award Exceeding Initial Payment

August 03, 2026 — Tred R. Eyerly - Insurance Law Hawaii
The federal district court granted the insurer’s motion for summary judgment, finding no bad faith despite the appraisal award exceeding the amount the insurer initially paid. Jazi Kat 4659 Rockridge LLC, et al. v. Travelers Cas. Ins. Co. of Am., et al., 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105634 (D. Ariz. May 13, 2026). Plaintiffs sued Travelers for breach of contract and bad faith, alleging that Travelers failed to pay money plaintiffs were owed under the policy. Plaintiffs held a commercial property policy for two properties. A fire destroyed one of the properties. Travelers adjusted the claim and issued two payments. Plaintiffs disagreed with the amount of the payments and demanded an appraisal. Travelers agreed to the appraisal. 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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Louisiana Legislature Enacts Act 932 – Significant Changes to Insurer Bad-Faith Exposure for Failure to Settle

July 13, 2026 — Tabitha R. Durbin & Jennifer E. Michel - Lewis Brisbois
The Louisiana Legislature has enacted Act 932 (formerly House Bill 1162), which became law this week without the Governor's signature pursuant to the Louisiana Constitution, after expiration of the applicable constitutional review period. Act 932 makes several important amendments to Louisiana's insurer bad-faith statute and appears intended, at least in part, to address issues arising from the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision in Kelly v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 169 So.3d 328 (La. 2015). The Act also makes changes regarding claim payments involving licensed contractors. The Act takes effect on August 1, 2026. Key Takeaways Act 932:

• Limits certain bad-faith causes of action (bad faith failure to settle) involving personal injury and bodily injury claims where good-faith disputes exist or where an insurer has not been afforded sufficient opportunity to respond to a settlement demand.
• Requires insurers and adjusters to verify a contractor's Louisiana license status before issuing claim payments when a contractor is named as a payee on a check for repair or restoration of immovable property.
• Creates a statutory safe harbor protecting insurers from bad-faith penalties and attorney fees when payment delays result from an inability to verify a contractor's license, provided specified documentation and notice requirements are met.

Reprinted courtesy of Tabitha R. Durbin, Lewis Brisbois and Jennifer E. Michel, Lewis Brisbois Ms. Durbin may be contacted at Tabitha.Durbin@lewisbrisbois.com Ms. Michel may be contacted at Jenny.Michel@lewisbrisbois.com Read the full story...

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Ball Janik LLP Recognized in 2027 Best Law Firms® Rankings

November 09, 2026 — Ball Janik LLP
Orlando, FL, November 5, 2026 – Ball Janik LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms®. The Best Law Firms® rankings are based on a rigorous research process that considers client and professional-reference feedback, firm-provided information, lawyer evaluations, and interviews with law-firm leaders. "Being recognized among the nation's top law firms is a meaningful honor and reflects our commitment to serving community associations, commercial property owners, and businesses across Florida in construction law and construction-related litigation," said James C. Prichard, Managing Partner of Ball Janik LLP. "Our attorneys and staff work tirelessly to provide strategic, results-driven representation. We share this honor with our clients who keep us motivated to continue raising the bar." Ball Janik LLP is featured in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms® for the following rankings: National Tier 2

• Construction Law

National Tier 3

• Litigation - Construction

Regional Tier 1

• Orlando
• Construction Law
• Litigation - Construction

Regional Tier 2

• Miami
• Construction Law

Regional Tier 3

• Miami
• Litigation - Construction

• Orlando
• Real Estate Law

To learn more about Ball Janik LLP's recognition, visit the firm's Best Law Firms® profile. About Ball Janik LLP Ball Janik LLP is a Florida-based law firm offering construction defects, construction law, insurance recovery, and commercial litigation counsel, to its local and national clients. The firm was founded in 1982 and has expanded its capabilities, professionals, and geographic footprint. What started as a small firm focused on real property, land use, and litigation (known then as Ball Janik & Novack) has grown to a team of 70-plus attorneys and paralegals in five offices in Florida, with centuries of combined experience and capabilities. The firm has been recognized by Chambers USA, including for its construction law capabilities in Florida, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, The Best Lawyers in America©, Super Lawyers, and Corporate International. Read more at www.balljanik.com.

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Jonathan Aihie Named to The National Bar Association’s “Top 40 Under 40” List

August 03, 2026 — Lewis Brisbois
Fort Lauderdale Partner Jonathan Aihie was recently named to The National Bar Association (NBA) “Top 40 Under 40” list. The NBA “Top 40 Under 40” recognizes the nation's top lawyers under the age of 40 who demonstrate professional excellence, leadership, and commitment to the community. Recipients represent a broad cross-section of the legal profession, including private practice, government, academia, the judiciary, corporate counsel, and public service. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

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OC Streetcar Project Mediation Sets $50M Payment to Walsh

July 20, 2026 — Richard Korman - Engineering News-Record
Walsh Construction told a California state court judge last month that lawsuit mediation of its claims on an Orange County light-rail project—known as OC Streetcar—had produced a settlement of some claims under which the county agreed to pay the contractor almost an additional $50 million. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Richard Korman, Engineering News-Record
Mr. Korman may be contacted at kormanr@enr.com

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GRSM Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027

August 24, 2026 — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is pleased to announce that 183 of its attorneys were listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2027 Edition, six of whom received “Lawyer of the Year” recognitions. Additionally, 49 GRSM attorneys were recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2027. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on peer-review evaluations. For the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, results were determined using millions of confidential attorney evaluations. Ones to Watch adopts the same peer-review methodology. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

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You Filed a Mechanic’s Lien. Then You Discovered a Mistake. Now What?

November 09, 2026 — Adam Hall - Colorado Construction Litigation Blog
Recording a mechanic’s lien is an important tool for Colorado contractors seeking payment for labor, materials, and services furnished on construction projects. But what happens when a contractor records a lien and subsequently discovers that the amount claimed is incorrect? Can the contractor amend the lien to reduce the amount owed, even after the statutory deadline for recording or amending the lien has passed? Or does the original mistake render the lien unenforceable? The Colorado Court of Appeals addressed these questions in Galiant Homes, LLC v. Herlik, 2025 COA 3, providing important guidance for contractors recording mechanic’s and materialman’s liens in connection with construction projects. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Adam Hall, Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC
Mr. Hall may be contacted at ahall@hhmrlaw.com

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Why Professional Liability Insurance Is Ticking Clock for AE Firms

November 09, 2026 — Jared Maxwell - Engineering News-Record
For architecture and engineering firms, professional liability insurance is a cornerstone of risk management. These policies are almost always written on a claims-made basis, making timely claims reporting one of the most critical—yet often overlooked—requirements for preserving coverage. In practice, how and when a firm reports a claim can have just as much impact as the claim itself. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Jared Maxwell, Engineering News-Record
ENR may be contacted at enr@enr.com

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