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APPROXIMATE TIMES OF TESTIMONY/APPEARANCES BY MR. ALLEN
Court. 15
Arbitration: 10
Mediation: 45
Deposition: 30
Total number of cases: 300
SAMPLE OF CASE WORK
Insurance Carrier v. City of Santa Monica
Case I.D. Confidential
Date of Settlement: June, 2010
EXPERT FOR:
Defendant/City of Santa Monica
SUMMARY:
Settled in Mediation. Information confidential.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Review site conditions. Prepare a cost estimate based on my scope of work. Prepare cost estimate based on Plaintiff scope of work.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Lance Gams Esq.
Deputy City Attorney
Contractor v. Verizon Services Inc.
Case I.D. CIVRS 810357
Date of Settlement: June, 2010
EXPERT FOR:
Verizon/Defendant
SUMMARY:
Settlement after Mediation
Award: Original demand against Verizon for approximately 582,766.00. Settled outside of Mediation for 150,000.00.
TOPIC:
Allegation by Contractor that a conduit left open by Verizon over a weekend with heavy rains, caused extensive water damage to a library almost completed after a major renovation.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Perform a site inspection after repairs were already complete. Review the pictures taken by the contractor immediately after the damage was discovered. Review the scope of the repairs and contractors costs. Opine on the extent of damages based on pictures supplied by the contractor. Prepare an estimate to repair damages using my scope of work and prepare an estimate to repair damages using Contractor’s scope of work. Attend expert’s meeting to discuss issues.
ATTORNEY:
Mr.Dien Le Esq.
Sullivan & Taketa LLP
Real Estate Disclosure in the sale of a Commercial Building
Case I.D. BC 414497
Date of Verdict: May, 2010
EXPERT FOR:
Seller/Defendant
SUMMARY:
Trial Verdict-For Defendant.
Award: Dismissal of the law suit by the Plaintiff for over 160,00.00 dollars in damages and repair costs. Plaintiff required to return approx. 100,00.00 dollars in monies held back in escrow. Court costs and attorney fees were awarded to Defendant.
TOPIC:
Allegation by Buyer that the Seller covered up or otherwise hid existing defects.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Testify in Court. Review the termite report generated in escrow. Performed a site inspection of the building to document the existing condition of the alleged covered up or hidden defects. Opine on the possibility that these “defects” were or could have been hidden or covered up by the Defendant. Opine on the possibility that these defects would have been discovered and duly noted by a professional building inspector.
ATTORNEY:
Michael Vickman Esq. 310-553-0556
Construction Defects & Earthquake Damage in a Large Apartment Complex
No. Case I.D. confidential
Date of Verdict/Settlement: December, 1997
EXPERT FOR:
Defense.
SUMMARY:
Mediation Settlement. $8,995,400.00
Original Demand $17,400,000.00
TOPIC:
20-building, 510 unit apartment complex. Plaintiff contended that design and construction defects substantially exacerbated damage caused by the Northridge earthquake. Plaintiff also contended repairs would have been necessary even without the earthquake.
Defendants contended that some repairs were just earthquake related and also contended that the repair costs were excessive.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Review the original plans and specifications. Review the repair plans and specifications. Prepare one estimate for earthquake related repairs and upgrades and another estimate for repairs related to construction defects.
ATTORNEY:
Murchison & Cumming. 213-626-7400
Martin Carlin v. Hightech Builders International
No. BC222949
Date of Verdict/Settlement: May 9, 2002
EXPERT FOR:
Plaintiff.
SUMMARY:
Trial Verdict-For Plaintiff
Award $944,720.00
TOPIC:
Breach of Contract-Fraud “As Is” clause in sales contract for new home did not protect the builder.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Analyze and document the “as built” condition for a newly built custom single family residence. Verify compliance to original plans and specifications. Analysis of existing defective construction. Prepare Report of Findings and Cost of Repair Estimate.
Testimony by Expert in Court.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Michael Leight Esq. 562-430-1009
Dr. Dorothy Ho v. George Chen
No: BCC372724
Date of Verdict/Settlement. June, 2009
EXPERT FOR:
Plaintiff.
SUMMARY:
Binding Arbitration Verdict-For Plaintiff
Award $750,000.00
TOPIC:
New apartment building not built according to approved plans. Defective construction.
WORK BY EXPERT.
Analysis of “as built” condition for a new 4 unit upscale apartment building. Builder added an unpermitted bedroom in each of the units. Analysis of defective construction. Prepare a Report of Findings and Develop a Cost Estimate to remove the unpermitted bedrooms and return the units to meet the original approved plans. Identify the defective construction and develop a Cost Estimate to repair.
Testimony by Expert at Binding Arbitration.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Shab Kerendian Esq. 310-914-4143
Franchise Tax Board v. Robert H. & Loretta Smith
Date of Verdict/Settlement. 2007
EXPERT FOR:
Defendant.
SUMMARY:
Substantial reduction in tax liability for defendant.
TOPIC:
Franchise Tax Board did not allow approximately $595,000.00 of the $1,053,329 owners claimed as the cost basis for their home after a sale because of poor or/no documentation by the owner. Remodels and improvement were carried out from approximately 1974 thru 2002
WORK BY EXPERT:
Review all the assorted work contracts, repair invoices etc. supplied by owner for work done on the home. Compare the existing home to the original permitted home. Develop costs to perform all of the assorted work done over the years, taking into account the year the work was done. Review the position of the Franchise Tax Board and address each and every conclusion.
Work also included a home inspection, Report of Findings, Fair Market Comparison and new Cost Basis Estimate.
ATTORNEY
Mr. Mark Bernsley Esq. 818-981-1776
American Beauty Village v. American Beauty Homes
BC178142
Date of Verdict/Settlement. 2002
EXPERT FOR:
Defendant, Plastering Contractor.
SUMMARY:
Favorable settlement for defendant during mediation.
TOPIC:
Allegations of defective stucco application in very large multi-unit apartment complex.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Observe and make note of Findings during multi-day destructive testing. Prepare a Report of Findings.
Attend mediation.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Mark Norman Esq. 213-489-3222
Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow & Canter LP
Reid v. Kaufman
BC338350
Date of Verdict/Settlement. 2007
EXPERT FOR:
Plaintiff.
SUMMARY:
Favorable settlement for Plaintiff.
TOPIC:
Property line block wall dispute
WORK BY EXPERT.
Perform a site inspection and document condition of the property line retaining wall, document the condition and structural integrity of the retaining wall. Prepare a Cost Estimate to repair and replace the existing retaining wall.
Deposition testimony.
ATTORNEY 213-452-4900
Mr. Leonard Gumport Esq.
Gumport/Reitman
State of California v. Bonnie Macias
OPM04458
Date of Verdict/Settlement. 2001
EXPERT FOR:
Court Appointed for Defendant
SUMMARY:
Unknown
TOPIC:
State of California charged the owners with numerous violations of building and housing codes. They also alleged numerous unsafe additions.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Do a site investigation to document and determine the nature and extent of any code violations and unsafe/illegal additions. Prepare a Report of Findings and Cost Estimate to repair/correct violations.
Court Testimony.
ATTORNEY:
Ms. Monique Gregoire-Williams Esq. 909-620-3189
Deputy Alternate Public Defender Pomona
Dispute between Contractor and Owner of a Bar in West Hollywood.
Date of Verdict/Settlement. 2009
EXPERT FOR:
Defendant
SUMMARY:
Dismissed.
TOPIC:
Contractor sued bar owner for payment for remodel work to bar.
WORK BY EXPERT.
Inspect the bar, document and note code violations and defective construction. Prepare cost estimate to repair/correct defects and code violations.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Scott Brown Esq. 818-227-6690
Law Offices of Joe R. Abramson
Hu v. Zhou
GC040100
EXPERT FOR:
Defendant
SUMMARY:
Case dismissed by plaintiff.
TOPIC:
Buyer of a single family home sued Broker/Agent for costs to make room conversion by seller compliant with the City.
WORK BY EXPERT:
Inspect residence and develop Cost Estimate to make the existing room addition compliant with City Requirements.
ATTORNEY:
Mr. Scott Zoller Esq. 213-250-1225
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP