Excavation, Trenching, Construction Site Work Expert Witnesses: 22

As an arbitrator, structural/civil engineer, and expert forensic consultant with nearly four decades of experience, Casey Hemmatyar has provided extensive expert services for defendants’ and plaintiffs’ attorneys on numerous construction litigation matters throughout the United States and Canada.

He has been retained as an expert engineer in over one hundred litigation matters on single and class-action legal cases by the U.S. government, law firms, and insurance carriers at the State and Federal levels, working with both plaintiff and defendant sides.

A partial list of litigation cases is available upon request. His understanding of core engineering and legal concepts has enabled him to assist a wide range of clientele effectively. He brings diversified experience in structural and civil engineering design and forensic engineering, investigation, and evaluation.

He also conducts research, has assisted in the development of building codes and standards, and has supervised the construction of domestic and international projects. His experience includes special structures and new buildings as well as modifications, alterations, seismic/hurricane retrofits, and upgrades to existing structures. He has provided failure analysis, expert consultation, structural forensic investigation, and damage assessment services for numerous litigation and insurance-related matters.

He actively presents continuing education lectures to audiences of licensed engineers, architects, and general contractors on topics of structural and forensic engineering throughout North America. Mr. Hemmatyar has been the principal structural engineer on high-profile projects for prestigious clients, including NASA and other notable organizations.  Currently, he directs PSFEG and has served as Director for SEAOSC from 2011 to 2013.

His work encompasses a diverse range of structures, including hospitals,  educational institutions (including schools and universities), telecommunication centers, aviation facilities, government buildings, laboratories, as well as commercial, industrial, and residential structures.

Joseph A. Quilici, CE, SE, CFLC, is a Registered Structural and Civil Engineer in the state of California and is a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant. Mr. Quilici has over 40 years of experience in the construction industry. He has extensive knowledge of building codes and familiarity with innovative building systems.

Mr. Quilici's range of expertise includes luxury & merchant built residences, apartments and hotels, recreational centers, commercial, retail, and office facilities, religious and educational facilities, and industrial / warehouse facilities. He is also experienced with a diverse range of building materials, including tilt-up concrete, structural steel, post-tensioned concrete, concrete masonry units, foam block, light gauge steel, and timber. 

Qualifications: 

• Licensed Structural Engineer, over 35 years, 1986
• Licensed Civil Engineer, over 40 years, 1982
• University of California, Berkeley, MS Civil Engineering - Structures, 1980
• US Green Building Counsel LEED, Accredited Professional, May 2009
• US Build it Green, Certified Green Building Professional, September 2009
•  Forensic Expert Witness Association Board of Directors - Past President
• Board Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant
• Western Construction Consultants Association Westcon Board of Directors - Past President

2 Minute Informational Video

Litigation Support - Mr. Quilici is a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant experienced in Destructive Testing, Forensic Investigation, Post-Disaster Investigation, and Remedial Design. His services include site inspection, thorough reporting, repair designs & exhibits suitable for estimating damages, depositions, and trial testimony for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

• Rainfall Calculations, Earth Retention Structures, Grading, Roadwork, Drainage Plans, Flooding
• Structural Framing and Decay, Concrete Foundations, Swimming Pools, Water Feature
• Architectural Moisture Proofing Repair, Seismic Retrofit, Failure Investigation
• Pools, Fountains, Water Features
• Landscape and Recreation Structures & Bridges; Grading, Drainage, Flatwork
• Shells & Vessels, Structural Steel, Gunite, Tilt-Up Concrete, Post-Tensioned Concrete, Precast Concrete, Light Gage Metal, Engineered Lumber, Masonry and Foam Block
• Multifamily, Condominium, Hotel & Resort Facilities; Historic Restoration; Planning & Architectural Design; Merchant Built & Custom Residential, Commercial, Retail, Offices; Medical, Industrial, Historic Restoration, Religious

View Quilici Engineers, Inc.'s Business Consulting Profile.

Mark E. Rieser, II, MS, PE, AIA, GBC, GEC has over 30 years of experience in the Engineering, Architectural, Construction, and Building Design industry. He provides his clients with a comprehensive knowledge of Engineering, Construction Technology and Construction Standards of Professional Practice. 

Background Experience - President of an “active” Design and Building company with a professional staff and Headquarter offices in San Jose and Los Angeles, and offices in Sacramento and San Francisco. Mr. Rieser has managed, designed, and constructed over 4,000 units to include high-rise, single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, podiums, apartments, and commercial buildings, His experience includes building and roadway design, construction, management, with designs of over 500 miles of asphalt and roadway improvements, tunnels, San Francisco Airport, Santa Clara Light Rail, Southern Pacific Railroad, Caltrans, and BART. 

Mr. Rieser has an insightful understanding of Civil / Structural Engineering, Soil Engineering, Transportation, Traffic Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Safety Expert, OSHA Standards, Architectural Design, Asphalt Design, Cost Estimation, Public Works Design Bidding and Estimation, General Engineering, General Building, and an Accident Reconstruction expert. “Our bids are not just a tool but are numbers that we be use to finish the work, accurately, on-time, and safely.” 

Forensic Construction and Engineering - Mark Rieser is a renowned forensic expert with the knowledge to safeguard clients from unwanted litigation as well as support both plaintiffs and defendants. He works closely with insurance companies and attorneys on various public, city, and state cases throughout the western United States. To date, he has been designated as an expert in over 550 Forensic Construction and Engineering cases throughout the United States. Mr. Rieser has been designated and testified Court as an expert in the following categories:

View Mark Rieser's Consulting Profile.

Greg Gerganoff, CSP, Esq., possesses extensive experience in safety compliance and practice involving OSHA and MSHA.  He obtained is law degree from Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School and practiced general civil law for approximately 12 years in Colorado prior to entering the safety profession. Mr. Gerganoff earned a Certified Safety Professional certification and has 18 years of field safety experience in mining, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, power plant outages, and light rail construction.

His professional safety experience includes OSHA / MSHA Safety field work and compliance with experience in the heavy construction, manufacturing, light rail construction, power plant outages, public schools, oil and gas, mining, pipeline, and trenching and excavation industries.

• Authorized Outreach Trainer for OSHA General Industry.
• PEC Safeland Basic and Core instructor (Oil and gas).
• MSHA Approved Instructor (Blue Card) for Surface, Metal/nonmetal.
• Member of the American Society of Safety Professionals.

Litigation Support: Mr. Gerganoff assists with discovery questions regarding safety matters. Safety opinions based upon statutory, administrative, judicial rulings and related industry association safety policies ancillary to OSHA and MSHA.  Mr. Gerganoff is retained by attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defendant. Some of the subject matter litigation he has handled include:

View Greg Gerganoff's Consulting Profile.

Robert (Bob) Ryan, PhD, PE, is a Senior Estimator with Heavy Civil Construction experience including bridge / structures, paving, foundations, marine, and grading work. He has over 15 years of experience working within the construction industry, primarily in operations and estimating. He has completed projects totaling more than $2 billion, and was directly involved in multiple projects receiving national merit.  

Bob has led projects involving bridges, roads, marine structures, rail, tunnels, airports, and light industrial. His project management experience has led to the development and deep understanding of schedules, standardized cost estimating approaches, subcontractor management, contracts, procurement, project completion, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs compliance issues.

Litigation Support -  Working as a contractor, engineer / consultant, and owner in the heavy-highway sector gives Bob the ability to see all sides of complex contractual issues. He has been involved in cost escalation claims and economic impact analysis related to volatile market conditions. He has experience working on large, complex heavy highway projects and has the skills and knowledge necessary to provide expert testimony in these cases.

Bob has advised attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant, and executive levels of DOTs and contractors alike. He has led and supported expert analysis on claims exceeding $100 million.

 Areas of Expertise:

Background Experience - Bob’s professional roles have included project controls, field engineering, superintendence, project management, and estimating. In his 10 years as a contractor, he held roles from field operations to estimating. As a consultant, he managed projects ranging from $1M to $300M. As an owner’s representative Bob was responsible for complete cost estimates averaging $2B. Bob is currently a faculty member at Oregon State University in their Construction Engineering Management program. 

Bob has successfully balanced completing his multiple degrees while exceeding goals as a full-time professional. His dissertation involved economic analysis of cost variance for over 12,000 projects. His coursework was a blend of project management, civil engineering, accounting, economics, and statistics. He is experienced in a wide variety of alternative delivery methods such as design-build, public-private- partnerships (P3) accelerated bridge construction, job order contracting, and negotiated lump sum.

Michael P. Lawler, MS, CSP, ASP, CHST, is a Construction Safety Expert with over 30 years of experience. He offers a unique combination of formal education and "project based" technical experience working on some of the largest construction projects in the United States. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Lawler's experience includes over 50 OSHA inspections and associated negotiation and defense preparation related to OSHA citations.   His background allows him to opine on OSHA Standards and Contract Responsibility with a demeanor of care and confidence. 

Mr. Lawler is an expert at applying OSH Act of 1970 standards, CFR 1926 & 1910 regulations, policies, construction industry practices, contract responsibility, incident investigation, and accident reconstruction. Mr. Lawler analyzes how post incident details and investigations should be completed and who is responsible per the OSHA Standard and construction industry practices. He is experienced in personal injury, catastrophic injury, and fatality cases. 

Areas of Expertise:

Ronald Tyson is a Building and Premises Expert in the construction business for over 45 years.  He has years of hands on experience in the individual trades as a tradesman, subcontractor and general contractor.  

Mr. Tyson has been a Michigan licensed builder since 1967 and has functioned as a general contractor and provided supervisory tasks for Tyson Enterprises, Incorporated and other contractors on all types of industrial, public, commercial and residential construction projects since 1963. He is a member of numerous building code and standard authorities, including but not limited to IBC [BOCA, UBC] NFPA, IAEI, NAHB, etc.

Mr. Tyson's experience and expertise can help clients with contracts, safety, and other obligations as they may affect project control of contractors and/or project managers.  He can advise on the duties in new and remodeling construction and maintenance required by the premises owner.

Litigation Support - Mr. Tyson has served the legal community as a Construction Expert Witness for 35 years. He has worked for both plaintiff and defendant attorneys. He is available to perform onsite inspections, research, review litigation matters, makes drawings, interview litigants, and provides evidence for court, including correct building code and life safety statutes and standards as they may affect personal injury claims, construction, contracts, etc. and causation.  Mr. Tyson has never been disqualified in over 200 times in court.

Areas of Expertise: