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Civil Engineering Expert Witnesses

Litigation involving civil engineering typically centers on whether public or private infrastructure was designed, constructed, or maintained consistent with applicable engineering standards and contractual specifications. Disputes commonly involve construction defect claims tied to building, bridge, or roadway projects, disagreements over stormwater and drainage system design, and geotechnical disputes involving foundation, dam, or levee performance. Public works contracts add further complexity when disputes arise over compliance with municipal engineering standards, environmental permitting requirements, or public infrastructure procurement processes. The central issue in these disputes is typically whether an engineering design, construction practice, or maintenance decision met the applicable professional standard of care.

Civil engineering experts help attorneys evaluate these disputes by examining design drawings, construction records, and site conditions against recognized engineering standards such as those published by ASCE and ASTM, and against the specific contract or regulatory requirements at issue. Their analysis can determine whether a structure's foundation or drainage design was reasonably engineered given known site conditions, whether construction practices deviated from approved plans, and whether a public works project complied with environmental permitting or municipal engineering standards. This work supports causation and damages positions in construction defect and public infrastructure disputes, and it can inform liability allocation between engineers, contractors, and public agencies.

Because civil engineering disputes range from geotechnical and structural failures to public works procurement and environmental permitting, matching an expert's specific engineering discipline to the dispute is essential. Round Table Group's civil engineering network includes practitioners with decades of experience in geotechnical, structural, and environmental engineering, several of whom have testified dozens of times on issues ranging from dam and levee failures to foundation and road design. Round Table Group has completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, giving us a practiced sense of which civil engineering experts hold up under the technical scrutiny these cases demand. Let us help you find the right civil engineering expert for your case by calling us at (202) 908-4500.

Kinds of Cases We Work On

Round Table Group helps our clients find a wide variety of Civil Engineering expert witnesses for cases like:

01

Bridge Load Rating Design Dispute.

A state transportation authority sued its civil engineering consultant after a newly constructed bridge failed a post-completion load rating review, revealing the original design had understated the traffic loading the structure needed to accommodate. We identified experts with experience in bridge design standards, structural load rating methodology, and highway engineering practices. The expert's independent load rating analysis confirmed the design had applied an outdated traffic loading standard, supporting a favorable arbitration award
02

Toll Road Pavement Design Failure.

A toll road operator sued the civil engineering firm that designed its roadway pavement section after the pavement began exhibiting significant rutting and cracking well ahead of its designed service life, forcing an accelerated resurfacing program. We identified experts with experience in pavement engineering design, traffic loading analysis, and roadway materials specification. The expert's review of the design calculations found the pavement section had been designed using a traffic loading projection well below the corridor's actual truck volumes, supporting a substantial settlement.
03

Levee Design Failure Dispute.

A regional water management authority sued the engineering firm that designed a flood control levee after a design deficiency contributed to a levee breach during a significant flood event, causing extensive downstream property damage claims against the authority. We identified experts with experience in levee and flood control design, hydraulic and hydrologic engineering, and dam and levee safety standards. The expert's review of the design's freeboard calculations found the levee had been designed to a flood elevation below the applicable regulatory standard, supporting a settlement of nearly $50 million.
04

Stormwater Design Failure.

A commercial developer sued its civil engineering firm after the stormwater management system designed for a large retail development proved chronically undersized, causing repeated flooding that damaged tenant spaces and triggered lease disputes with anchor tenants. We identified experts with experience in stormwater management design, hydrology and hydraulic modeling, and site drainage engineering. The expert's independent hydraulic modeling found the system had been sized using a rainfall intensity figure well below the applicable design storm standard, supporting a substantial settlement.
05

Foundation Design Settlement Dispute.

A developer sued its geotechnical engineering firm after a mixed-use building experienced significant differential settlement within a couple of years of completion, requiring an extensive and costly foundation remediation program. We identified experts with experience in geotechnical engineering, foundation design methodology, and soil-structure interaction analysis. The expert's review of the original geotechnical investigation found the firm had extrapolated soil-bearing capacity from borings that did not adequately characterize a compressible clay layer beneath the building footprint, supporting a substantial settlement.
06

Retaining Wall Collapse Dispute.

A property developer sued the civil engineering firm that designed a large retaining wall system after a section of the wall failed during a heavy rain event, damaging adjacent roadway infrastructure and delaying the project's completion. We identified experts with experience in retaining wall design, geotechnical slope stability analysis, and civil site engineering standards. The expert's stability analysis found the wall's drainage design had failed to account for hydrostatic pressure buildup behind the wall, supporting a substantial settlement.
07

Land Development Infrastructure Design Dispute.

A residential developer sued its civil engineering firm after roadway and utility infrastructure designs for a large subdivision required extensive rework following municipal plan review, causing significant project delays and cost overruns. We identified experts with experience in land development civil engineering, municipal infrastructure design standards, and site utility coordination. The expert's review of the rejected plans found a pattern of design elements that did not conform to the municipality's published design standards, supporting a substantial settlement.
08

Airport Runway Pavement Dispute.

An airport authority sued the civil engineering firm that designed a runway rehabilitation project after the new pavement section developed significant surface distress within a few years, well short of its designed service life, forcing an unplanned rehabilitation and temporary runway capacity restrictions. We identified experts with experience in airfield pavement design, FAA pavement design standards, and aircraft loading analysis. The expert's review of the design found the pavement thickness calculations had used an aircraft loading mix inconsistent with the airport's actual fleet composition, supporting a substantial settlement.
09

Marine Structure Design Dispute.

A port authority sued the civil engineering firm that designed a new cargo terminal's bulkhead and pier structures after significant structural distress was discovered within a few years of completion, requiring an extensive repair program that disrupted terminal operations. We identified experts with experience in marine and coastal civil engineering, bulkhead and pier structural design, and waterfront infrastructure standards. The expert's review of the design found the structures had been designed for a lateral earth pressure condition that did not reflect the terminal's actual operating loads, supporting a substantial recovery in mediation.
10

Land Survey Error Dispute.

A developer sued its land surveying firm after a boundary and topographic survey error caused a partially constructed building to be positioned in violation of a setback requirement, forcing a costly partial demolition and redesign. We identified experts with experience in land surveying standards, boundary and topographic survey methodology, and construction staking practices. The expert's review of the survey's control points found the firm had relied on an outdated benchmark that had been superseded before the project began, supporting a substantial settlement.

Here are a few of our favorite Civil Engineering Expert Witnesses:

North Carolina Stormwater, Civil Engineering Expert #21427

I have 20 years of experience, and specialize in the field of stormwater with specific knowledge in the areas of stormwater, riparian and best management. I have published on such topics as applications of stormwater, cost analysis and feasible alternatives. I have testified on stormwater management, existing conditions and and other.

 

New York Civil Engineering Expert #23224

I have 45 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, and environmental engineering. I have published on such topics as dams and levees, foundation engineering, and recycling and reuse of waste material. I have testified 99 times on topics such as dam and levee failures, foundation and road failures, and landfill location and design. I have been a Civil Engineer for almost 50 years. I teach as a professor, do research in my field, publish professional articles (more than 250), and do private consulting in…

 

Civil Engineering Expert #37758

I have 13 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of construction, foundations and marine work.

 

New Jersey Civil Engineering Expert #37852

I have 28 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of storm water management, land use, and site development. I have published on such topics as sewer systems.

 

New Hampshire Civil Engineering Expert #38057

I have 25 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of geotechnical engineering, construction and field testing. I have published on such topics as subsurface exploration, cone penetration testing and geotechnical modeling.

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Civil Engineering Expert Witnesses

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The right expert witnesses and consulting experts can make your case. That’s why we have spent so many hours over the past quarter century making sure our clients have just the right expert team — whether one expert or many, early-stage advice or expert reports and testimony. Across over 50,000 expert search assignments, we have honed a unique, customized approach to identifying, analyzing and connecting with expert talent so you can focus on winning your case.

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California Civil Engineering Expert #38108

I have 24 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of construction management, dry and wet utilities and building construction. I have testified on construction defects.

 

Nevada Civil Engineering, Site, Roads Expert #38317

I have 23 years of experience, and specialize in the field of construction management and civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of construction defect and construction owner issues. I have testified on construction defect and construction managment. I have a mixture of half my career as an owner and the other half representing owners.

 

Mississippi Civil Engineering Expert #38365

I have 37 years of experience and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of geotechnical engineering and dredging. I have published on such topics as dredge material containment, dewatering of fine grained sediments and geotextile tubes. I have testified on two different geotechical site conditions during dredging and two oyster damage claims from dredging activities.

 

Louisiana Civil Engineering, Levees Expert #39536

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering. I have published on such topics as wharf design.

 

Illinois Civil Engineering, Zoning Expert #40869

I have 17 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of land development, land use and storm water management. I have testified on standard of care.

 

California Civil Engineering Expert #42730

I have 21 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of traffic engineering, transportation engineering and roadway design. I currently lead a multi disciplinary team of engineers, right of way staff, environmental experts and project managers dedicated to delivering water quality projects.

 

New Jersey Civil Engineering Expert #43330

I have 45 years of experience and specialize in the field of civil engineering and land surveying with specific knowledge in the areas of public works, municipal engineering land use, storm drainage and boundry line disputes. I have published on such topics as construction inspection, site design and site improvement standards. I have testified 40 times on topics such as drainage, accidents, professional standards, surveys and construction stakeout.

 

Washington Civil Engineering, Wharves Expert #45653

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of ports, harbors and associated facilities. I have published on such topics as various port container terminal developments.

 

California Civil Engineering, Transportatio Expert #46147

I have 25 years of experience, and specialize in the field of transportation engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of traffic engineering, transportation planning and traffic simulation. I have published on such topics as traffic engineering, transportation planning and traffic simulation. I have testified on traffic engineering, transportation planning and traffic simulation. I have the ability to make what seems complex into simple and understandable material for the client and listeners.

 

California Water, Civil Engineering Expert #47432

I have 51 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of water resources, wastewater treatment and resource recovery. I have published on such topics as industrial wastewater treatment, water reclamation and resource recovery. I have testified on sewer design, national pollutant discharge elimination system permit compliance and site clean-up.

 

California Civil Engineering, Water, System Expert #48222

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of drinking water systems, storm drainage and pipeline construction.

 

Florida Civil Engineering Expert #50945

I have 35 years of experience, and specialize in the field of engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of construction, public works and heavy industry. I have published on such topics as bridges, stormwater and environmental engineering. I have testified 6 times on topics such as public works, construction and environmental engineering.

 

Colorado Civil Engineering, Commercial Expert #52692

I have 15 years of experience, and specialize in the field of structural engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of structural design, legal report writing and repairs. I own and operate my own structural engineering design firm and work as a contractor for a forensic engineering firm. Thus, my expertise extends over both areas. Though I have no testimony experience, I have worked on both legal cases and feel I am primed for the opportunity.

 

Illinois Civil Engineering Expert Witness #1371

Expert has spent his entire career in the field of pavement design, construction, and analysis. Currently the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at a major State university, he has held positions in both academia and industry, including the US Army Engineers. He has extensive consulting experience, expert witness experience, and over his career has received over $4 million in research grants. Expert is an active member of numerous engineering and professional associations, and has published and presented many articles and papers on topics of materials, techniques, technologies, and methodologies used in the pavement industry. He was a Ph.D….

 

Put Our Civil Engineering Expert Network to Work for You

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Our huge network of experts – eminent university professors and practitioners who have achieved renown as thought leaders in their fields – combined with unparalleled research capabilities puts the experts you need at your disposal when and where you need them.

If you’re a litigator or general counsel, we want to put this network to work for you and your clients. Let us know how we can help by calling us at (202) 908-4500 or filling out the form on this page. We’re so confident you’ll love what we do that unless you retain an expert we present there’s no charge!

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Questions Attorneys Ask About Civil Engineering Expert Witnesses:

A civil engineering expert becomes necessary once a dispute turns on whether infrastructure was designed, constructed, or maintained consistent with applicable engineering standards — for example, in a construction defect claim, a stormwater or drainage design dispute, or a public works contract disagreement over permitting or procurement compliance.
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Spend your time working with your experts, not searching for them! We're here to de-stress the process of having a great expert witness team so that it’s easy to have the right experts every time. We'll conduct a quick but thorough search and deliver a roster of top candidates for you to review. There's no charge for the custom search — you pay only the hourly rate if you retain one of our experts.

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Civil Engineering Workshops

A few of the courses and workshops led by our Civil Engineering experts:

  • Asphalt Pavement Design and Management
  • Effect of Pile Driving on Adjacent Structures
  • Evaluation & Rehabilitation of Asphalt Pavement
  • Fundamentals of Structural Integrity: Damage Tolerant Design & Nondestructive Evaluation
  • Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
  • Pavement Preservation

Related topics

Claims
Concrete
Construction
Construction Management
Cost
Engineering
Forecasting
Forensic Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Hydrology
Industrial
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanics
Pavement
Project Management
Research
Risk Assessment
Steel
Strategic Management
Teaching