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Forensic Engineering Expert Witnesses

Manufacturers, insurers, and commercial property owners face litigation whenever a product, structure, or system failure is alleged to have resulted from a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or construction deficiency. These disputes commonly involve product liability claims concerning equipment and component failures, insurance subrogation actions following fires, explosions, or structural failures, and construction litigation over the origin and cause of building failures such as collapse, water intrusion, or fire damage. Because a failure can result from design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, or misuse, the central issue in these cases is typically identifying the true root cause of the failure and which party’s conduct is responsible for it. Resolving that question requires a systematic forensic investigation grounded in engineering principles rather than speculation.

A forensic engineering expert examines physical evidence, design documentation, and failure data to determine the origin and cause of a product, structural, or system failure. That analysis often distinguishes between a design or manufacturing defect and a failure caused by improper installation, maintenance, or misuse, which is central to allocating liability among manufacturers, contractors, and other parties. In insurance subrogation matters, the expert’s root-cause analysis supports recovery efforts by identifying the responsible party and the mechanism of failure. This same expertise strengthens litigation strategy by giving counsel a scientifically grounded framework for challenging an opposing expert’s causation theory.

Because forensic engineering investigations require rigorous, discipline-specific technical analysis, selecting an expert with direct failure-analysis experience in the relevant engineering discipline is essential. The experts we can provide include mechanical, structural, and electrical engineers with backgrounds in failure analysis, product design, and construction investigation, many of whom have conducted hundreds of forensic examinations. Round Table Group has completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, and we apply that experience to match counsel with forensic engineering experts whose specific technical background fits the case. Let us help you find the right forensic 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 Forensic Engineering expert witnesses for cases like:

01

Curtain Wall Facade Failure

A commercial developer sued its curtain wall subcontractor after wind-driven rain infiltrated a newly completed office tower's facade within a year of occupancy, forcing a phased remediation across most of the building's exterior at a cost approaching $20 million. We identified experts with experience in curtain wall design and installation, building envelope water infiltration testing, and facade materials failure analysis. The expert's field testing traced the leaks to a recurring gap in the sealant detailing rather than the design specification, shifting liability to the subcontractor and anchoring the developer's remediation damages claim.
02

Structural Steel Connection Failure

A general contractor sued its structural steel fabricator after several moment connections on a mid-rise office building were found under-welded during a post-construction inspection, requiring the contractor to shore and retrofit multiple floors before occupancy could proceed. We identified experts with experience in structural steel connection design, welding inspection standards, and structural load-path analysis. The expert's review of weld records and shop drawings confirmed the connections fell well short of specified capacity, supporting the contractor's breach of contract claim and a settlement covering most of the retrofit cost.
03

Parking Garage Collapse

A shopping center owner sued its design-build contractor after a section of a newly built parking structure partially collapsed during a routine inspection less than two years after completion, closing the garage for the better part of a year. We identified experts with experience in post-tensioned concrete design, structural failure analysis, and parking structure durability standards. The expert's forensic review found the post-tensioning tendons had been under-tensioned during construction, establishing a design-build defect and supporting the owner's claim for reconstruction costs and lost parking revenue.
04

Industrial Fire Origin and Cause

A property insurer pursued a subrogation claim against an equipment manufacturer after a fire that started in a packaging line's electrical cabinet destroyed a significant portion of a client's manufacturing facility, resulting in a payout of more than $30 million. We identified experts with experience in fire origin and cause investigation, electrical component failure analysis, and industrial equipment safety standards. The expert's examination of the cabinet's wiring identified a manufacturing defect as the ignition source, supporting the insurer's subrogation claim and a settlement recovering most of the payout.
05

Pipeline Valve Rupture

A midstream pipeline operator sued a valve manufacturer after a control valve failed under normal operating pressure, causing a rupture that shut down a major pipeline segment for repairs and environmental remediation costing tens of millions of dollars. We identified experts with experience in pipeline valve design, metallurgical failure analysis, and pressure system safety standards. The expert's metallurgical testing identified a casting defect in the valve body as the failure's cause, defeating the manufacturer's misuse defense and supporting the operator's damages claim.
06

Tower Crane Collapse

A general contractor and a crane rental and erection company each blamed the other after a tower crane collapsed onto an active jobsite, destroying partially completed work and delaying the project by several months. We identified experts with experience in crane erection and rigging standards, structural failure analysis, and construction site safety planning. The expert's review of the erection sequence and load charts found the crane had been erected outside its rated configuration, shifting primary liability to the erection company and shaping the ultimate cost allocation between the parties.
07

Roof Collapse Under Snow Load

A distribution center owner sued the structural engineer of record after a low-slope roof partially collapsed during a heavy snow event, damaging inventory and halting operations for several weeks. We identified experts with experience in structural roof design, snow load analysis, and building code compliance. The expert's load calculations found the roof had been designed to a snow load below what the applicable code required, supporting the owner's professional negligence claim and a settlement covering most of its property and business interruption losses.
08

Building Envelope Water Intrusion

A condominium developer sued its waterproofing subcontractor after moisture intrusion was discovered behind the exterior finish system across multiple buildings in a large residential complex, requiring an exterior remediation project costing well over $10 million. We identified experts with experience in exterior insulation and finish system installation, building envelope forensic investigation, and moisture intrusion testing. The expert's destructive testing identified systemic flashing deficiencies inconsistent with the approved installation details, supporting the developer's indemnity claim against the subcontractor.
09

Foundation Settlement

A warehouse owner sued its geotechnical engineering firm after a newly constructed distribution facility began experiencing uneven floor settlement within months of opening, requiring extensive slab and foundation repairs. We identified experts with experience in geotechnical site investigation, soil-structure interaction analysis, and foundation design standards. The expert's review of the original boring logs found the firm had failed to account for a compressible soil layer identified in its own data, supporting the owner's professional negligence claim and a settlement covering the repair costs.
10

Data Center Cooling Failure

A data center operator sued its HVAC design-build contractor after a cooling system failure caused a multi-hour outage that took a major portion of the facility offline, triggering service-level credits and lost customer contracts. We identified experts with experience in mission-critical HVAC systems, mechanical redundancy design, and data center reliability standards. The expert's review of the cooling system's control sequence found a design flaw had disabled the facility's backup cooling capacity during the failure, supporting the operator's breach of contract claim and a settlement covering its credit and contract losses.

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

Florida Forensic Engineering Expert #897

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of electrical engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of circuit breakers, batteries and motors. I have published on such topics as circuit breakers and magnetic curcuits. I have testified 50 times on topics such as battery defects, circuit breaker design and electrical shock.

 

Kentucky Forensic Engineering Expert #6835

I have 17 years of experience and specialize in the field of forensic engineerin, with specific knowledge of lifting equipment, industrial machines and construction machines. I have published on such topics as product failure, lifting safety and defects. I have testified 80 times on topics such as industry practice, workplace safety and design deficiencies.

 

Arkansas Forensic Engineering Expert #14662

I have 12 years of experience and specialize in the field of failure analysis with specific knowledge in the areas of intellectual property, design and forensic engineering. I have published on such topics as automotive safety, manufacturing and materials science. I have testified 10 times on topics such as failure analysis, automotive crashworthiness and accident reconstruction.

 

Florida Forensic Engineering Expert #15511

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of forensic engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of mechanical engineering, motor vehicle collisions, and u/g and a/g tanks and piping. I have published on such topics as automotive collision analysis, product liability, mechanical piping, and origin and cause of fire and explosion. I have testified 99 times on topics such as automotive collision analysis, product liability, mechanical piping, and origin and cause of fire and explosion.

 

Ohio Forensic Engineering, Vibrations Expert #17116

I have 30 years of experience in the field of civil engineering, with specific knowledge of blasting, pile driving and other construction sources of vibrations, soil and structure vibration responses, and the application of dynamic methods to pile driving. I have published on these topics in more than 140 papers. I have testified on the effects of vibration on structures.

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Forensic 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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Texas Forensic Engineering, Design Expert #30372

I have 48 years of experience, and specialize in the field of mechanical engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) design, plumbing design and electrical design. I have testified on federal construction contract interpretation, potable water distribution system failures and smoke damage.

 

New Jersey Forensic Engineering Expert #35539

I have 45 years of experience and specialize in the field of engineering, with specific knowledge of forensic engineering, biomechanics and accident reconstruction. I have published on such topics as biomechanics, accident reconstruction and forensic engineering.

 

Texas Forensic Engineering Expert #45929

I have 24 years of experience and specialize in the field of forensic engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of economic loss, injuries and deaths. I have published on such topics as minimizing masonry litigation, causes of mold in buildings, and conventional wisdom in building construction that result in lawsuits. I have testified 99 times on topics such as guards, handrails and stairs, foundation design and construction, and realty disputes. I am included in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in Engineering.

 

Connecticut Forensic Engineering Expert #46019

I have 14 years of experience, and specialize in the field of civil engineering.

 

North Carolina Forensic Engineering Expert #50314

I have 14 years of experience, and specialize in the field of forensic engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of automobile accident reconstruction, failure analysis and engineering forensics. I have testified 42 times on topics such as accident reconstruction, failure analysis and criminal vehicular charges.

 

Washington Forensic Engineering, Design Expert #50766

I have 25 years of experience, and specialize in the field of forensic engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of civil and structural engineering and trial preparation. I have testified 12 times on topics such as leaking apartment buildings, poor construction, failed foundations and cracked support slabs.

 

Forensic Engineering Expert #51125

I have 18 years of experience and specialize in the field of forensic engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of accident reconstruction, driver behavior and failure analysis. I have published on such topics as occupant injury potential, vehicle controllability and multidisciplinary accident reconstruction. I have testified 20 times on topics such as motor vehicle accident reconstruction, vehicle impact speed and driver evasion potential.

 

Put Our Forensic 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 Forensic Engineering Expert Witnesses:

A forensic engineering expert is typically needed when a product liability claim, an insurance subrogation action, or a construction dispute turns on identifying the origin and cause of a structural, product, or system failure. Counsel often retains the expert early to inspect physical evidence before it is altered, repaired, or lost.
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Related topics

Accident Reconstruction
Civil Engineering
Design
Electrical
Engineering
Failure Analysis
Liability
Manufacturing
Marine
Materials Science
Structural Engineering
Vibration