Why a 1-Hour Thunderstorm Can Cause More Flooding in Columbia Than a Day of Rain
Why rainfall intensity, timing, drainage paths, and downstream conditions can produce serious local flooding even when 24-hour rainfall totals seem modest.
Defining the “Standard of Care”: How Expert Witnesses Evaluate Professional Engineering Negligence
Professional negligence claims rarely turn on whether an engineering design was perfect. This article explains how experts evaluate the applicable standard of care, distinguish code compliance from reasonable professional judgment, reconstruct the project context, and separate a potential departure from technical causation.
Why Stormwater Facilities Fail: Design, Construction, Maintenance, or Changed Conditions?
Stormwater failures rarely fit neatly into one category. This article explains how design assumptions, field execution, deferred maintenance, and changes to the surrounding watershed can interact, and outlines the evidence used to distinguish among them.
What Counsel Should Gather Before an Initial Civil Engineering Case Review
Civil engineering disputes may involve design, construction, maintenance, changed site conditions, or a combination of those factors. This practical guide identifies the plans, surveys, photographs, rainfall data, construction records, maintenance documents, and other information counsel should gather before requesting an initial engineering review.