Forensics & Litigation

Forensics involves a rigorous process of document review, site inspection, and data analysis that can uncover hidden issues or discrepancies between what was promised and what was ultimately delivered.

RDH operates within a process with distinct stages:

Step one: Identify the casualty event occurrence.

Step two: Develop a plan outlining the approach to addressing the issue.

Step three: Gather forensic evidence. Investigate, inspect, and document findings following a preliminary visit.

Step four: Analyze collected data.

Step five: Consider and present potential hypotheses based on data analysis.

Step six: Test theories against all known facts; eliminate intangible hypotheses.

Step seven: Select a hypothesis that cannot be ruled out; document findings; prepare to present.

Step eight: Share and translate findings with clients; discuss options and next steps.

Getting to the root of building failures means having a deep understanding of all aspects of building design and construction, condition assessment & evaluation techniques, and the materials themselves required to determine the root cause of a failure.

RDH is here to leverage that deep bench of knowledge and resources to help clients assess architectural, civil, structural, electrical, fire protection, materials, and mechanical issues occurring or that have occurred in the building.

Our goal is to provide you with root cause determination and tailor a cost-effective solution for your individual situation. As always, RDH adheres to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM classification standards) across all our work.

Our Expert Witness Testimony helps to inform the trier of fact on issues related to building design and construction law related to building delays, codes and compliance, construction costs, and construction defects.

In dispute resolution, RDH is positioned not only to testify, consult, and provide litigation support but also to facilitate change wherever necessary to prevent future accidents from occurring.

Engineers and other design professionals are held to “the standard of care” when the possibility of their negligence is being assessed. If professionals fail to meet that “standard,” they can be liable for damages arising from that failure. RDH’s evaluation offers an objective look at building conditions to help parties determine liability.

Executing this work requires a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of building and construction approaches, processes, construction methodologies, and delivery methods. RDH brings this depth of knowledge along with competency in navigating code and legislative mandates to our capabilities.

Conflict can occur between any two organizations with teams of people from diverse backgrounds, needs, and concerns working together. Misalignment in goals and desired outcomes is common in our industry, and RDH can help put the right procedures in place to settle these differences.

The negative effects of a scoping conflict are well known to those who have experienced them: they include project disruptions, delays, decreased productivity, project failure, and fees. RDH offers a toolkit of resources to help resolve disagreements that arise from conflicting priorities, perspectives, assumptions, and tolerances. Our capabilities include facilitation, mediation, collaborative compromising, negotiation, and arbitration guidance.