Inspection Expert Witnesses

Real Estate, Premises Liability - Property management, broker, agent, landlord/tenant, apartment, residential, commercial, HOA, wrongful eviction, habitability, standard of care, premises liability, slip/trip/fall, inspection, building codes, electrical codes, health and safety, maintenance, personal injury, rent control, damages

Edrington and Associates are residential investment property specialists. We maximize value and solve complex real estate challenges for our clients, who are owners, developers, and buyers/sellers of rental housing. We are active practitioners in the field in addition to our expert witness work where we primarily serve landlord/tenant and insurance defense attorneys. Steven Edrington is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Certified Property Manager (CPM), Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant (CFLC), and an ICC Residential Building Inspector. Philip Barthman is an ICC Combination Inspector, electrician, and former Alameda County Building Inspector. We are frequent presenters to the Bar Association of San Francisco, Alameda County Bar Association, Bridge Association of Realtors, San Francisco Apartment Association, and East Bay Rental Housing Association on topic including Issues of Habitability, Adding/Legalizing Units, and Oakland Rent and Eviction Controls.

Mechanical Engineering, Real Estate - plumbing, pipe, re-pipe, leaks, failures, Inspection, construction, water damage, feasibility, epoxy liner, CPVC, Aquatherm, PEX, Galvanized, copper, risk assessment, machinery, insurance, defect, standard of care, Blockchain, smart contract adjudication.

Thirty-five years of practical engineering experience across the aerospace, building construction, and technology industries. Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Masters degree in International Business Administration. Expert Witness at the intersection of mechanical engineering, business practices, and standard of care.  Technical specialties include plumbing systems (failures, leaks, defects and corrosion), building envelope failures resulting in mold or water damage, Real Estate transactions, mechanical failures due to improper maintenance or operation, Investigation, testing, and report writing. Excellent public speaking skills with the ability to explain complex matters in simple and accessible terms. Knowledgable in recent technologies such as blockchain, digital twin, and digital twin applications for the engineering professions. Experienced in cross border and international engineering practices. Registered professional engineer in California and Washingt...

Software Engineering, Cybersecurity - Software Development Life Cycle, SDLC, Software Plagiarism, Code, Inspection, Trade Secrets, Patents, Trademarks, Technical issues, CTO, CIO, CSO, source code comparison, software inspection.

Engineering, Safety - fire, shock, burn, appliance, product, design, test, code, safety, failure, analysis, warning, instruction, literature, product safety, containment, inspection, litigation, product liability, expert

Specialize in design for safety, force failure testing, and product litigation support for the consumer goods industry. Knowledge source in the US on appliance fires, with specific detailed knowledge on dryer fires and their causes. Qualifications: Registered professional engineer in the state of Michigan Certified fire and explosion investigator (CFEI) Master certified in design for safety Master certified in force failure testing Certified in experimental statistics and statistical process control Member of the UL Standards Technical Panel for appliance codes related to clothes washers and dryers I worked in the consumer goods industry in appliances for over 28 years, which gave me the opportunity to serve on the dryer safety committee for the American Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), as well as work extensively with Underwriters Laboratory ( UL) and CSA. Recognized as a significant knowledge source in the US on dryer fires and their causes, I was instrumental in the deve...

Failure Analysis, Safety - Welding Engineering, Weld Failures, Welding Design, Industrial Safety, 3D Printing of Metals, Welding, Welding Safety, Inspection, Welding Metallurgy, Welding Defects, Torch cutting, Forensics, Codes Compliance, Non-Destructive Testing, Manufacturing, Marine, Navy, Aerospace, Military, ASME, AWS

Dr. D.R. Foster is the Principal Engineer at Expert Welding Engineering and Inspection, where he focuses on welding engineering consulting, inspection, and the training of engineers and technicians. Dr. Foster is an expert in regard to the design, manufacture, testing, and safety associated with welded structures. In addition to Dr. Foster’s significant experience in the field of welding engineering in both academia and industry, Dr. Foster possesses a BS, MS, and PhD in Welding Engineering. Strongly dedicated to his craft, Dr. Foster has earned multiple certifications related to fields of welding engineering and inspection. These certifications include Certified Welder (CW), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS), Certified NDT Level III Inspector (NDT III) and Licensed Professional Engineer (PE), all of which have prepared Dr. Foster exceptionally well to properly analyze failures and other welding problems that are the subject of litigation. Dr. F...

Real Estate, Property Management - property management expert, standard of care, maintenance, inspection, CPM, landlord duty of care, property injury, residential, commercial, instructor, author, parking lot, slip, trip, fall, policies, procedures, training, IREM, BOMA, balcony, balconies, safety, operations, premises liability

An expert in real estate management, maintenance, and reasonable standards of care for commercial and residential properties, including inspection and maintenance policies and procedures, landlord premises liability, financial reporting and fiduciary duties. As an expert witness since 2015, I have been engaged on a multitude of cases involving reasonable standards of care for landlords and property managers, fiduciary duties and related topics for commercial and residential properties by attorneys representing both plaintiffs and defendants. My area of focus pertains to a landlord’s/property manager’s duty to perform regular, documented property inspections, to diligently act on the findings of such inspections and to maintain a reasonably safe and secure property at all times. I have been actively and directly involved in the management of all types of real estate since 1984, first as a property manager and later as a property management supervisor, management company co-owner an...

Mechanical Engineering, Real Estate - plumbing, pipe, re-pipe, leaks, failures, Inspection, construction, water damage, feasibility, epoxy liner, CPVC, Aquatherm, PEX, Galvanized, copper, risk assessment, machinery, insurance, defect, standard of care, Blockchain, smart contract adjudication.

Thirty-five years of practical engineering experience across the aerospace, building construction, and technology industries. Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Masters degree in International Business Administration. Expert Witness at the intersection of mechanical engineering, business practices, and standard of care.  Technical specialties include plumbing systems (failures, leaks, defects and corrosion), building envelope failures resulting in mold or water damage, Real Estate transactions, mechanical failures due to improper maintenance or operation, Investigation, testing, and report writing. Excellent public speaking skills with the ability to explain complex matters in simple and accessible terms. Knowledgable in recent technologies such as blockchain, digital twin, and digital twin applications for the engineering professions. Experienced in cross border and international engineering practices. Registered professional engineer in California and Washingt...

Premises Liability, Dispute Resolution - Building construction, litigation, apartment, fire, damage, stair, starway, slip, fall, injury, public, private, accessibility, ADA, trip, ramp, sidewalk, forensic, government, inspection, investigation, dispute resolution, asbestos, lead, swimming pool, condominium, site development, case support.

Company Principle Steven Wilcox has a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the University of Washington (1984) with minor studies in architecture, civil engineering and drafting. He trains regularly with professional and trade organizations. Council of American Building Officials Certified Building Official and International Council of Building Official Certified Building Inspector (since 1994). General Studies, drafting and emergency management certifications. Steve is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in King County, WA. Over 25 years as a premises and construction defect consultant, 30 years as a municipal building official, and 38 years of building inspections and related management experience. Skilled in: -Premises liability -Building construction and site development defects -Forensic research and technical analysis -Communication of complex topics in simple terms -Residential, commerical and government ...