ForensisGroup urges early use of multiple experts in construction disputes

ForensisGroup says construction litigation often requires multiple engineering and technical disciplines to determine what failed and why. The Pasadena firm is pushing attorneys to bring in experts earlier, arguing that early analysis can sharpen causation, uncover gaps and reduce costly missteps.

Why it matters: - Construction disputes can hinge on issues that cross several specialties, from structural engineering to materials science. - Early expert review can change case strategy before discovery, mediation or trial costs rise. - For attorneys, the difference between one expert and several experts can shape how causation, responsibility and damages are understood.

What happened: - ForensisGroup is urging attorneys to involve qualified experts early in construction litigation. - The Pasadena-based expert witness firm says many disputes cannot be resolved with one discipline alone. - The company framed the message around construction claims involving cracked foundations, water intrusion, structural movement, code compliance and material failure.

The details: - ForensisGroup says those claims often expand into broader technical investigations. - The firm points to structural, civil, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical and materials engineers as potential contributors. - Architects, construction managers, building code specialists, cost estimators and other technical professionals may also be needed. - The company says assumptions made early in a case can be risky and costly. - Construction conflicts often develop over time, with problems such as moisture intrusion, soil movement, corrosion, foundation settlement, building envelope failures and structural deficiencies emerging months or years after completion. - By the time litigation starts, forensic work may require reconstructing events long after the original construction work. - ForensisGroup says it has focused on construction litigation since its founding in 1991. - Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk founded the firm after seeing that attorneys needed highly specialized technical expertise to determine not just what failed, but why. - The firm says construction projects have grown more sophisticated, which has increased the number of disciplines involved in a single matter. - ForensisGroup offers complimentary one-hour consultations with qualified experts across all specialties. - The firm expanded those consultations after the Los Angeles wildfires to include individuals seeking technical guidance related to recovery. - ForensisGroup says it serves attorneys, law firms, insurers, corporations and other organizations. - The company says it has 3,000+ areas of expertise across business, engineering and construction, environmental and science, plus technical, medical and financial disciplines. - Since 1991, ForensisGroup says it has supported more than 20,000 clients in more than 30,000 cases. - The firm says the Los Angeles Business Journal gave it a 2025 Social Responsibility Award. - ForensisGroup says The National Law Journal and AM’s Best have named it Best Expert Provider for more than 10 years. - The company lists its website as ForensisGroup.com and a phone number of 800-555-5422.

Between the lines: - The pitch is as much about timing as expertise. - ForensisGroup is arguing that technical questions are easier to spot and manage before litigation deadlines compress the work. - The Manhattan development case and Los Angeles rebuilding efforts are presented as examples of how one visible problem can mask several overlapping technical issues. - The firm is also broadening its audience beyond lawyers by offering consultations to individuals dealing with property recovery questions.

What's next: - Attorneys handling construction disputes may face more pressure to identify multiple experts at the case-evaluation stage. - As rebuilding continues in Los Angeles County, additional technical issues around structural integrity, soil stability, environmental contamination, utility infrastructure, construction methods and insurance coverage are likely to surface. - ForensisGroup is positioning early consultation as a way to help parties decide which specialties are needed before costs escalate.

The bottom line: - In complex construction cases, one expert may explain a symptom, but multiple experts are often needed to explain the failure.