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Structure Evaluation Engineers, Inc.
(SEE) was retained to provide litigation support and
expert witness services related to the collapse of an underground vault at Garland
Court. A mechanical contractor rented a mage crane to lift a heavy HVAC chiller unit onto the
roof of a 22-story high-rise building.
After the crane lifted its boom to the desired position, it started rotating to
perform a test rotation without the load. Then, suddenly the street underneath the crane's
outrigger collapsed into an underground vault. The crane fell into the collapsed vault and the boom
came to rest against an opposite
building. The underground vault was constructed
with masonry arched slab and steel beams with a tension
rod.
SEE was retained, by the law firm representing
the crane company, to provide forensic engineering services for this construction law suit. The
scope of services included review of original contract documents, construction documents, accident
photos, construction techniques, material evaluation, manufacturer's literature, applicable codes
and standards, depositions, opinions and reports prepared by other consulting firms, preparing
expert opinion statement, and testifying in a deposition. We worked very closely with the
lead attorneys and provided objective expert witness services that resulted in a settlement in
favor of our client.
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