Civil Engineer Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1429

California

Education

1979, B.S., Civil Engineering, American University of Beirut
1991, Certificate in Construction Management, UCLA
1994, M.S., Civil Engineering “Environmental” university in California
2003, Juris Doctor & Certificate in Intellectual Property, Whittier Law School

Registrations

Professional Engineer Civil in, CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, NM
General Contractor, Class B California
Licensed Real Estate Broker CA
California Bar

25 years experience in construction management, including seven years with private consultant, five years with the California Department of Transportation, four years with Design Build contractors, four years as a private contractor, and five years with international contractors.  I have been responsible for all aspects of contract administration of heavy and Highway construction in California.
My technical experience and background will be ideally utilized in Construction Law on complex and large construction project contracts, arbitration, claims analysis & litigation, delays and public works issues.  Real Estate law is another area that I can help clients in.

Legal Experience

3/04-present, A Professional Law Corporation, California.  As part of a team of 7 lawyers firm, practiced in construction litigation.  I made Court appearances, draft motions, pleadings, answers, discovery and all aspects of representing contractors, subcontractors and home owners.  Reviewed construction documents and evaluated claims merit.  Filed mediation briefs and successfully defended public work contractors.

Construction Management Experience

1998-2004, Harris & Associates, (OCTA) SR-22 Program Management.  I served as Design/Build Construction Manager as a sub-consultant to Parsons Transportation Group on this $400 million project which includes: a new high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in both directions between I-405 and SR-55; and direct freeway-to-freeway HOV connectors.  Project includes 35 bridges and 19KM of Roadway.  I worked on estimating the project for budget, pre-qualifications of major highway contractors, and joined in the editing of the Request for Proposal, Technical specifications, and Contract of this complex project.

City of Fountain Valley, Newhope Street Extension, $3M - City of San Clemente, Avenida Hermosa Interchange. $14M - City of Santa Monica, Cloverfield Blvd. Widening Phase II. $3M - City of Santa Clarita, Emergency Repairs. $1/2M - City of Laguna Hills, Community Center phase I. $14M.  I was Project Manager on several City jobs including major freeway inter-change on the I-5 Freeway with bridge and street improvements.  Used Primavera and Sure Track to monitor schedules and review claims.  Evaluated cost impacts, performed time and material analysis.  I was involved in several informal and court recommended arbitration.

1995-1998, Employer Silverado Constructors J.V., Orange County, CA, Toll Road Contract Manager. A $720 million design/build project. Managed more than 70 subcontractors exceeding $270 million in value; wrote subcontracts, change orders, requests for proposals, bidding documents; pre-qualified, selected, and awarded subcontracts; performed claims review and analysis against owner and subcontractors; and prepared dispute review boards documents for arbitration.  As a segment manager on a $180 million design/build, privately-funded project, I managed the construction of eight miles of highway and 18 bridges, along with infrastructure, pipe jacking, drainage facilities; 12 million cubic yards of earthwork; regional utility relocation; negotiating subcontracts and claims; coordinated with the design team; and controlled the budget and schedule. I was in charge of a staff of 125 persons.

1989-1995, Employer Caltrans, District 7, Projects 6, 11, 13, 14 -Different Phases of the Harbor Freeway Resident Engineer.  I worked on more than 100 million dollar projects along the Harbor Freeway.  Represented the State of California in enforcing a rigid Quality Control Program as well as safety, negotiating and writing change orders, and was responsible for a staff of eight engineers. Projects involved more than 15 bridges from two- to 36-spans, demolishing bridges, jacking bridges, retaining walls, rigid and flexible pavements, all types of piles, ramps, pump station, bus stations, and complex staging to handle 250,000 VPD.  Reviewed and prepared claim analysis, recommended solutions and joined many mediation and arbitration sessions.

Caltrans District 7, Project 15 -Harbor Freeway Elevated H.O.V,. Assistant Structures Engineer.  Inspected $56 million of heavy highway construction, a 1.6 mile-long bridge reviewed false-work and shoring plans, as well as inspection of five, two-span bridges.

International Experience

Intercontinental Hotel Commercial Plaza, Jordan:  Construction Manager, responsible for the design and construction of this facility. Responsibilities included public contract bidding, purchasing material, and negotiating subcontracts.

Two Apartment Buildings, Three Schools Renovations; Lebanon:  Construction Manager, involved in the design and construction of these facilities. Responsibilities included public contract bidding, purchasing material, and negotiating subcontracts.

Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia:  Field Engineer with Pegel Arabia, worked on the $3 billion airport project which was managed by Bechtel. This is one of the largest airports in the Middle East. The four main terminals were constructed using the largest tower cranes in the Middle East. The project included 66,000 tons of structural steel erection; 3,000 cubic yards of architectural pre-cast; 200,000 square feet of metal decking; reinforced concrete; surveying; testing; and all aspects of heavy construction.