Abstract:

In an ideal world, an engineer’s involvement in a structure would end after construction is finished. But the reality is that many structures are subject to costly litigation or arbitration because of allegations of inadequate design or performance. Additionally, when a structure is subjected to extreme loading, insurance disputes arise regarding the source of damage and who is responsible. This talk will review the types of legal disputes that structural engineers can find themselves in and how expert witnesses are used to sort through the issues and provide independent opinions. Several case studies on earthquake engineering disputes and other engineering failures will be discussed, including: alleged reduction in the earthquake-resisting capacity of buildings from various actions and the collapse of several structures.

Bio:

Dr. Jampole is a Managing Engineer at Exponent in New York City. He specializes in risk analysis and performance of structures subjected to extreme loads such as earthquakes, wind, and flood events. He has served as a consultant on projects assessing the origin of damage to structures following natural disasters, adjacent construction incidents, corrosion and deterioration, settlement, and long-term issues. He has experience investigating the engineering standard of care for complex energy and infrastructure projects.