ADA Accessibility Compliance
Architect’s Liability
Architectural Agreements
Architect’s Standard of Reasonable Care
Betterment
BOMA
Building Code Minimums
Building Envelope Water Leakage & Intrusion
Building Mold
Breach of Contract
Change Directives & Orders
Circular Stair Deficiencies
Forensic Architect Expert
David Erik Chase, AIA, NCARB
Voice of an Architect11/07/2024 Florida Apartments – Conversion to Condo Owner
11/07/2024 Contemporary Architect’s Standard of Reasonable Care
11/07/2024 Construction Project Negligent Claims: Three Guiding Principles for Forming an Expert’s Opinion
01/18/2025 Contractor Responsibilities..... Pre-Shovels in the Ground
03/10/2025 How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Owner/Architect Contracts
03/28/2025 Importance of Clear Architect's Specifications in Design and Construction Phases
04/05/2025 Latent Defects and When Do They Become Legal Issues?
05/07/2025 Understanding the Role of Warranties in Post-Construction Disputes
02/19/2026 “DESIGN ARCHITECT vs. ARCHITECT of RECORD”… Why?
Construction Defects - Architect Standard of Care*
Design professionals and constructors owe a duty and standard of care to any Claimant.
So… did they perform this duty consistently delivering services defined by not only time and place,
but also, as required in their mutual contractual promises.
A breach is when Parties fail to exercise a reasonable level of duty and standard of care defined by contracted
obligations, code compliance, and/or published building standards to protect the public’s Health, Safety, and Welfare.
Determining causation of a designed or constructed defect, deficiency, or omission
will identify any or all Parties' negligent actions…...... and the benchmark consideration for damages.
*David Erik Chase, AIA, is not an attorney and does not offer legal advice. The concepts opined throughout this website are his own.
DUTY / STANDARD OF CARE OF CARE
A systematic investigative process to discover possible construction defects and if there was a general duty of care existing to Plaintiffs and/or Defendants? Was there a more defined and higher degree of code-compliant services required, in the contract provider's agreements? Were the promised scopes of services general or detailed? Were the deliverables and schedules clear and reasonable? Did the design professionals and constructors commit qualified and experienced personnel throughout the project, to execute the specific project type and apply the QA/QC necessary resources?
BREACH OF DUTY / STANDARD OF CARE
A detailed and comparative analysis to be undertaken regarding construction defects, accessing the obligations owed to any Party, and breached by another Party. Undertaking a 360-degree document review process, including the design and construction phases, will help determine whether the duty was carried out reasonably or negligently. By testing the design intent against actual construction documents and construction phases, the alleged building components and system defects will reveal facts, to assist in determining if any specific Party actions fall short of a standard and duty of care ....and therefore negligent Party actions.
DAMAGES -CONTRIBUTION OR CAUSATION
Typical to any Complaint action, regarding construction defects, the discovery may be ongoing. So, it is probable that after the Duty of Care and Breach of Duty steps, a preliminary opinion will evolve based on facts at that time. Suspicion of negligent causation and responsible Parties may result in a Preliminary Report. This would be derived from due diligence findings that construction defects were code non-compliant, patent, and/or latent, and were more likely than not, a failure of design errors, omissions, and/or… material defects by constructors with code-non-compliance, workmanship defects, improper safety standards, etc...
"Forensic Architect
Case Experience & Expertise"
CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS - ARCHITECT STANDARD OF CARE
Component & System Failures
Complex Construction claims
Construction Defects, Deficiencies & Omissions
Copyright Infringement
Design Consultant Errors & Deficiencies
Entitlements
Floor Systems
Florida 718 Statutes for Condominiums
Negligence
Requests for Information
Standard of Care
Sound Transmission Issues
Wrongful Death
Maintains Architectural Licenses
21 States + District of Columbia
Forensic Architect Expert David Erik Chase, AIA has the knowledge, credentials, resources, and experience to understand your specific circumstances regarding construction defects in over 21 US states. By pursuing a forensic construction expert, your chances of a successful outcome are insurmountably greater.
Focused Analytical Forensic Expert- Architect Witness Services
Call Today (561) 558-3517Voice Of An Architect
Testimonials
Mr. Chase is superb. His professionalism, experience, and dedication are exceptional. Mr. Chase diligently and efficiently provided invaluable analysis, advice, and expert opinions in helping to resolve a complex and heavily litigated dispute involving a luxury high rise Condominium in Miami.honcus dolor magna, sit amet finibus augue ornar
David is a consummate professional. He works tirelessly to understand every minute detail of the case. He works virtually 24/7, is a true team player, hits every deadline, and is an asset to any case. No opposing expert will ever out-work David. He is also charismatic and makes for a credible and knowledgeable witness. I highly recommend David for your architect standard of care case.
David was my architectural standard of care expert [and] was an absolute professional. He was incredibly responsive, competent, and capable. He educated me on several very complex and intricate architectural matters and helped me understand the materials so that I could articulate and convey the issues and arguments simply. But most of all, it was clear to me that David truly enjoyed the work. His enthusiasm was evident and made for a very collaborative and enjoyable process (in an otherwise stressful situation).
David is exceptional. He combines exceptional analytics, common sense, experience, credibility, and communication skills. Plus he's a delight to work with!
David is a true inspiration and the epitome of what it means to passionately love what you do. His enthusiasm, boundless energy, depth and breadth of knowledge and experience, and desire to devote himself utterly to uncovering every nuanced detail of the truth in each case, stems from his unique blend of integrity and professional expertise. I have worked with David for over 15 years and feel privileged to know him. Anyone needing an architect expert witness, mediator, or arbitrator would be most fortunate to have David on his or her side.
Mr. Chase was a pleasure to work with! He works diligently to meet deadlines and his work product is always professionally delivered. I highly recommend.
I cannot overstate my joy [last year] in discovering that not only is there such a thing as a forensic architect, but there is a forensic architect of David Chase's inestimable bona fides. At the time, I was nearing mediation and trial in a very large, very complex wrongful death case involving unsafe construction elements at an architect-administered construction site, and David and his forensic report proved invaluable in securing settlement of our case. David is the trifecta... a balanced combination of prestigious education, preeminent real-world construction experience, and actual courtroom/forensic chops. 31 years into the practice of law, I know all too well that having a skilled stable of expert witnesses to count on is of paramount import to my clients. I'm a fan of David Chase.
David Erik Chase stands out as a premier choice in the realm of forensic architecture for construction defects, due to his extensive experience and steadfast commitment to excellence.
With licensures in over 20 states and a career spanning decades, David offers unparalleled expertise that is crucial in comprehensive investigations and resolution of complex construction disputes. His approach integrates meticulous attention to detail with a profound understanding of both architectural principles and legal standards. Clients can trust that each case is handled with the utmost diligence, ensuring that potential liabilities are meticulously evaluated and responsibly addressed.
Choosing David as your forensic architecture expert allows unique, dedicated services not found through conventional networks. Operating independently, David underscores his commitment to providing unbiased, thorough analyses tailored specifically to his client's needs.
His comprehensive document review process guarantees that every aspect of a project, from initial design intents to final construction outcomes, is assessed against industry standards and regulatory codes. By aligning with David, you are assured of receiving insights backed by decades of firsthand architectural involvement, aimed at resolving disputes and safeguarding interests effectively.