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 a 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 lawsuit. 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.