A condominium complex was poorly constructed and experienced persistent water intrusion, compromising its units’ structural integrity. The rusty windowsills and moldy walls that resulted made many homes uninhabitable. Howard J. Silldorf and Daniel Rottinghaus of Berding|Weil represented the HOA and secured a settlement that allowed their clients to repair their hard-earned homes. The two worked with DK Global to conduct an on-site inspection. They used the findings to create an animation that revealed the building’s defects. Client Relations Executive Shelby Powell and Director of Client Relations Jill Jackson shared the firm’s accomplishments as a top construction defect law firm in California for over four decades.

Howard and Daniel’s mission was to compel the condo executives to restore the units to livable conditions. The two reviewed the floorplans and anticipated that connecting the defective plumbing with the building’s damages would be challenging. As a result, they collaborated with DK Global to document their discoveries and model the building flaws in 3D. During the inspection, the team revealed the planters adjacent to the building’s exterior gathered pooling water until it permeated into the walls, rotting the building’s insulation and damaging the walks two floors below. Then, DK Global synthesized the expert testimony and evidence into an easy-to-understand visualization.

The construction defect animation began with a 3D model of the building rising from two-dimensional blueprints. Each defect’s location was highlighted. Video from the inspection revealed the stagnant water collecting in the planters next to the homes' exterior. Next, the units were animated to show water seeping underneath entryways and windowsills, damaging the doorframes. Finally, pictures of the damp garage two floors below showed cracked concrete walls and rusty utility rooms, illustrating the severity of the water damage.

At mediation, Howard and Daniel presented the animation to the Defense. After reviewing the presentation, the opposing counsel offered a favorable settlement that enabled the HOA to fix the water intrusion.

Daniel Rottinghaus has continuously been named a “Super Lawyer” for over ten years, representing commercial and residential real estate clients regarding construction defects. In addition, Daniel served as a Special Task Force legal advisor for the U.S. State Department and as a Lead attorney for U.S. Army cases involving multi-billion-dollar Iranian claims, earning him the Department of State “Superior Honor Award” in 1993.

For nearly 30 years, Howard J. Silldorf has represented clients throughout Southern California, recovering more than $200 million in over 100 cases. Howard has earned the Martindale Hubbell peer review rating of “AV Preeminent” for representing his clients in construction defect cases, a prestigious accomplishment attained by attorneys of the highest level of professional excellence.