Moldy walls, rusted windowsills, and water intrusion plagued the homeowners of a Hollywood-based condominium complex for months, compromising the units’ structural integrity. When management settled for poor craftsmanship, their decision to cut corners made many of their condos uninhabitable. Upon further investigation, the planters outside collected stagnant water until it rotted the building’s insulation, eroded its exterior, and stained the garage walls two floors down. The association brought on Daniel Rottinghaus and Howard J. Silldorf of Berding & Weil LLP to review the building’s blueprints and uncover the source of the plumbing issues. Using a 3D animation outlining the building's defects, the two secured a settlement for the HOA that allowed them to restore their homes to proper conditions. Director of Client Relations Jill Jackson and Client Relations Executive Shelby Powell shared the firm’s success story as one of the most experienced construction defect firms in California for over 30 years.
As Daniel and Howard dug into the plans, they anticipated difficulty integrating all their experts’ findings into an easy-to-understand illustration. Thus, they enlisted DK Global’s help to conduct an onsite inspection and use the findings to enhance the building’s blueprints into a 3D architectural animation. Ultimately, their goal was to secure enough monetary relief to complete the necessary repairs and show management the inexcusable living conditions the homeowners endured.
The animation began with a 3D view of the building sprouting from the floorplans, focusing on the violations. Footage from the inspection showed the unsightly and murky water collecting in the planters adjacent to the walls of the surrounding units. Then, the video revealed water leaking under the windowsills and entryways, causing hazardous damage that separated the door’s hinges from the doorframes. Finally, to reveal just how extensive the water damage was, photos of the garage’s stained walls and humid utility rooms were shown cracked and riddled with rust from the water dripping above.
With all the building’s defects revealed, Daniel and Howard secured a settlement for the association that enabled them to repair the building’s damages.
Daniel Rottinghaus has continuously been named a “Super Lawyer” for over ten years, representing commercial and residential real estate clients regarding construction defects. Daniel has 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 for his clients 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.
