When management of a Los Angeles-based condominium cut corners and settled for poor craftsmanship, many units became uninhabitable. Water continuously seeped into the homes, creating moldy walls and rusty windowsills that compromised their structural integrity. Inspectors found the planters along the exterior collected stagnant water until it rotted the building’s insulation and stained the walls two floors down.
The homeowners’ association contacted Daniel Rottinghaus and Howard J. Silldorf of BERDING|WEIL to review the building’s blueprints and uncover the source of water intrusion. With a 3D model of the building that identified the location of its defects, the two attained the HOA a settlement that enabled them to repair their homes. Director of Client Relations Jill Jackson and Client Relations Executive Shelby Powell discussed the firm’s success as one of the most experienced construction defect firms in California for over 40 years.
Ultimately, Daniel and Howard’s objective was to show the condo’s management how severe the damage was and attain enough compensation to restore the homes to proper conditions. After reviewing the floorplans, Daniel and Howard anticipated difficulty integrating their experts’ findings into a comprehensible visualization. Thus, they worked with DK Global to conduct an onsite inspection and use the evidence to visually present the building’s defects.
The animation commenced with a 3D model emerging from the building's two-dimensional floorplans. The location of each defect was identified. Footage from the on-site inspection showed unsightly and muddy water pooling in the planters adjacent to the surrounding units’ walls. Then, the animation demonstrated how water leaked underneath windowsills and entryways, warping the doorframes. Finally, photos of the garage’s cracked concrete walls and rust-stained utility rooms revealed the extent of the damage.
Daniel and Howard shared the presentation with the Defense at mediation. With the source of all the water damage identified, Daniel and Howard attained a favorable settlement that allowed the HOA to repair the building’s defects.
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.
