MEC&F Expert Engineers : CASES STUDIES OF CLAIMS CLOSED BY METROPOLITAN

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

CASES STUDIES OF CLAIMS CLOSED BY METROPOLITAN






Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting & Forensics (MECF)
Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services
P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, NJ 07670-0520
Tel.: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440
E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com

Claims Closed

We are pleased to report the closure of the following claims.


Claim Closed #1:  Release of One Thousand Gallons of Kerosene
We were asked to investigate the release of kerosene from an underground storage tank (UST) and associated piping.  The insured claimed that the release was sudden and accidental, triggering coverage of our client’s policy.  We investigated the leak site, collected forensic data and determined that the leak occurred over a period of many years and that it was not a sudden and accidental release.  Our client settled the claim for a small fraction of the $150,000 claim price tag.  Claim closed – at a record time.


Claim Closed #2:  Historic Release of Gasoline at a Former Gasoline Station
We were asked to review a claim file for determining the age of the release(s) of gasoline and other petroleum hydrocarbons.  Without collecting additional data, we determined that the gasoline releases were historic in nature (pre 1982).  Since our client insurance policy covered the property for the years 1990-1995, an amicable settlement was reached with the insured without incurring additional claim investigation expenses.  Claim closed – at a record time.





Issue Resolved

We are very pleased to report the resolution of the following issue(s).

Issue Resolved:  Plume Commingling.
We were asked to review a claim file to determine if the releases from two diesel USTs were commingling.  Other consultants had unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the issue and one of the insurance carriers was refusing to admit that the plumes were commingling.  Based on constituents found in the diesel fuel(s), we were able to show that the two plumes were commingling; we were also able to determine the percent mixing of the plumes.  As a result, our client requested from the other insurance company to contribute to the cost of site cleanup.  The parties have reached an amicable settlement based on the conclusions of our work.  Issue resolved.






Metropolitan Also Offers the Following Claim Management Services

Professional Errors and Omissions

Design Errors and Omissions: Code Compliance, Drawing/Plans Analysis, Quality Assurance, Defect Analysis, Design & Repair Scope, Conflict Resolution, Scheduling Analysis, Contract Analysis, Exhibit Preparation, Testimony, Expert Analysis

Construction Errors and Omissions.  We perform the following basis services. Claims Analysis, Scope of Repair, Delay Claims, Estimating, School Construction, Timeline Analysis, Defect Claims, Negotiation of Claims, Report Generation, Exhibit Preparation, Testimony, Expert Analysis.

Construction Defects

We provide civil engineering and construction consulting services including technical advice, dispute resolution assistance and expert testimony.  Services include construction contract claim preparation and analysis utilizing Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule techniques, loss of productivity studies and liability assessments; Construction project performance evaluations (including Standard of Care assessments); Construction contracts analysis; Property and casualty loss investigations and reconstruction estimates; Personal injury investigations and opinions of liability; Pre-litigation support services including interrogatory and opposing expert deposition question preparation; Attendance at opposing expert deposition; Provision of expert testimony at deposition, mediation, arbitration and trial. 

When involved during construction, our basic strategy in addressing claims is anticipation, avoidance, mitigation, and then preparation or defense of the claim. To that end, we perform detailed research and comprehensive analysis of disputed issues and the responsibilities of the owner and the contractor related to each issue.


          _______________________________________________________________________

Metropolitan’s Pledge
Our goal is to help you resolve the claim at the lowest possible transaction cost.  Since transaction costs are, on average, fifty to seventy five percent of the claim, Metropolitan believes that the emphasis should be placed in reducing the transaction costs by collecting high quality data early on to ensure unnecessary challenges by the insured and/or other insurance carrier, should the claim is subrogated. 

We know that you want the facts; that you want them fast; that you want uncompromised quality of the deliverable; and at a rock bottom price.  Metropolitan’s forensic professionals are second to none and are dedicated to fast, efficient and effective response and creating a product of uncompromising quality and value. 

Metropolitan is ready to assist you with a number of forensic engineering or age-dating determinations or evaluations to insure that the proper coverage trigger or period has been determined.  We also have the scientific expertise to determine whether the releases were historic in nature, whether they were sudden or accidental, as well as to be able to differentiate plume contributions from various sources.

We are ready to assist you with E&O claims and/or construction defect claims.  Metropolitan will also use proven forensic techniques in the determination of the cause, origin, and extent of foundation/soil movement, grating/drainage, structural failures, water intrusions, construction defects and other failures.  


 Our job is to find out what happened and why, from the cause and origin through the extent of loss.  Metropolitan will be able to point the way toward a speedy disposition of the claim.

Performance Guarantee
At Metropolitan, we are committed to the excellence of our services, timeliness of the deliverables (either oral or written), cost-effectiveness of the work, performance of our remediation systems and to the quality of our relationship with you and all of our clients. If you are dissatisfied with the performance of any of our services, expert reports or remediation systems, we will make things right—or we will not bill you for our services.  Guaranteed.


If you do not wish to be included in any future technical forum mailings, please reply to this email at metroforensic@optimum.net with the word “remove” either in the reply line or the main body of the message.

If, on the other hand, you believe that some of your colleagues may benefit from the material, please forward us their contact information to include them in our technical bulletin mailing list.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting & Forensics (MECF)
Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services
P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, NJ 07670-0520
Tel.: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440
E-mail: metroforensics@gmail.com
Web pages: https://sites.google.com/site/metropolitanforensics/
https://sites.google.com/site/metropolitanenvironmental/
We are happy to announce the launch of our twitter account. Please make sure to follow us at @MetropForensics or @metroforensics1
Metropolitan appreciates your business.
Feel free to recommend our services to your friends and colleagues.

To unsubscribe from future technical blogs and announcements, please reply to this email with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.