I am a Real Estate & Building expert with a unique background; having an MBA, from Cornell University and holding a Real Estate Brokers license and a General Contractors license.
Most real estate lawsuits involve buyer claims of undisclosed property defects. My business background, combined with my real estate experience and knowledge of construction are invaluable in being able to properly analyze these cases.
My many years of experience as a manager with major corporations has given me the ability to thoroughly prepare for depositions and trial, to find and articluate the key points in the case, and to effectively present my opinions verbally and with
visuals, including power point presentations.
Ihave written nine articles for the National Association of Realtors, under the "Law" section of REALTOR magazine, the monthly magazine of NAR, sent to 1,000,000 agents in the United States. I am the only Broker and expert, asked by NAR to write an article defining "Standard of Care" (see attached). The other eight articles I have written for NAR dealing with Ethics, Red Flags, Stigma, Property Inspection, Documentation, Disclosure, and "Ten Ways to Land in Court" can be accessed through this listing.
I have special expertise in disclosure, Standards of Care, data research & presentation, damage valuation, property inspection, construction/materials, broker's opinion of value, agency duties, duties of buyers and sellers, duties of escrow, injuries at properties and landslide/geotechnical, mold/fungus/water intrusion for residential & commercial property.
I Provide evidence development and evaluation, expert witness consultation & litigation support.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Cornell University, M.B.A
Simmons College, B.A.
Real Estate Broker, California
Licensed General Contractor, California
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: National Association of Realtors
California Association of Realtors
Southland Regional Association of Realtors
Professional Standards Committee, Southland
Regional Association of Realtors
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Panelist, on Risk Management, at several
Associations of Realtors
Teach a 3 hour, 3 credit, Department of Real
Estate course entitled "How to Stay Out of
Court"
Previously, a course instructor for the
American Marketing Association (Investigative
(and Marketing Research)
Previously, a course instructor for the
American Management Association (Forecasting)
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: NO
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: 150 or more
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: >Real Estate and Contracting cases
>Land Movement, Foundation, Stigma Analysis and
Mold among many other areas
>Complex Research Investigations
>Joint representation as a Real Estate and
Contracting Expert
>Real Estate Cases involve: standards of care,
agency, duties of agents/buyers/sellers,
disclosure, economic analysis, contracts,
broker's opinions of value, data research,
habitability, sales and leases
>Construction cases involve: defects and damage,
safety standards, building code violations,
contract disputes, management duties, research
and records, business loss, standards of care,
general contractor/subcontractor duties
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 60%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 40%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: 40 or more
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: 11-5-04
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: approximately nine
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: three
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 12 years
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Offer consulting, reports, site inspections,
economic analysis, investigative research
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Provided on request
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Provided on request
References
Marc Shapiro, Robert Levine, John DemarestHanger, Levine and Steinberg
22011 Ventura Blvd., 2nd floor
Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364
818-226-1222
Gregory Pyfrom
Blatz, Pyfrom & Asociates, LLP
28030 Dorothy Drive, Suite 301
Agoura, Ca. 91301
818-597-7700
Martin Johnson
Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker
650 California St., 14th floor
San Francisco, Ca. 94108
415-433-0990
