Michael S. Poles, GC, CM, RCI, DABFET, ACFE

MPGroup
1202 Greenacre Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90046-5708
Web Site
Phone: (800) 684-9100 | (323) 874-8973
Fax: (323) 874-8948

CONSTRUCTION FORENSIC EXPERT WITNESSES and MEDIATION:

MPGroup is a collaboration of architects, engineers, contractors and other technical experts specializing in consulting, forensic expert witness and litigation support services for the legal, insurance and business communities since 1962. With more than 45 years of construction experience as a General Building Contractor, Construction Manager and Construction Inspector Mr. Poles can provide you and your clients with formidable, court qualified construction expertise with compelling litigation support with the following issues:

• Accessibility
•Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)
•Fair Housing Act
• Accident Reconstruction
• Architectural Design
• Architectural Planning
• Building Codes
• Building Code Compliance
• Building Code Standards
• Building Inspection
• Claims Analysis and Mitigation
• Complex Claims
• Construction Administration
• Construction Defects
• Construction Delays
• Construction Negligence
• Construction Safety
• Contract Analysis
• Contract Compliance
• Cost Estimating
• Customs and Practices
• Design and Implementation
• Due Diligence
• Earthquake Hazard
• Electrical
• Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Flooring and Floor Covering
• Forensic Photography
• Framing (Wood and Steel)
• Geotechnical and Hydrological
• Ground Water
• Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
• OSHPD and DSA
• Personal Injury
• Plumbing
• Project Management
• Quality Control
• Quality of Workmanship
• Reinforced Concrete
• Reinforced Masonry
• Risk Analysis
• Risk Management
• Roofing and Waterproofing
• Safety and OSHA Standards
• Scaffolding
• Scheduling and Delays
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Steps, Stairs and Railings
• Standards of Care
• Standards of Practice
• Structural Failure
• Structural Steel and Welding
• Swimming Pools and Spas
• Water Intrusion and Mold

MEDIATION:

Michael Poles trained at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and the Institute for Mediation studies. Michael has served as a member of the court A.D.R.Panel of Mediators with the Los Angeles County Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and is providing both court ordered and private mediation. With more than 45 years of construction experience Mr. Poles brings extensive knowledge of complex and highly technical issues to the mediation process ... with the ability to get right to the heart of the dispute and reach a successful resolution.

MEDIATION PRACTICE AREAS: Construction, Construction Accidents, Premises Liability and Real Estate.

CONSTRUCTION JOB SITE DISPUTE RESOLUTION:

Disputes can often be readily resolved by timely and skillful mediation at the project site before they get out of control. When disagreements erupt on the job site between the General Contractor and/or Subcontractors, they can quickly turn into full-blown disputes that can result in costly schedule delays, defective work or even shut down the project itself. This can result in expensive and time consuming litigation between the disputing parties, which can often be avoided by early intervention.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• American Bar Association
• Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology
• American College of Forensic Examiners International
• American Society for Testing and Materials
• American Institute of Architects/Los Angeles
• Beverly Hills Bar Association
• California Dispute Resolution Council
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
• Construction Specifications Institute
• Forensic Expert Witness Association
• International Conference of Building Officials/International Code Council
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Los Angeles Construction Inspectors Association
• National Fire Protection Association
• National Forensic Center
• Southern California Mediation Association
• Structural Engineers Association of California
• West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Background

Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
A: State of California:
General Building Contractor Licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Issued: May 25, 1970, No. 263193-B

Construction Manager Certified by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Certified: 1993

Hospital Construction Inspector Registered (Class "A"), by the Office of Statewide Health, Planning and Development (OSHPD). Registered: July 1, 1985. Registration No. A-10211

School Construction Inspector Approved by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Approved: 1982

Construction Inspector Certified by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Certified: 1993

Construction Inspector Registered by the Department of Consumer Affairs, California State Board of Registered Construction Inspectors, for the Specialties of: Reinforced Concrete and Reinforced Masonry. Registered: September 1, 1980. Registration No. 2307

County of Los Angeles:
Special Inspector Registered by the Building and Safety Division, of the County of Los Angeles, for the Specialties of: Reinforced Concrete, and Reinforced Masonry. Registered: 1979. Registration No. 0628

City of Los Angeles:
Registered Deputy Building Inspector Licensed by the Department of Building and Safety, City of Los Angeles, for the Specialties of: Reinforced Concrete, and Reinforced Masonry. Licensed: 1979: Reinforced Concrete License No. R90-1253. Reinforced Masonry License No. R90-1238

International Conference of Building Officials:
Certified Special Inspector Certified by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), for the Specialties of: Structural Concrete, and Structural Masonry. Licensed: 1979: Structural Concrete Certification: November 4, 1989, No. 36455. Structural Masonry Certification: January 13, 1990, No. 36456

MEDIATION TRAINING:
Institute For Mediation Studies: 32 Hours of Basic Mediation Skills Training: July 18- 21, 2002 and 8 Hours of Advanced Mediation Skills Training: July 31, 2002

Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and California Academy of Mediation Professionals: 42 Hours of Training in: Mediating the Litigated Case: October 17-18, November 7-8, December 5-6, 2002

MEMBER OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT PANEL OF NEUTRALS (Mediation)

Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: ABA - American Bar Association, Construction Forum, Associate.
ABFET - American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology, Diplomate.
ACFEI - American College of Forensic Examiners International, Member.
ASTM - American Society For Testing and Materials, Member.
AIA/LA - American Institute of Architects, Professional Affiliate Member, L.A. Chapter.
BHBA - Beverly Hills Bar Association, Non-Attorney Participant: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Real Estate Law Sections.
CDRC - California Dispute Resolution Council, Member.
CAOC - Consumer Attorneys of California, Technical Support Member.
CAALA - Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Affiliate Member.
CCCIA - California Council of Construction Inspectors Associations, Member of the Board of Directors, 1984 and 1985.
CSHEI - California Society for Hospital Engineers, Inc., Member.
CSI - Construction Specifications Institute, Professional Member.
ICBO/ICC - International Conference of Building Officials/International Code Council, Professional Member.
LACBA - Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member.
LACIA - Los Angeles Construction Inspectors Association, President,1984 and 1985.
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association, Member.
NFC - National Forensic Center, Member.
SCMA - Southern California Mediation Association, Professional Member.
SEAOC - Structural Engineers Association of California, Professional Affiliate Member.
WEHO - West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Member.

Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Mr. Poles has been a guest speaker before the International Conference of Building Officials' (ICBO) Education Committee, the Los Angeles Construction Inspectors Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry ( NARI ), and has conducted M.C.L.E. Seminars, sanctioned by the California State Bar Association.

On September 3, 1997, Mr. Poles appeared before the International Conference of Building Officials' Orange Empire Training Academy 1997 Training Matrix Construction Defects Symposium, as a guest speaker and conducted a program entitled "What Are Construction Defects".

Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: NEVER!

Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: In excess of 150 cases.

Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: ï Accident Reconstruction
ï Americans With Disabilities Act
ï Building Code Compliance
ï Building Code Standards
ï Claims Analysis and Mitigation
ï Construction Administration
ï Construction Defects
ï Contract Compliance
ï Cost Estimating
ï Customs and Practices
ï Design and Implementation
ï Earthquake Hazard
ï Flooring and Floor CoveringFraming (Wood and Steel)
ï Geotechnical and Hydrological
ï Personal Injury
ï Quality of Workmanship
ï Reinforced Concrete
ï Reinforced Masonry
ï Roofing and Waterproofing
ï Safety and OSHA Standards
ï Scaffolding
ï Scheduling and Delays
ï Slips,Trips and Falls
ï Steps, Stairs and Railings
ï Standards of Care
ï Standards of Practice
ï Structural Failure
ï Structural Steel and Welding
ï Water Intrusion and Mold

Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Plaintiff +/- 35%

Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Defense +/- 65%


Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: More than 25 times

Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: December 10, 2002

Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: 18 times

Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Arbitration = 7 times, Mediation = 6 Times

Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 42 years in Building Construction, and approximately 30 of which have been with attorneys and insurance companies as a consultant and designated forensic expert witness.

Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: All Construction Forensic Expert Witness Services relevant to litigation requirements.

Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Please contact us for MPGroup standard fee schedule and retainer agreement.

Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Please contact us for MPGroup standard fee schedule and retainer agreement.

Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Please contact us for MPGroup Forensic Expert Witness Standard Fee Schedule and Retainer Agreement.

Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Please contact us for MPGroup Forensic Expert Witness Standard Fee Schedule and Retainer Agreement.

Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Please contact us for [1] MPGroup Forensic Expert Witness Standard Fee Schedule and Retainer Agreement, [2] MPGroup Mediation Policies, Confidentiality and Fee Agreement.

References

Bolton, Dunn & Yates
Brownwood, Rice & Zurawski
CAL-TRANS Legal
Carrick & Dale
Cobega, Tomlinsin, LLP
Corcovelos & Forry
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Demler, Armstrong & Rowland
Dewey, Ballantine, LLP
Finer, Kim & Sterns
Fitzgerald & Baker
Friedman, Collard, Cutter & Panneton
Germain & Young
Gibeaut, Mahan & Briscoe
Glass & Seabode
Greve,Clifford,Wengel & Paras,LLP
Hagenbaugh & Murphy
Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow & Canter
Hill & Associates
Hitt & Pinkerton
Hollins, Schechter, Feinstein & Condas
Kring & Brown
Lawler, Felix & Hall
Law Offices of Terrance Baird
Law Offices of Philip E. Black
Law Offices of Paul Blatz
Law Offices of Andrew V. Cass
Law Offices of Robert Catalano
Law Offices of Juan Chacon
Law Offices of James Dean
Law Offices of Korman Dorsey Ellis
Law Offices of John F. Franklin, II
Law Offices of Gene J. Goldsman
Law Offices of Julius S. Grush
Law Offices of Nicholas Heiman
Law Offices of Sanford Jossen
Law Offices of Michael G. Land
Law Offices of Larry D. Langley
Law Offices of Michael J. Migan
Law Offices of Stanley Rothman
Law Offices of Thomas D. Rowley
Law Offices of Corey L. Steele
Law Offices of Steven Zelig
Lee, Dickenson & Nolta
Linton & Bogorad
Long, Weisberg & Kurtzer
Luna, Brownwood & Rice
Mackenroth, Ryan & Fong
McCormick, Siepler & Baker
McCullough, Wareheim & LeBunker
Mercer & Zinder
Mulvaney, Kahan & Barry, LLP
Murchason & Cumming
New Beverly Hills Law Center
Parker, Milliken, Clark, O'Hara & Samuelian
Rayman & Reiner
Reid & Hellyer
Rosenberg, Shpall & Associates
Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold
Seifert, Henderson, Farricker, Gilman
Selman . Breightman
Seuthe & Matusek
Shelden & Kulchin
Stutz, Gallagher & Artiano
Sylverster, Oppenheim & Freedman
T.D. Engineering & Construction
Tseng & Associates
USAA Insurance Co.
Vittal And Sternberg
White & Baker
Williams & O'Donnell
Zakuto & Lang