Franklin Fong, G.E.

Mr. Franklin Fong, G.E.

3253 Falcon Ridge Rd.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765-3836
Mobile: 951-264-6006
Office: 909-860-7515
Introduction

Mr. Fong is a Registered Geotechnical Engineer with 50 years of professional experience on major project assignments, including soil and foundation investigations, geologic and seismic investigations, field exploration and laboratory testing programs, engineering analysis, and on monitoring of earthwork and foundation construction for commercial, municipal, industrial, school, hospital, waterfront and residential developments.

Since 1995, Mr. Fong has served as an independent geotechnical engineering consultant on over 950 design and construction projects, case reviews, and consulting assignments. He has served as geotechnical engineering consultant to established engineering firms in California and Nevada, and as an expert witness for legal dispute resolutions and insurance claim assessments.


Areas of Expertise
  • Civil Engineering
  • Construction
  • Construction Damages
  • Construction Safety
  • Failure Analysis
  • Forensic Engineering
  • Geology
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Hydrology & Groundwater
  • Landscape Design
  • Mining
  • Pipelines
  • Professional Engineering
  • Scheduling Delay & Analysis
  • Seismology
  • Structural Engineering
  • Traffic/Highway Safety

Expert Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
A: M. Engr., 1972, Geotechnical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley;

B.S., 1971, Civil Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona;

A.A., 1968, Engineering Technology, Merritt Jr. College, Oakland, California
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers;

Member, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering;

Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: February 2005 - Geotechnical Engineer expert on KCAL 9 News on landslide issues;

June 2002 - Presentation on “Pavement Rehabilitation - Design Considerations” for seminar on Street Rehabilitation Projects in Southern California, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Irvine;

Spring 1999 - Instructor for CE 327L Soil Mechanics Laboratory, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California.
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: Served on over 100 cases as expert witness and as a consultant on legal dispute matters.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Primarily within field of geotechnical and civil engineering relating to expansive soil, retaining walls and shoring, grading issues, flooding, erosion, building settlement, ground subsidence, slope instability, slab and foundation distress, faulting, issues regarding professional standard of care of work by others.

Mr. Fong has served as an expert on numerous cases for legal counsels, insurance entities, and the California State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists (BOPELSG). He has reviewed numerous cases involving claims for losses relating to landslides slope instability, settlement, earthquake damages, groundwater seepages, erosion damages, site drainage and flooding. He has been retained by various legal counsels as expert witness on cases relating to design and construction deficiencies resulting in performance failures and/or personnel injures, site dewatering and subsidence issues, subsurface moisture infiltration and seepage. He has reviewed numerous cases and prepared reports for the BOPELSG on complaints against licensed engineers for incompetence, negligence and on contractual issues, which violates the State Business and Professions Code to provide professional engineering services. He has prepared reports, and has testified and given depositions for both plaintiff and defendant parties.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Approximately 65%.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Approximately 35%.
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Six
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: 2023
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: n/a
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: n/a
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Over 25 years as expert witness and consultant.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Perform investigation of distress to structural foundations and earth embankments, including damages caused by expansive soil, settlement, slope instability, groundwater seepage, soil liquefaction, erosion, design deficiencies, defective construction and earthquakes. Review and determine causes for damages or failures, and obtain supporting evidence for damage claim assessments and for legal dispute resolutions. Provide recommendations for corrective measures and repair, and assist in legal dispute resolutions and insurance claim assessments. Review and assess alleged damage claims, and provide supporting evidence and expert witness testimony, for both plaintiff and defense legal actions.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Fee schedule available upon request.
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Fee schedule available upon request.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Fee schedule available upon request.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Fee schedule available upon request.
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Fee schedule available upon request.

References

Information to be provided available upon request.