James J. Cloud is a Florida General Contractor and construction expert witness with more than 20 years of experience in residential, commercial, and large‑scale development projects. His construction and consulting experience spans South Florida and statewide, including major developments in Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. He provides expert analysis, consulting services, written reports, and testimony in matters involving construction defects, standard of care, building code compliance, contractor licensing, construction claims, and property damage disputes.

Mr. Cloud has prepared expert reports, provided deposition testimony, and participated in mediation proceedings in construction and property damage matters. He is retained by law firms, insurance carriers, developers, contractors, and property owners to evaluate construction practices, building systems, project documentation, and contractor performance on residential and commercial projects.
His expertise includes determining whether construction work complies with applicable building codes, industry standards, and the professional standard of care for contractors. Mr. Cloud conducts construction defect investigations, building code compliance reviews, construction contract and change‑order dispute analysis, and property damage assessments.

Mr. Cloud’s technical background includes extensive evaluation of building envelope systems, water intrusion conditions, construction practices, and contractor performance across a wide range of project types.

In addition to his expert witness work, Mr. Cloud continues to build in Southwest Florida, including projects in Punta Gorda and surrounding communities, giving him up‑to‑date field experience with local construction practices, building code application, and hurricane‑resilient construction. This active involvement in real‑world construction provides current, practical insight that strengthens his expert analysis and testimony.

Mr. Cloud holds numerous professional licenses and certifications related to construction, real estate, and building inspection, including:
• Florida General Contractor License
• Florida Roofing Contractor License
• Florida Mechanical Contractor License
• Florida Plumbing Contractor License
• Florida Pool/Spa Contractor License
• Florida Real Estate Broker License
• Florida Community Association Manager License
• ICC Certified Building Inspector
• ICC Certified Residential Building Inspector
• ICC Certified Commercial Building Inspector
• OSHA 30 Certification
• + Additional certifications

Mr. Cloud’s construction career includes leadership roles on complex, high‑profile projects, including nearly a decade with AECOM (NYSE: ACM), a global engineering and construction firm. His project experience includes major Florida developments such as:
• Miami Dolphins Stadium Renovations
• Miami Worldcenter Development
• The Plaza Coral Gables
• Mixed‑use, hospitality, stadium, and residential condominium projects

Mr. Cloud provides consulting and expert witness services in matters involving:
• Construction defect investigations
• Property damage evaluations
• Building envelope and water intrusion analysis
• Cost estimating and repair scope development
• Construction contract disputes
• Change order disputes
• Construction claims analysis
• Contractor licensing and standard‑of‑care evaluations

He also serves as an Owner’s Representative on construction and post‑loss repair projects, assisting clients with contractor selection, budgeting, permitting, scheduling, and quality oversight to ensure compliance with building codes and professional construction standards.

Education:
• Bachelor of Science, Construction Management – Florida International University
• Master of Science, International Real Estate – Florida International University

With extensive field experience, technical expertise, and a multidisciplinary background in construction and real estate, James J. Cloud provides clear, credible, and defensible expert analysis in construction litigation and dispute matters.