SR Vol 25 No 1, January 2007 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

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Forensic Engineering Servicesfor Civil Litigation LawyersGeotechnology Ltd. is a consulting engineering firm that provides forensic civil engineering, geotechnical, foundationand environmental engineering services to civil litigation lawyers and insurance personnel.Forensic Engineering ExperienceGeotechnology has 36 years engineering investigative experience in Atlantic Canada, western and northern Canada,offshore, and overseas in the UK, Australia and the Caribbean.We have investigated and determined the cause, and assisted in establishing fault, for the six main types of problems anddamage experienced by buildings, civil engineering structures, and property: 1. Structural Collapse and Failure; 2.Architectural Finish; 3. Functional and Serviceability; 4. Hidden Damage; 5. Monetary Losses, Construction Delays and CostOverruns; and, 6. Environmental Contamination.Engineering and environmental investigations have been completed for most types of civil engineering structures: Buildings;Bridges; Wharves and Harbour Works; Towers, Storage Tanks; Dams; Pipelines; Drainage Works; Embankments andEarthworks; Tunnels; Highways; and Motor Vehicle and Industrial Accidents.Professional QualificationsEric Jorden, M.Sc., P.Eng., president of Geotechnology Ltd., has a Master’s degree in geotechnical and foundationengineering from the University of Birmingham, England. He has a first degree in civil engineering from the University ofNew Brunswick, and a diploma in land surveying from the College of Geographic Sciences, NS.Mr. Jorden writes impartial, unbiased reports and opinions based on the facts. His reports are clear, concise and easilyunderstood by non-technical readers. He has published a number of engineering papers and co-authored a book on soils,groundwater and foundation investigation. Mr. Jorden has been qualified by the courts as an expert witness. He is credibleand composed when giving expert testimony, and under cross-examination.Forensic Engineering Services(Case management follows project management principles to ensure thorough, cost effective forensic engineeringinvestigations).1. Preliminary Forensic Engineering Services• Assess the technical strengths, weaknesses and merits of a claim for damages based on existing data andinformation. Outline the scope of a thorough investigation of the problem, if justified by the initial assessment.2. Main Forensic Engineering Services• Carry out field work and laboratory testing to investigate the cause of the problem, the damage to a building orcivil engineering structure, or the reason for the contaminated soil and groundwater. Review engineeringdrawings, and applicable engineering and environmental regulations, codes and standards of good practice.• Analyze, interpret and evaluate the data and investigation findings. Develop conclusions and formulate opinion.• Determine the cause of the damage, or the reason for the contamination.• Recommend and design repair and remedial work. Evaluate repair and remedial costs.3. Additional Forensic Engineering Services• Assist counsel finalize evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the damage claim based on the findings ofthe forensic engineering investigation.• Help develop litigation strategy for discovery and trial; litigation support.• Develop lines of questioning for testimony and cross-examination, including questions not to ask.• Attend discovery and trial, assist counsel by listening to opposing witnesses and experts, identify flaws and errors,and the strengths and weaknesses of opposing testimony, develop additional lines of questioning.• Testify as an expert witness at discovery and trial• Review and audit engineering investigations and environmental assessments and reports by others; dispute resolution.More InformationContact Eric Jorden, M.Sc., P.Eng. at Geotechnology Ltd. for more information: Curriculum vitae;fees; publications and major reports; list of forensic engineering and major investigations; typicalengineering investigations for design and construction, and environmental assessments for siteremediation; professional activities; technical associations.Geotechnology Ltd.Forensic EngineersCivil, Geotechnical, Foundation and Environmental Engineers23 Roslyn Dr., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada B2W 2M2Tel: (902) 435-4939Fax: (902) 435-5840E-mail: ejorden@eastlink.caEric Jorden, M.Sc., P.Eng.Forensic EngineerConsultingProfessional Engineer
C o n t e n t sVOLUME 25 | NO. 1 | JANUARY 2007theSocietyRecordis published six timesannually by theNova ScotiaBarristers’ SocietySuite 1101-1645Granville StreetHalifax, NS B3J 1X3(902) 422-1491Copyright ©2007Mailed under CanadaPost publicationsagreement number40069255Return undeliverableCanadian addresses to:PublicationsAdministrator,Nova ScotiaBarristers’ SocietySuite 1101,1645 Granville StreetHalifax NS B3J 1X3lneily@nsbs.orgEditor:Pam Sullivanpsullivan@nsbs.orgGraphic Design:Lisa Neilylneily@nsbs.orgNOVA SCOTIABARRISTERS’SOCIETYwww.nsbs.ns.ca4 Dear Members4 From the Editor’s desk5 The President’s View6 Briefs14 Society News16 Feedback from the Frontlines — Andrea Rizzato, Don Urquhart, Nicole Godbout, Paul Drysdale20 LIANSPullout section — Vol. 32, No. 1 Nova Scotia Law News23 In the Community24 An Enviable Record — Gavin Giles, Q.C.27 Long Overdue — David Blaikie29 A Smart Partnership — John Briggs30 LAP32 You be the Judge35 In Defence of Small Claims Court — W. Augustus Richardson, Q.C.38 Summation — Kevin A. MacDonaldpage 6 page 16C o n t r i b u t o r sAndrea Rizzato is an associatelawyer with the Sydneyfirm, Sheldon Nathanson,Barristers & Solicitors. Shepractises Property Law andCivil Litigation.Cynthia L. Chewter is aninstructor with the BarAdmission Course and aformer Small Claims CourtAdjudicator.Nicole Godbout is anAssociate with the Dartmouthfirm of Boyne Clarke. Shepractises in the areas ofBusiness Litigation, CivilLitigation, Estate Litigationand Financial Recovery.Don Urquhart is theManaging Partner with theKentville firm Muttart TuftsDewolfe and Coyle. Hispreferred areas of practiceinclude Criminal Law, FamilyLaw, and Litigation.Kevin MacDonald, an associatewith the Halifax firm Crowe DillonRobinson, practises primarily inthe Civil Litigation, Insurance andWill & Estates areas of the law.He also sees his share of time inSmall Claims Court.David Blaikie is an assistantprofessor at Dalhousie LawSchool. He currently teaches CivilProcedure, Torts and ADR.Gus Richardson has been alitigator for over twenty years, andan adjudicator for over five. Hisexperience with both has led himto start his own practice in thefields of arbitration and mediation.Mary Jane McGinty of theHalifax firm McGinty McCleaveconducts a client-centredgeneral practice which includesCivil Litigation (part. FamilyLaw), Wills and Estates, andEntertainment Law.page 25 page 29John Briggs is Executive Directorof the Law Reform Commissionof Nova Scotia. He also acts asOutside Counsel to the FederalMinister of Justice on allegedmiscarriage of justice cases, and isthe President of the Federation ofLaw Reform Agencies of Canada.Gavin Giles is the Co-RegionalManager of McInnes Cooperin Nova Scotia. He practisesInsurance Defence, Litigation,and Maritime Law. Appointedas an adjudicator of the SmallClaims Court of Nova Scotia in1994, Gavin has also served asthat Court’s first Chief Adjudicatorsince 2002.Paul Drysdale is a partner withthe Amherst firm of CreightonShatford & Drysdale. He carrieson a general practice whichincludes Property, Criminal,Family, Commercial, andCorporate Law.January 2007
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SR Vol 25 No 1, January 2007 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

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