Construction Defect

"George Calkins has an incredible ability to see beyond the attorneys' advocacy and to identify the primary impediments to settlement. He then focuses his efforts there. He is a highly-skilled mediator."

Robert L. Green, Esq.
Green & Hall
Santa Ana, California

George Calkins is a preeminent mediator/arbitrator in complex construction defect and workmanship disputes involving major public works, commercial, industrial and multi and single family residential projects. He focuses on all aspects of such projects, including electrical, plumbing, framing, roofing, concrete, site drainage and geotechnical issues.

Representative construction defect cases include the following complex disputes:

• Large, multi-unit and single family housing projects in Santa Barbara, Orange and Ventura Counties
• Five-star hotels, Las Vegas and Santa Barbara (structural and leak issues)
• Multi-unit senior facility, Los Angeles
• Interstate 5 and 110 Freeway (massive welding issues)
• Community Centers, Laguna Hills, Long Beach and San Pedro
• Japantown Peace Plaza, San Francisco (substantial leak case)
• Multi-million dollar estate homes, Los Angles, Laguna, Beverly Hills, Bel Air
• Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties (sewer, storm drain and water infrastructure)

Experience as Counsel:

• Structural Steel and Concrete Defects:
  • Bayshore Mall Shopping Center
  • L.A. Union Station
  • Harbor Freeway
  • Century Freeway
  • Interstate 5 Freeway seismic retrofit
  • Irvine Company MacArthur Court (numerous structural steel issues)
  • The MetroLink
  • State Water Project
  • Hughes Aircraft Missile Systems facility (Canoga Park) – structural failure
  • Hughes Missile Systems Fuel Flush facility
  • Hughes Aircraft Company headquarters facility, electrical failure
  • Hughes Aircraft EDSG facility

What other experts say…

“Over 20 years, I have been involved in hundreds of days of mediation/ arbitration. I have had the good fortune of having many of these cases either mediated or arbitrated by George Calkins. I have found that George's significant experience as a construction defect lawyer coupled with his knowledge of insurance law and pragmatism to be a great recipe for successful resolution of cases. I believe that George is one of the finest construction defect mediators in Southern California.”

David A. Loewenthal, Esq.
Loewenthal, Hillshafer & Rosen LLP
Sherman Oaks, California

“George Calkins learns the case, works to develop a strategic plan and then implements it with the skills of an accomplished and effective diplomat. It is rare to find these qualities, and this commitment, in one mediator."

Terry Riedy, Esq.
Canepa, Riedy, Rubino & Lattie
Las Vegas, Nevada

“George's years of litigation experience in the construction and insurance arenas give him a unique perspective for properly and cost effectively managing these cases. His experience in the courtroom, his professional demeanor and his vast knowledge base make him an excellent choice for arbitrating construction or insurance related disputes.”

David Lee, Esq.
Lee & Russell, PC
Las Vegas, Nevada

“I have represented developers, general contractors and subcontractors in approximately fifty cases where George Calkins acted as mediator. He is one of the top construction mediators in California and is particularly good at resolving difficult cases.”

Michael T. Montgomery, Esq.
Waters, McCluskey & Boehle
El Segundo, California