in infrastructure projects defended
Structural compliance review, certification, and expert defense for municipal engineers, general contractors, and developers facing federal deadlines, seismic mandates, and litigation.
Expert Lead
Dr. Catherine Nguyen, P.E., S.E.
Retaining wall failed peer review forty-eight hours before the county hearing.
The Scenario
Your retaining wall failed peer review forty-eight hours before the county hearing. The reviewing engineer cited inadequate lateral earth pressure calculations and demanded supplemental geotechnical data. The permit window closes in three days. The contractor is mobilized. The developer is on the phone.
Methodology & Outcome
Dr. Nguyen reconstructed the lateral pressure analysis using AASHTO LRFD methodology, incorporated the original geotechnical boring logs with updated seismic coefficients for the site's Zone D classification, and produced a stamped supplemental calculation package that directly addressed each objection raised in the peer review letter.
Verdict
Permit issued within 36 hours. No additional peer review cycle required. Construction mobilized on schedule.
Expert Lead
Marcus D. Osei, P.E., LEED AP
Federal seismic retrofit mandate. Six-month window. Twelve buildings. One engineer of record.
The Scenario
The city's housing authority received a federal notice requiring seismic evaluation and retrofit certification for twelve mid-century concrete buildings under ASCE 41 performance objectives. Six months. One engineer of record on staff. No existing structural documentation for nine of the twelve properties.
Methodology & Outcome
Osei deployed a parallel-track documentation protocol — simultaneous field investigation, FEMA P-58 fragility assessments, and retrofit design development across all twelve buildings. Coordinated with the housing authority's single in-house engineer to maintain continuity of record while Fortify produced all stamped deliverables.
Verdict
All twelve certifications delivered in five months. Federal compliance confirmed. Zero notices of deficiency issued across the entire portfolio.
Expert Lead
Dr. Patricia Yablonsky, P.E., Ph.D.
Catastrophic bridge deck failure. Three parties in litigation. No surviving design documentation.
The Scenario
A section of a county bridge deck collapsed during routine maintenance operations. Three contractors and the county engineering department faced cross-claims totaling $34M. Original design drawings were destroyed in a records office flood. The opposing expert had already submitted a report attributing failure to construction defect.
Methodology & Outcome
Dr. Yablonsky conducted forensic reconstruction of the original design intent using archived permit applications, material test reports, and photogrammetric analysis of the failure debris. Produced a 340-page expert report establishing that the failure mechanism was fatigue-induced delamination consistent with design-life exceedance, not construction defect.
Verdict
All construction-related claims dismissed at summary judgment. County engineering department's liability reduced to 12% of original exposure. Dr. Yablonsky's methodology cited by the court as the evidentiary standard.
Every credential.
Every jurisdiction.
Active Certifications
Project Breakdown
Adverse
Judicial Seal
Federal Jurisdiction Coverage — 23 States
On record.
Under oath.
Fortify's peer review documentation was so thorough that the opposing engineer withdrew their objection before the hearing concluded. We've never seen that happen.
Marcus T. Webb
Senior Project Manager
Webb & Associates General Contracting
Outcome
Seismic Retrofit Permit — Approved
CA-SR-2024-0441
The verdict is inevitable.
Schedule a capabilities consultation. We'll review your project file, identify compliance gaps, and outline the defense strategy before your deadline arrives.