Mr. and Mrs. G had lived in their home for over 30 years when it suddenly began to experience significant cracks and movement problems. They hired structural and geotechnical experts who, over the next 10 years of testing and studies, misdiagnosed both the cause and solutions for the land movement problems.

Eventually, Stan Denis was retained and a preeminent geotechnical expert was hired who concluded that Mr. and Mrs. G’s home had suffered substantial movement from expansive soils and expansive bedrock, which had likely been triggered by a long term leak in the County of Los Angeles sewer line in front of their home.

Records and videos located during the lawsuit confirmed a long standing break in the sewer line. The County aggressively defended with a battery of experts who testified why the sewer break could not have been the cause of any problems.

After a two and a half week trial, the jury returned a verdict for liability against Los Angeles County and, after a court trial for the damages phase, a judgment was rendered for $1,455,385 (prior to settlement set-offs with secondary defendants); believed to be the largest award in the Southwest (Torrance) Judicial District during 2011.