Solidify Your Case with Real Estate Expert Witness Services
Does a landlord-tenant dispute have you headed to court? Our real estate expert witnesses uncover the facts and give your case the advantage.
With over 20 years of experience, Edrington & Associates is a trusted leader among real estate expert witness firms serving California. Our extensive experience as landlords, property managers, real estate brokers, and building inspectors gives us the knowledge and skill to help our clients uncover the facts in a wide range of real estate related matters.
Our experts can deliver expert witness testimony in real estate matters including:
- Property Valuation
- Property Disputes
- Zoning Issues
- Boundary Disputes
- Landlord/Tenant Issues
- Premises Liability
- Wrongful Eviction
- Agent Malpractice
- Habitability Complaints
- Lease Agreements
- Standard of Care
- Rent Differential Analysis
- Economic Damages
At Edrington & Associates, we understand the potentially devastating impact of losing a real estate dispute. Our expert witnesses have played a vital role in obtaining successful outcomes for our clients in court.
We are long-time industry professionals who understand California real estate matters. We have the ability to clearly present the facts to the judge or jury, as well as stand up to the heat of cross-examination.
What is a Real Estate Expert Witness?
A real estate expert witness is an industry professional whose specialized skill and knowledge is called upon by either the plaintiff or the defendant to help a judge or jury understand complex real estate issues. Because of their professional qualifications, expert witnesses are held to a higher standard than traditional witnesses.
Their impartial analysis is used to explain the significance of key pieces of evidence – a valuable service when dealing with technical issues that are beyond the scope of understanding of the general public.
Real estate expert witnesses are often called upon to testify on topics including real estate contracts, landlord rights and responsibilities, property valuations, habitability complaints, owner standard of care and more.
Why a Real Estate Expert Witness is Indispensable
Real estate disputes can be complex, involving intricate financial and legal details that are often beyond the scope of a judge or jury’s understanding. Without the aid of a qualified expert witness to provide analysis and context, your case can fall apart in court from misinterpretations of evidence and weak arguments.
That is why the testimony of an expert witness is crucial to providing analysis and interpretation of the matter at hand. Take for example a dispute over rent differential. Without an expert to provide detail and context around market rates and analysis of damages, the court will have a difficult time determining damages.
Leaving the judge or jury to decipher technical issues on their own only increases the likelihood of a negative outcome in your case.
California Evidence Code Section 801 serves to underscore the importance of expert witness testimony.
The code states that an expert witness testimony must address a subject that is considered beyond the average person’s understanding, using their own specialized experience and knowledge.
By providing credible analysis and context, an expert witness serves a vital role in providing context and analysis to the judge or jury. Their ability to break down a detailed topic into understandable terms empowers your case, adding credibility and bridging the gap between the evidence and judge or jury’s understanding.
Without the perspective of an expert witness, the judge or jury would simply be guessing with their interpretation. But with the help of Edrington & Associates as your California expert witness firm, you can count on credible and persuasive testimony to back your claim and help the judge or jury make an informed decision on the case.
Meet Our Expert Witnesses
Steve Edrington, CFLC, CCIM, CPM
Steve Edrington is a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant (CFLC), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), a Certified Property Manager (CPM), Certified California Resident Manager (CCRM), Licensed Real Estate Broker, an International Code Council (ICC) California Residential Building Inspector and a licensed Class B General Contractor. He has also served as a board member for the California Apartment Association and as an industry lobbyist.
His case history includes work on both defendant and plaintiff sides in deposition, trial, mediation and as a court-appointed referee. Steve is frequently retained as an Expert Witness by law firms and major insurance companies throughout the US and is widely recognized as one of the preeminent experts in his field.
Philip Barthman
Philip Barthman joined Edrington & Associates after 20+ years as a Building Inspector for Alameda County and 35+ years as an electrician. He brings extensive experience in inspection of residential, commercial, and industrial projects to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and specifications. He specializes in evaluating illegal units, unsafe dwellings, and habitability complaints.
He holds ICC Certifications as a Combination Inspector, Commercial Combination Inspector, Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, and Mechanical Inspector. Philip is also a former professor at Oakland’s Laney College where he taught courses including National Electric Code, residential wiring, and commercial wiring.
Our Real Estate Expert Witnesses Services
At Edrington and Associates, we understand that real estate litigation demands specialized expertise. That’s why we offer comprehensive professional real estate expert witness testimony across the major categories of real estate, tailored to each of our client’s needs:
Commercial Real Estate Expert Witness
Commercial real estate matters often require a deep understanding of complex transactions. Edrington & Associates leverages our decades of experience in commercial property management to provide commercial expert witness testimony in disputes involving large scale properties such as office buildings, industrial warehouses and multifamily complexes.
We provide commercial expert witness opinions on real estate matters including:
- Valuation – We provide accurate assessments of commercial property value, essential for resolving disputes in sales, leases and development issues.
- Lease Negotiation – We offer expert opinions on lease terms and market rates.
- Zoning and Development Issues – We provide analysis of zoning regulations, development issues, and land use in complex projects.
- Financial Analysis – Our experts can analyze financial documents and market data to determine damages and losses.
- Premises Liability – If injuries or damage occur on a property, we can analyze property conditions, maintenance records and safety protocols to determine if the owner has met the duty of care for commercial properties.
Residential Real Estate Expert Witness
Disputes involving residential real estate can be emotionally charged, with significant stakes. Our residential real estate expert witness services can cut through the noise, focusing on unpacking the facts. Our expertise is often sought on issues like:
- Property valuations – We provide accurate assessments of residential property value, essential for resolving disputes in sales and appraisals.
- Property Defects – We can analyze property defects and conditions, and their impact on a unit’s value.
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes – We provide opinions on habitability, lease agreements, and eviction procedures.
- Boundary Disputes – We offer expert analysis or property lines and surveys.
- Premises Liability – We can evaluate the safety and maintenance of residential properties to determine if there was any negligence on behalf of the owner/landlord that contributed to injury.
Property Management Expert Witness
Solving property management disputes requires a thorough understanding of operational standards, financial practices and tenant relations. Edrington & Associates draws on our extensive experience as property manager experts to deliver key opinions to the court on topics including:
- Standard of Care – We evaluate property management practices to determine whether the standard of care has been met.
- Financial Management – Our experts can speak to the accuracy of financial records and management practices.
- Tenant Relations – We can provide expert opinion on tenant dispute, lease compliance and eviction procedures.
- Habitability – We offer expert opinion on whether or not a property meets housing codes and is in livable condition.
- Premises Liability – We evaluate property management practices for safety, maintenance, and hazard avoidance to determine if negligence was a contributing factor to injuries.
- Economic Damages – We can provide market rent and rent differential analysis.
Real Estate Agent/Broker Expert Witness
When the professional conduct of a real estate agent or broker is lacking, Edrington & Associates can provide critical analysis of their actions with real estate agent or broker expert witness testimony including:
- Standard of Care – We can evaluate agent and broker practices against industry standards and legal requirements.
- Transaction Documents – We analyze documents, contracts, and other documents for potential breaches and errors.
- Fiduciary Duties – We offer analysis of agent and broker Agency and Disclosure obligations and legal and ethical compliance.
As a leading expert witness firm, Edrington & Associates also offers expert witness services in these additional areas:
Why Choose Edrington & Associates as Your California Expert Witness Firm?
At Edrington & Associates, we aim to be more than just an expert. We are your strategic partner in real estate matters. We have helped our clients throughout California solidify their cases with expert testimony that uncovers and presents the facts to the judge or jury.
We offer our clients:
Looking for an Expert Witness Company Near You?
Edrington & Associates is your trusted expert witness company serving California. Our comprehensive slate of expert witness services can help you with accurate and timely analysis, involving habitability complaints, a property owner’s standard of care, wrongful eviction, code enforcement, property management, real estate transactions and more.
Don’t wait another moment to get the expert witness testimony you need. Contact Edrington & Associates today and let our in-depth knowledge of real estate law and industry standards deliver the facts in court.
Need a Trusted Expert?
Schedule a call today to discuss your case.