Leading Legal Authority Spins Off Concrete Consulting Business

Concrete Insights Corp. is a newly formed entity comprising the concrete consulting segment of Hichborn Consulting Group, Orange, Calif., which provides

Concrete Insights Corp. is a newly formed entity comprising the concrete consulting segment of Hichborn Consulting Group, Orange, Calif., which provides expertise in the design, installation and performance of concrete and related construction materials. Under the business expansion, Concrete Insights will become a separate corporate entity, with Geoffrey Hichborn serving as president and chief engineer.

Currently president of the Orange County chapter of the Forensic Expert Witness Association, Hichborn is a certified engineer and national expert in the field of concrete construction, and regularly serves as an expert witness in construction liability cases. Joining him in Concrete Insights are Alicia Cropper as senior engineer and Jordan Hinds, an engineering technician and former concrete inspector.

The reorganization was effected to address an increasing demand for the company’s expertise, Hichborn notes, while ensuring that clients continue to receive quality services. Because I wear several hats, he explains, I want to make certain there is no confusion about my role in a given context. Within Concrete Insights I will continue to expand my consulting practice as it pertains to concrete and cementitious materials. The existing company, Hichborn Consulting Group, will shift its focus to providing support services to other expert witnesses, in any specialty field.

The concrete-consulting focus of the newly formed corporation will be critical, Hichborn predicts, as sulfate attack in concrete becomes an increasingly prevalent issue within the construction-defect litigation arena. We’re a primary consultant in this kind of litigation already, and it has really just begun, he contends. That’s why we’re proactively addressing our standards to ensure we not only maintain, but also improve the level of client satisfaction.

Accordingly, Concrete Insights will assist attorneys and their clients Û developers, contractors, materials producers, and end-users Û involved in construction defect claims. Consultation usually entails design, installation and performance considerations pertaining to concrete and related materials, including cement, aggregates, plaster, gunite, masonry and other materials. A frequently provided forensic service is the assessment of distress or damage to these materials, whether related to earthquake, fire, flood, soil conditions or inferior maintenance. Specialty services offered include reviews of contracts, specifications, construction documents and inspection work to determine the level of conformance to industry standards.