This case takes place in Indiana and involves a claim against a general contractor who is being sued by a customer. The general constructor installed a kitchen in the plaintiff’s home and used materials that the homeowner had purchased in advance, which included various slabs of granite that were to be used for counter tops. The homeowner alleges that the kitchen wasn’t properly installed, because he was dissatisfied with the aesthetics of the finished kitchen. The contractor suggested that the homeowner’s complaints are against the granite itself, and its natural color patterns, while the homeowner contends the lack of aesthetic appeal is the result of poor installation technique. The contractor contends that the installation was seamless and in line with industry standards, and that any issues the homeowner complains of are the result of the materials, which he selected and purchased independently and instructed the contractor to install. There were claims pertaining to the coloring, natural patterns, and sealant used to protect the stone, which the plaintiff argued may have altered the appearance of the granite during installation. A number of experts with specializations in construction and material science were sought to opine on this issue.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please describe your expertise and knowledge pertaining to this particular form of granite.
2. Have you ever served as an expert witness on a dispute involving a general contractor / construction related issues or a granite pattern / natural pattern issues?
3. Have you ever been the target of a lawsuit / contract dispute involving a kitchen remodel or a granite slab purchase?
4. Will you be able to determine whether or not this kitchen was properly installed by the contractor per industry standard and accepted norms and further validate that the granite's discoloration is a natural pattern and has nothing to do with installation technique?
Expert Witness Response E-010108
I specialize in natural stone, brick and related construction projects. I am very familiar with this particular type of granite. I have sold the granite in the past. I am the past chairman of the Ceramic Tile Institute of America technical committee. I am a member of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), the Ceramic Tile Institute of America technical committee, ASTM C18 Stone committee, ANSI A108 and ISO TC189 committees, and I am a participant on the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook committee all of who set the industry standards. I have experience as an installer, distributor and importer and as a manufacturer of installation products for ceramic tile and stone. I am a natural stone expert and sit on the MIA and ASTM C18 Stone committees. I have served as an expert on numerous stone installation cases and would be happy to assist here.
About the author
Joseph O'Neill
Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.
