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Steven P. Viani, FounderThe resulting engineering and construction disputes often tend to escalate to the courtroom quickly. In such a scenario, identifying the core issue requires not only expertise in forensic construction investigations but also legal acumen and knowledge of compliance, litigation, building codes, and contracts.
That’s when those involved in such a dispute turn to veteran engineer and contractor Steven P. Viani, founder of Viani Engineering.
“We’ve developed a deep understanding of both the construction and the legal processes to serve clients in resolving their construction and engineering disputes,” says Viani.
With a combination of technical and investigatory abilities and stringent documentation review, Viani Engineering rapidly pinpoints the cause behind construction disputes and offers solutions to resolve the issue even before the cases go to trial.
Viani Engineering is built on the strong engineering background of Viani, who is a licensed civil engineer, professional engineer, and contractor with over four decades of extensive experience in solving engineering and construction issues.
Viani pools his extensive knowledge of construction forensics gained from his stint as a civil engineer for the State of California and the U.S. government to remedy clients’ construction-related issues as well as being a direct hire contractor performing design build work.
Trained as an appraiser, Viani also has the capacity to act as a client’s advocate in insurance claims resolution in construction disputes.
Viani Engineering has a network of support staff that comprises CAD structural engineers and other related professionals with specialized domain knowledge. Beyond its in-house experts, the company offers the services of third-party contractors to provide property or damage settlement estimates.
Viani conducts in-depth research into each client’s varied engineering and construction issues that cover water and wastewater system issues, landslides, wall or house reconstruction in case of fire or flood damage, as well as accidents and equipment failures. Backed with solid facts and exact figures, Viani presents thorough defenses and written opinions on client cases during legal depositions and also briefs the client-attorney on possible pitfalls and solutions to the dispute.
To help clients win disputes involving construction defects or property damages, Viani Engineering reviews all case-related contracts and documentation, including property drawings and codes. Based on the review, the company reconstructs the scenario and identifies the root cause of the dispute and the responsible party.
“When I go into a deposition, I go in prepared to win. I’m clear on what I know and what I can prove,” says Viani.
Then Viani Engineering creates complete, custom solutions for quick dispute resolution during or before trial. The company also provides clients with cost benefits in the form of adjustable rates and flexible pricing programs.
When I go into a deposition, I go in prepared to win. I’m clear on what I know and what I can prove
The unique investigatory qualifications of Viani Engineering prove highly advantageous to clients. For instance, in a house collapse case, the company conducted a geotechnical investigation using specialized equipment to demonstrate loosening of soil over which the house was built. By successfully proving the extent of soil damage caused by an adjacent house’s construction, Viani Engineering was able to ensure a large settlement for their client.
The company also designs engineering solutions to solve construction disputes, as demonstrated in the case of a client being sold a house without prior information of a live municipal sewer underneath it. This is where Viani’s civil engineering expertise comes into play, as the company is currently redesigning the sewer to ensure a favorable outcome for the client.
“Being both an engineer and a contractor, I bring together unique expertise to efficiently resolve disputes,” says Viani.
