Construction Defect
Expert Witness
& Dispute Resolution

Phoenix Defect Resolution Partners was not built on credentials. It was built on two careers — and a chance meeting on the floor of the Home Depot.

That is where Tracy and I met. Both of us were already deep in the construction industry "landscape." It felt fitting then and it still does — because this firm is, in every meaningful sense, a product of that shared foundation.

My background spans decades of hands-on work across general contracting, project oversight, code compliance, and construction standards throughout the Southwest, East Coast, Hawaiian Islands and South America. Long before I held any formal investigative title, I had developed the forensic eye, the documentation discipline, and the technical fluency that serious expert work demands. That depth is what led the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZROC) to hire me as an investigations agent. The AZROC didn't teach me how to investigate — it gave me a formal platform to apply skills I had spent a career building.

Tracy's expertise runs just as deep, in a distinct and complementary direction. Thirty years in commercial and residential flooring operations — managing installation teams, overseeing subcontractors, conducting site quality assurance, coordinating projects from pre-construction through close-out, and scaling installation programs from $1M to over $35M annually. She holds an AA in Interior Design with a focus in flooring, kitchen and bath design, finishes, and installation standards. At Phoenix Defect Resolution Partners she leads operations and brings a level of materials, workmanship, and installation expertise that very few firms in this space can match.

Then I found myself on the other side of the process

I experienced firsthand the same kind of dispute I had spent years evaluating professionally. When a contractor we hired for a property improvement project made unauthorized changes to design, materials, and structural elements that were neither disclosed nor approved by the City of Phoenix, I withheld final payment. The contractor recorded an unlawful mechanic's lien and filed suit in Maricopa County Superior Court.

In support of counsel, I assembled the forensic documentation, photographic evidence, physical exhibits, research, and report materials that helped establish the facts. The arbitrator found in my favor, and the lien was removed.

That experience also revealed a serious limitation in the system: once civil litigation began, my Arizona Registrar of Contractors complaint was dismissed under the agency's parallel proceedings policy.

That reality helped define our mission. Tracy and I created a firm built to provide what is often missing in these matters: experienced construction insight, forensic rigor, and independent support for attorneys, insurers, and property owners confronting complex defect and dispute issues.

We begin by reviewing all relevant case documents — prior inspection reports, photographs, contracts, and correspondence. We discuss the allegations with retaining counsel, clarify the scope of our engagement, identify scheduling constraints, and establish a clear written engagement agreement. Our goal at intake is to understand not just what is alleged, but what questions the case actually needs answered.

Every engagement includes a thorough on-site forensic inspection. We document conditions with comprehensive photography, take measurements, note code-relevant observations, and — where appropriate — collect physical samples or conduct moisture testing. We inspect not just the alleged defect areas but the surrounding conditions that establish context, causation, and scope. All site visits are coordinated professionally with all parties as required.

Findings are analyzed against the International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC), Arizona building standards, manufacturer installation requirements, and accepted industry practice. We produce a written expert report that clearly identifies each defect, its cause, the applicable standard violated, and the resulting damage or risk. Reports are well-referenced, supported by labeled photographs, and written to withstand peer review and rigorous cross-examination.

Robert is available for deposition, mediation, arbitration, and trial testimony as needed. He presents technical findings clearly and confidently — without jargon that confuses juries or language opposing counsel can exploit. Beyond formal testimony, we remain available throughout litigation to answer counsel's questions, review opposing expert reports, assist with discovery, and provide supplemental analysis as the case develops. We stay engaged until the matter is fully resolved.