Coe + Company — multi-disciplined construction experts

Forensic Construction Consulting

Forensic Construction Consulting & Expert Witness Services You Can Trust

Independent construction defect investigations, litigation support, expert testimony, technical analysis, and courtroom-ready reporting for complex residential, commercial, industrial, and public projects.

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50+
Years of experience
190+
Expert designations
1983
Firm founded

Experience by the numbers

Years of Experience
Complex Cases Supported
Dispute Value Analyzed
Expert Testimonies Delivered

Over 50 years of experience, more than 400 complex cases supported, over 500 million dollars in dispute value analyzed, and more than 100 expert testimonies delivered.

01 / Who We Support

Trusted by the parties on every side of a construction dispute

Coe & Company provides independent analysis for plaintiff and defense alike. Opinions follow the evidence — which is why attorneys, owners, contractors, and carriers return case after case.

  • Law Firms & Legal Teams

    Plaintiff and defense counsel who need clear, defensible technical opinions, deposition and trial support, and courtroom-ready reporting.

  • Property Owners & Developers

    Owners of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties facing construction defects, cost overruns, or abandoned work.

  • General Contractors

    Contractors requiring independent standard-of-care analysis, claims support, and change order or scope review.

  • Subcontractors

    Trade contractors involved in disputes over workmanship, scope, payment, or system performance.

  • Insurance Carriers

    Carriers evaluating construction defect claims, fire causes, water losses, and repair cost reasonableness.

  • Homeowners Associations

    HOAs and community managers addressing common-area defects, building systems, and SB-800 claims.

  • Municipalities & Public Agencies

    Public owners with disputes on civic facilities, infrastructure, and publicly funded construction.

02 / Representative Experience

A career measured in landmark projects

From the San Francisco International Terminal to the National Ignition Facility, Mr. Coe's project record spans some of Northern California's most demanding construction programs.

Entrance roadway and curved canopy of the San Francisco International Airport terminal

Aviation & Transportation

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco International Terminal

International airport terminal program — $2B project

On one of the largest public works programs in Northern California, Mr. Coe served as Deputy Chief Estimator for the on-site construction management team — reviewing and negotiating change orders exceeding $100 million in construction value and producing documented savings of more than $20 million for the airport.

Claims & LitigationCost & Damage AnalysisMechanicalElectrical
Oakland skyline and Bay Bridge viewed from the waterfront

Aviation & Transportation

Oakland, CA

Port of Oakland — Phase 1A Expansion

Port expansion project — $50M

As Senior Project Controls Specialist and Cost Consultant on the Port of Oakland's Phase 1A expansion, Mr. Coe successfully negotiated more than fifty-six changes, saving over $1.8 million — and later provided expert defense support on a port expansion construction claim.

Claims & LitigationCost & Damage Analysis
Entrance sign at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory with rock landscaping

Laboratories & Research

Livermore, CA

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

National laboratory campus — research, laboratory, and support facilities

Over five years as Special Projects Senior Construction Planner/Estimator, Mr. Coe supported estimating, change order management, inspections, and seismic upgrade planning across the national laboratory campus — including the $66 million Terrascale Simulator Facility and $100 million in seismic retrofits.

MechanicalElectricalPlumbingCost & Damage Analysis
Research laboratory interior with technical equipment and workstations

Laboratories & Research

Livermore, CA

National Ignition Facility

$1B laser research facility — laser and capacitor bays

On the $1 billion National Ignition Facility, Mr. Coe designed seismic support systems for $10 million of electrical subcontract work, supervised a four-person seismic design team, and managed QA/QC for high-voltage cable installation.

Electrical

Telecommunications & Mission-Critical

Pleasanton, CA

AT&T Western Regional Center

1.1 million SF telecommunications facility

At AT&T's 1.1 million square foot Western Regional Center, Mr. Coe served as CMA responsible for submittal review, RFI responses, and coordination between the owner, architects, and engineers through design resolution and closeout.

MechanicalElectricalClaims & Litigation
Curved glass and steel facade of the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland

Public & Municipal

Oakland, CA

Cathedral of Christ the Light

$290M cathedral project

Consulting engagement on Oakland's $290 million Cathedral of Light — among the most architecturally ambitious projects in the Bay Area.

Claims & LitigationCost & Damage Analysis
Multi-story shingle-clad condominium complex of the type involved in defect litigation

Multi-Family & Residential

California & Nevada

Residential Construction Defect Litigation

Custom homes, condominiums, apartments, and subdivisions

Across his career, Mr. Coe has participated in litigation involving more than 470 residential homes — from $30 million custom residences to condominium towers and multi-thousand-home subdivisions — covering MEPF systems, building envelopes, and standard-of-care questions.

MechanicalElectricalPlumbingFire Protection
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03 / Core Services

Comprehensive solutions for every stage of a construction dispute

Eight disciplines, one standard: clear, evidence-based findings that hold up under scrutiny.

01

Forensic Construction Consulting

Clear, evidence-based investigations that identify construction failures, defects, and dispute causes.

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02

Construction Claims Analysis & Support

Objective, evidence-based analysis and expert recommendations to clarify liability and quantify damages for complex disputes.

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03

Expert Witness Testimony & Litigation Support

Clear, defensible expert opinions that help legal teams explain complex technical issues to judges, juries, and arbitrators.

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04

MEP & Fire Sprinkler Analysis

Deep technical expertise in design, performance, and installation disputes for complex mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire sprinkler systems.

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05

Code Compliance & Standards Review

Verification of construction against the building codes, standards, and manufacturer requirements that governed the work.

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06

Cost Estimating & Damage Assessment

Accurate, defensible cost assessments that support claims, settlements, and litigation strategies.

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07

Personal Injury & Electrocution Investigation

Objective, evidence-based investigations to identify hazards, clarify liability, and support complex injury claims.

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08

Building Envelope, Roofing & Waterproofing Analysis

Investigation of water intrusion, roofing failures, and envelope defects from the roof membrane to the foundation drainage.

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04 / Core Technical Areas

Building systems, understood from the inside

Fifty years of hands-on construction — beginning with a four-year electrical apprenticeship completed at the top of the class — inform every technical opinion.

See How We Investigate
  • 01Electrical systems & power distribution
  • 02Mechanical systems & HVAC
  • 03Building controls & control logic
  • 04Plumbing, drainage & piping
  • 05Fire sprinkler & life-safety systems
  • 06Building envelopes
  • 07Roofing & waterproofing
  • 08Construction materials & workmanship
  • 09Code & standards compliance
  • 10Cost estimating & damage quantification
05 / Investigation & Litigation Process

A disciplined path from inquiry to testimony

Every engagement follows a methodical sequence designed to produce findings that survive deposition and cross-examination. Coe & Company is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

  1. 01

    Confidential Case Inquiry

    You describe the dispute, the property, and the timeline. Initial inquiries are reviewed confidentially.

  2. 02

    Conflict & Engagement Review

    Potential conflicts are checked before engagement. Work proceeds under a written consulting services agreement and fee schedule.

  3. 03

    Document & Evidence Review

    Plans, specifications, contracts, change orders, photographs, invoices, and expert reports by others are evaluated against the physical evidence.

  4. 04

    Site Inspection & Testing

    On-site inspection, photo documentation, and — where appropriate — intrusive or destructive testing oversight to expose concealed conditions.

  5. 05

    Technical Analysis

    Findings are measured against the applicable codes, standards, manufacturer requirements, and the standard of care.

  6. 06

    Findings & Expert Reporting

    Conclusions are documented in clear, defensible reports with supporting evidence, repair scopes, and cost analysis as required.

  7. 07

    Testimony & Dispute Resolution

    Support through mediation, arbitration, deposition, and trial — explaining complex technical issues in terms decision-makers understand.

06 / Why Coe & Company

Trusted by industry professionals

What separates an opinion that persuades from one that merely asserts: experience, independence, and documentation.

  • 01

    Five Decades of Hands-On Experience

    Over 50 years in construction — from journeyman electrician and general foreman to construction management advisor on projects exceeding 1,000,000 square feet.

  • 02

    Courtroom-Ready Documentation

    Reports, exhibits, and cost analyses prepared to withstand deposition, cross-examination, and the scrutiny of opposing experts.

  • 03

    Independent, Evidence-Based Analysis

    Opinions follow the physical evidence and the applicable standards — not the desired outcome of any party.

  • 04

    Deep MEPF System Knowledge

    Licensed general and electrical contractor with career-long specialization in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire sprinkler systems.

  • 05

    Full-Service Investigation

    Document review, site inspection, destructive testing oversight, cost estimating, and repair scope development under one engagement.

  • 06

    Clear Communication

    Complicated technical issues translated into conclusions attorneys, judges, juries, and owners can act on.

07 / Credentials

Licensed, certified, and active in the profession

California contractor licenses, trade certifications, and national leadership in the forensic expert community.

Licenses & Certifications

  • California General Contractor

    CSLB #471343 · Licensed

  • California Electrical Contractor

    CSLB #471343 · Licensed

  • California General Electrician

    DIR #102745 · Certified (now expired) — per CV

  • California Fire/Life Systems Technician

    DIR #103177 · Certified (now expired) — per CV

Professional Leadership

  • National President

    Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA) · 2007–2009

  • Chapter President

    FEWA Sacramento/Sierra Chapter · 2006–2008

  • President

    Westcon Construction Association · 2011–2013

  • Member; Past Business Manager, Financial Secretary & President

    International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) · 1973–2024

Standards Expertise

Working command of the standards that govern construction quality and safety:

ASTMANSIASHRAEASMENFPAUL
Full Credentials
Confidential Case Review

Ready to strengthen your case?

Whether you need a defect investigation, a technical expert opinion, claims analysis, repair cost review, or authoritative courtroom testimony — start with a confidential case review.

Submit a CaseCall +1 (209) 403-8186Email Coe & Company

Submissions are reviewed confidentially. Contacting Coe & Company does not create a consulting engagement or an attorney–client relationship.