Case Studies
J.S. Held Acquires Clark Seif Clark, Strengthening West Coast Capabilities for Environmental Claims, Disputes, and Catastrophe Response
Read MoreA property owner experienced a water loss on the main floor of their residence. Northbridge Insurance subsequently instructed J.S. Held’s team to attend the site, conduct a comprehensive damage assessment, and develop a detailed scope of work along with cost estimates.
Following our assessment, the property owner retained a public adjusting firm, which collaborated with an alternate restoration company—both entities being under the same ownership—to challenge our scope. Their proposed scope of work exceeded our estimate by approximately $90,000.
Upon thorough review and comparison, we identified significant overstatements in their scope, including the unnecessary removal and replacement of certain building materials. As a result, the claim was ultimately settled based on our original scope of work, reflecting a cost savings of $90,000 compared to the alternate contractor’s proposal.
As part of our due diligence, J.S. Held thoroughly reviewed the alternate contractor’s report and identified several instances of unnecessary and unjustified work. We documented and reported that many of the items listed were not impacted by the water loss.
Specifically, the contractor claimed that all walls and ceilings on the main floor, as well as the attic insulation, required removal and replacement. However, our investigation confirmed that the water originated from a bathroom on the main floor and traveled downward into the basement. There was no evidence to support water migration upward into the attic or widespread damage across the main floor as described in their scope.
Our findings demonstrated that the proposed additional work was not warranted based on the actual extent of the damage. This reinforced the accuracy and appropriateness of our original scope of work.
Nick Daigle
Consultant
Building Consulting Practice
+1 506 800 7138
[email protected]
> Water Intrusion Investigations
J.S. Held’s forensic architects and engineers are renowned for their expertise in investigating the cause and origin of water damage. Our team of experts perform thorough assessments to determine the presence of water damage, the extent of damage, and duration of damage.
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Our experts deliver proactive, comprehensive claim strategies that foster seamless collaboration, clear timelines, and transparent billing expectations. We leverage decades of multifaceted experience as contractors, within insurance claims teams , and as third-party consultants to provide support on large, complex claims across the world.