Case Studies
J.S. Held Acquires Shechter & Everett to Expand Forensic Accounting Capabilities for Family Law Disputes in Florida
Read MoreJ.S. Held experts attended a fire loss in an elementary school west of Toronto. Our experts were brought in a few days after the loss, and the assigned contractor had begun loss containment and scheduling cleaning. The school board had engaged the services of a mechanical contractor and environmental engineers. Through discussions with the school board, the insurer and their consultants, the adjuster, the assigned restoration contractor, and multiple specialty trades, we were able to negotiate proceeding with emergency cleaning, abatement, and concurrent repairs on a time and material basis to reduce delays in re-opening the school.
We negotiated rates and required documentation to be presented for invoicing. We then began working through the logistics of concurrently performing ACM abatement, structural cleaning, and building repairs. We also recommended obtaining second opinions and repair quotes on mechanical items initially thought to require full replacement. Throughout the project we performed regular progress inspections and schedule reviews. The school was able to re-open within weeks as opposed to months of delay that would have been required for a tender and bidding process. We were also able to reduce final restoration contractor costs by performing a detailed analysis of submitted costs, recommending adjustment to negotiated unit rates and labor rates, performing overtime calculations, and eliminating inappropriate or unapproved costs.
The success of this project led the insurer to direct an adjuster to bring J.S. Held in earlier on their next fire project, where we negotiated rates; assisted with scope of work, logistics, and job scheduling; and provided progress inspections. Through constant communication with the restoration contractor and adjuster, we were able to analyze and approve the restoration contractor’s well organized final invoice without revision.
Russ Toering
Senior Consultant
Building Consulting Practice
+1 519 900 6832
[email protected]
> Damage Assessments
J.S. Held has globally recognized professionals dedicated to assessing property and infrastructure damage for all industries in each geographic region. We have subject matter experts in architecture, construction, engineering, seismic, building envelope, materials science, and the building code.
> Property & Infrastructure Damage
J.S. Held provides support on projects ranging from daily residential claims to complex large losses around the world. We bring strength and stability as an independent advisor in determining cause, extent, and duration of damage; repairability; ACV/RCV; delay; period of restoration; and analyzing damages, schedules, and all associated costs.