Arboretum Apartments Slope Failure Vestavia Hills, Alabama Litigation Support, Design Engineering, and Construction Management

Douglas F. Warnat acting as project manager and chief engineer provided expert review and testimony of substandard construction that occurred on the Arboretum Apartment complex in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The subject construction improvements were intended to remediate the collapse of a 54” diameter pipe under apartment unit five of the multi-unit complex but instead resulted in the erosion and failure of a fill slope that threatened to undermine the building. Collapse of the apartment unit was imminent if remediation did not take place immediately. Warnat performed an initial field investigation of the site conditions and reviewed all documents and history of previous work. Remote monitoring (CCTV) was used to document defects in the recently constructed drainage structures. In addition, the site was visited during heavy rain to better evaluate the actual problem.

Doug Warnat, P.E. performed the design for remediation and secured bids to perform the required work from several qualified contractors. Construction was scheduled around severe rain events including the occurrence of several hurricanes and hurricane-generated storms. Tenants were not displaced during the construction activities resulting in no loss of revenue to the owner. Warnat’s constant communication with the owner, his legal counsel, the contractor, and our team of sub-consultants proved invaluable to the success of this project.