Case Study: a homeowner defeats a deck railing failure claim with Envista Forensics

Homeowner saves hundreds of thousands of dollars with Envista Forensics

The homeowner faced a lawsuit from a guest who was injured after a deck railing failed. The guest alleged the failure was due to deterioration and poor maintenance, claiming the homeowner was liable. The homeowner engaged the forensic engineering services of Envista Forensics to determine the cause of the failure and assess their obligations.

Envista Forensics conducted a forensic analysis, inspecting the deck and reviewing case materials. Their investigation determined the failure mode was inconsistent with the guest's testimony of merely leaning on the railing. Envista demonstrated the deck was built before modern code mandates and was not in violation of any codes that would require modification. Their findings were crucial to the case's resolution, leading to a fair settlement and saving the homeowner hundreds of thousands of dollars.