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PSFEG Inc. (Pacific Structural & Forensic Engineers Global)

PSFEG Inc. (Pacific Structural & Forensic Engineers Global)

515 South Flower Street
Suite 1800

Los Angeles, California 90071
(213) 261-6600

Website https://www.psfeg.com

► Contact PSFEG Inc. (Pacific Structural & Forensic Engineers Global)

Expert WitnessForensic ExpertLitigation SupportSpeaker
As an arbitrator, structural/civil engineer, and expert forensic consultant with nearly four decades of experience, Casey Hemmatyar has provided extensive expert services for defendants' and plaintiffs' attorneys on numerous construction litigation matters throughout the United States and Canada.

PSFEG's engineers and scientists have been providing a wide range of structural engineering, forensic engineering, and expert testimony and Consulting services since 1985. PSFEG's team members have provided extensive expert structural engineering services in over two hundred litigation matters for law firms, the US Government, insurance carriers, and building owners throughout North America.

PSFEG's team members have designed, evaluated, and investigated tens of thousands of building structures, with an estimated aggregate construction value of about $50 billion over the last 40 years throughout North America.

The firm's areas of expertise include architecture, engineering, construction, building codes, structural failure, fire investigation, flooding, and more.

Services

At PSFEG, our services include analysis, design, review, evaluation, assessment, management, and forensic investigation of structural projects as well as expert witness testimonies.

Areas of Service:
• Expert Witness Testimony/Litigation - Structural
• Building Code Compliance - Structural
• Pre-Purchase Real Estate Structural Evaluation
• Earthquake/Seismic Engineering
• Historic Buildings - Structural
• Structural Cyclic Loading and Fatigue Analysis
• Evaluation for California Hospitals and Urgent Care Facilities
• Fabric, Tensile, Shade & Play Structures
• Seismic (Earthquake) Evaluation * Retrofit. Structural Assessment & Evaluation
• High-End & Celebrity Home Structures
• Special Structures
• Air-Supported Structures
• Litigation Support Services - Structural
• Upgrade of Existing Building Structures
• Probabilistic Hazard Analysis -- Structural
• Insurance, Construction Defects & Related Matters - Structural
• Wave & Flood Forces on Waterfront Structures & Beach Properties - Structural
• Foundation Stabilization & Underpinning
• Risk Analysis - Structural
• Property Condition Assessments (PCA)
• Earthquake Hazard Research
• Due Diligence Structural Investigations
• Tsunami-Induced Loading Condition
• Deep Foundation, Conventional Concrete Pile
• Performance-Based Design - Structural
• HUD Fema Seismic Risk Assessments and ASTM E2026
• Wind Hazard Research - Structural
• Wind and Hurricane Engineering
• Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Non-ductile concrete Buildings
• Industrial & Commercial Structures
• Telecommunication Structures
• Linear Elastic Static & Dynamic Analysis, Response Spectra & Time History
• Catastrophic Loss Estimates - Structural
• Solar Support Structures
• Landscaping Support Structures
• Non-Linear Pseudo Static Push-Over & Non-Linear Dynamic Analysis
• Probable Maximum Loss (PML) Study (ASTM E2557)
• Vibration-Sensitive Structures
• Earth Retaining Structures, Hillside Condition & Landslide induced forces
• Fire-Damaged Structures
• Swimming Pool Complexes/Facilities (Private and Public) - Structural
• Temporary Shoring Structures
• Health Care - OSHPD (California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development)
• Tree Roots Invasion Structural Damage
• Structural Engineering Educational Seminars
• CA SB Bill 721/326: Inspection of Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE)
• Structural Laboratory Tests
• Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit


Litigation Support Services

Over the past nearly 40 years, Casey Hemmatyar has been retained as an expert engineer in over one hundred litigation matters by the U.S. government, law firms, and insurance carriers.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Concrete/Cement, Structural Failure Investigation, Foundation System Settlements, Structural Repair Analysis, Fire, Water, Wind, Flood, Tsunami, Volcanic, Lightening, Earthquake (Natural Disasters) Damage Assessment, Post Disaster Damage Assessment, Earthquake damage (Structural & Non-Structural), Vibration and Frequency, Mechanical, Electrical, Medical Equipments (Structural Aspects), Construction Schedule Delay, Property Insurance Claims Including Cause of Loss, Standard of Care, Standard of Practice, Property Insurance Claims Including Cause of Loss, Buildings & Public Works, Flood & Demolition Damage, Building Codes and Referenced Standards, Errors and Omissions, Code Compliance, Water Intrusion and Damage, Roof Systems, Floor Systems, Impact Forces (Vehicles and others).

Profile

As an arbitrator, structural/civil engineer, and expert forensic consultant with nearly four decades of experience, Casey Hemmatyar has provided extensive expert services for defendants' and plaintiffs' attorneys on numerous construction litigation matters throughout the United States and Canada.

He has been retained as an expert engineer in over one hundred litigation matters on single and class-action legal cases by the U.S. government, law firms, and insurance carriers at the State and Federal levels, working with both plaintiff and defendant sides. A partial list of litigation cases is available upon request.

His understanding of core engineering and legal concepts has enabled him to assist a wide range of clientele effectively. He brings diversified experience in structural and civil engineering design and forensic engineering, investigation, and evaluation.

He also conducts research, has assisted in the development of building codes and standards, and has supervised the construction of domestic and international projects. His experience includes special structures and new buildings as well as modifications, alterations, seismic/hurricane retrofits, and upgrades to existing structures. He has provided failure analysis, expert consultation, structural forensic investigation, and damage assessment services for numerous litigation and insurance-related matters.

Areas Served

PSFEG is based in Southern California and provides services in 27 locations worldwide.

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Professional Experience

Casey Hemmatyar's work encompasses a diverse range of structures, including hospitals, educational institutions (including schools and universities), telecommunication centers, aviation facilities, government buildings, laboratories, as well as commercial, industrial, and residential structures.
He is versed in the structural design of concrete, steel, timber/wood, masonry, aluminum, glass, light-gage steel, and other construction materials. His work experience covers performance-based design, seismic hazard evaluation, and mitigation methods, as well as the preparation of reports evaluating essential structures such as hospitals and emergency facilities.


Licenses

PSFEG's Engineers are licensed in 12 States and countries including Canada:
• SE, PE, California – S5108, C66393
• SE, PE, Washington – 37443
• SE, Hawaii – S14571
• SE, New York – S091118
• SE, Nevada – 022937
• SE, Arizona – S49653
• PE, Colorado – 52814
• PE, Alabama – 35359
• PE, Michigan – 6201063078
• PE, Ohio – 80490
• PE, Texas – 133339
• P. ENG, British Columbia, Canada – 19757
• General Building Contractor, California – 1044945


Legal Experience & Services

Partial Litigation / Project List

NASA; National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Edwards Air Force Base, California
Structural engineering investigation and assessment of the one of the main steel hangar structure located at NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center for proposed safety access facility. This hangar has been classified as a landmark structure due to its historical importance.

ATT v. Kim
Rowland Heights, California
Provided forensic structural engineer expert consultant services for the law firm to assist the Defendant/Property Owner. The Telecom firm's claim was against the owner for additional telecommunication equipment on the roof.

Hutsey v. Prime Healthcare
Reno, Nevada
Provided forensic civil engineer expert consultant services for the law firm to assist the Defendant/Property Owner. The claim was against the Medical Facility for the condition of the sidewalk on the property.

Schiller, et al v. 698 Flushing Realty Corp.
New York, New York
Provided forensic structural engineer expert consultant services for the law firm to assist the Plaintiff/Tenant with respect to the structural condition of the building.

Bushman v. Artefex
Ventura, CA
Provided forensic structural engineer expert consultant services for the law firm to assist the Plaintiff/Owner with respect to the structural condition of the building.

SOFITEL Luxury Hotels.
Beverly Hills, California
Forensic structural engineer site assessment for perimeter concrete architectural features on this multi-story hotel structure.

Pena v SMUD
Sacramento, California
Assisted legal firm with forensic and structural engineering expert services in a litigation process where a utility post failure caused severe injury to motorists. The utility timber post was owned and maintained by SMUD: Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Kurwig v Sahafi et al
Santa Monica, California
Provided forensic structural engineer expert consultant services for the law firm to assist the Plaintiff/Owner with respect to the construction defect claim of the building.

American Capital Energy, Inc.
Camarillo, California
Preliminary investigation on assisting the client in establishing the causes of structural failure of elevated steel “Solar Tracking Actuator Systems.” The main causes of the failure had induced excessive stresses due to cyclic/fatigue loading conditions. The multi-million dollar solar farm had been constructed over area of several acres and covered a “water recycling pond”.

APM Terminals Lifting Global Trades
Terminal Island, California
Review and design of the steel mounting frame for Exhaust Emission Reduction supporting a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The frame system is connected to the Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) Cranes' frame. Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) Cranes are located at the APM terminal at Long Beach “Terminal Islands”, CA. The design and analysis were performed with the considerations of the equipment loads, including the lateral live loads induced by seismic motions and forces generated by the RTG's stop and go motions and resulting cyclic/fatigue stresses.

Westaire Engineering, Inc.
Los Angeles, California
Seismic evaluation of this existing building based on guidelines of ASCE 31-03 standard. The structure consists of a 30,000 square foot two story industrial building with steel moment frame and lateral brace system. The roof and floor consist of wood diaphragm with additional horizontal bracing at the roof level.

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
San Bernardino, California
Analysis and design of timber moment frames for two detached canopy structures and foundation system. Design incorporated structural seismic/lateral loading application and concrete foundation design for two canopies on Church property. Features included timber clinch beam system.

Bestlink Transportation LTD. v. Lloyd Investment
Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Structural Forensic evaluation, assessment, and failure analysis of a failed structural slab on pile foundation system of about 15,000 square feet of an existing tilt-up warehouse facility.

Western Pre-Cooling System v. CENERGY POWER
Oxnard, California
Structural Forensic evaluation, assessment, and failure analysis of failed structural roof Glue-Lam structural system and partial retrofit upgrade of about 25,000 square feet of an existing tilt-up cooling facility.

SOLFORCE Energy- 2010
Santa Barbara, California
Providing Innovative Structural Solutions for Solar Panel Structures throughout the State of California.

Santa Barbara Middle School – Brook Institute Campus
Santa Barbara, California
Structural Forensic evaluation, investigation, and assessment of this historic building constructed in 1930. It is a two and a half story structure of about 50,000 square feet.

Harbor Care Center – 2010
Torrance, California
Roof mechanical unit reconfiguration and installation of structural support connection and anchorage on a 20,000 square foot health care structure.

Westwood Presbyterian Church
Los Angeles, California
Forensic investigative evaluation on cracked concrete walls due to foundation settlement, we provided remedial assistance on restoration of the structural integrity of the building consisting of part of a two story, 40-foot tall structure.

John Muir Adaptive Reuse Studies
Walnut Creek, California
Provided due diligence and structural evaluation of three large, multi-story existing buildings to be established as a new headquarters for John Muir Health.

Port of Long Beach New Headquarter
Long Beach, California
Provided structural peer review for about 200,000 square foot multi-story complexes for the Port of Long Beach headquarters.

Lockheed – Martin Plant No. 10
Palmdale, California
Structural design of the structural expansion to about 10,000 square feet for Plant 10 industrial facility including installation of new process tanks and modification to the existing structural systems.

Simi Valley Hospital
Simi Valley, California
Successfully performed SB-1953 HAZUS evaluation for the two story concrete and CMU 1964 original building, consisting of an area about 20,000 square feet.

Encino Hospital Medical Center
Encino, California
Successfully performed SB-1953 HAZUS study and collapse probability assessment for the existing North Wing, West Wing, and five story concrete Main Tower structures with the total area of about 160,000 square feet. Mitigated “Torsional Irregularity” and “Vertical Discontinuity” of the tower, through dynamic analysis procedure.

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
Burbank, California
Successfully performed SB-1953 HAZUS evaluation for the existing six story 62,000 square foot concrete hospital building for OSPHD reclassification of the facility from SPC-1 to SPC-2 category. Utilized dynamic analysis procedure in mitigation of the “Deflection Incompatibility” in the structure.

Simi Valley Hospital, Oncology
Simi Valley, California
Investigation evaluation on cracked concrete walls of the oncology building due to foundation settlement and provided remedial assistance on restoration of the structural integrity of the building.

Marina Del Rey Hospital
Marina Del Rey, California
Successfully performed SB-1953 HAZUS evaluation for the existing partial two story CMU shear-wall with wood roof diaphragm of a 100,000 square foot hospital for OSPHD reclassification of the facility from SPC-1 to SPC-2 category.

Investment Properties
Montecito, California
Due diligence and forensic investigation on the three-story hillside structure for damage due to a graduate landslide.
Pasadena Ice Rinks
Pasadena, California
Structural design of two 75,000 square foot single story ice rinks with a mezzanine, mechanical buildings, and two story lobby structure. The roof framing design included steel trusses with the span of 116 feet.

College of Redwoods
Eureka, CA
DSA plan check review of two story SMRF structure with wood roof and floor diaphragm with an area of about 12,000 square feet.

East LA College
Los Angeles, California
Performed DSA plan check on a two-story steel braced frame with concrete over metal deck diaphragm constructed on spread footings of about 25,000 square feet.

Emblem Elementary School
Santa Clarita, California
Structural design of a 34,000 square foot two-story structure, incorporating CMU shear walls built on a spread footing foundation system. The structure consisted of composite concrete floor on steel metal deck and steel beams. Features included a very large court yard diaphragm opening.

Café Gliss
Santa Barbara, California
Performed successful seismic investigation and evaluation of steel moment frames of an existing three-story 170,000 square foot commercial building required by change in use of occupancy. Evaluation was based on ASCE 41-06/FEMA 356 & ASCE 31-03 utilizing pseudo static push-over analysis for “Life-Safety” objective based on Basic Safety Earthquake.

Coastline Properties
Los Angeles, California
Assisted client with structural forensic investigation for a six-story residential complex due to structural deficiencies.

Persian Garden Properties
Montecito, California
Investigation on existing landscaping and structural performance of site retaining walls in proximity of a land slide zone.

Ventanas Oceanside Properties
Malibu, California
Evaluation of the structure due to construction deficiency and provided remedial assistance and dispute resolution for the client.

Thousand Oaks Properties
Thousand Oaks, California
Investigation on the structural damage due to soil movement foundation instability and provided remedial assistance and litigation support for the owner for insurance purposes.

Hollywood Celebrities Beach Mansions
Malibu, California
Structural design of several Hollywood Celebrity residential mansions in Santa Barbara, Malibu, and Hollywood areas. Names not disclosed due to contract agreement. Most structures involved complex architectural design and advanced structural systems and hydrostatic forces.

Santa Barbara County Historic Archive Building
Santa Barbara, California
Structural design of a 6,000 square foot two-story, utilizing CMU bearing wall system on spread footing foundation system. The structure consisted of composite wood floor and roof diaphragms with steel framing.

Keller Medical Building
Santa Barbara, California
Structural design of remodel and addition of 6,200 square feet of a two story steel and wood frame health care facility.

Penfield & Smith Engineers Corporate Headquarters
Santa Barbara, California
Structural design of 18,000 square foot five-story building frame system, incorporating steel braced frames, concrete-masonry shear-walls and moment frames. The building had to conform with strict architectural requirements of the City of Santa Barbara's Architectural Board of Review, which introduced structural complexity to the project.

Reedley College
Reedley, California
Structural design of 14,000 square foot single-story steel and wood frame with a seismic separation joint between project wings.

Arroyo Grande High School
Arroyo Grande, California
Structural design of 8,000 square foot single story CMU bearing and shear wall system, of an aquatic center with a metal roof deck.

Cottage Hospital – 2003
Santa Barbara, California
Structural remodel design and upgrade for support of various mechanical, air handling, and medical units/equipment.

Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara, California
Structural design of about 12,000 square feet of underground post-tensioned concrete structure in addition to the structural design of stage rigging systems for the entertainment section.

UCSB Material Research Laboratory
Santa Barbara, California
Structural design of the vertical and horizontal expansion of the existing three story laboratory building, involving the addition of a fourth story. Design included strengthening the existing steel members, connections of the existing steel moment frames, introduction of new moment frames and underpinning of existing foundations. New structure consisted of composite concrete floor on steel metal deck. The overall area consisted of about 15,000 square feet.

Bellwether Hotel and Mixed-Use Building
Bellingham, Washington
Structural design of 72,000 square foot three-story building with penthouse, this design included steel braced frame building with a composite deck diaphragm.

Harris Office Building
Bellingham, Washington
Structural design of 62,000 square foot four-story steel moment frame building with penthouse in an old part of Bellingham. The building resembled early 1900's architectural style. The structure consisted of composite concrete floor on steel metal deck. Features include a tall courtyard enclosed with a large movable glazed roof.

Fairhaven Mixed-Use Building
Bellingham, Washington
Structural design of a 24,000 square foot five-story, twenty-one unit luxury apartment building on cast-in-place underground parking. The structural system consisted of bearing wall system with concrete shear walls and cast-in-place concrete floors.

AT&T
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Structural design of numerous telecommunication stations for the company's wireless network including building facilities, stations, towers, additions, and installation on existing structures and high rise buildings.

Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Structural seismic design for various non-structural and architectural systems including cladding components for the international terminal. Poor soil condition and liquefaction due to a seismic event was required to be considered during the design process.

Real Estate Investments
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Expert consulting witness and litigation support on structural damages due to water damage and substantial foundation settlement.

Surrey Residential Complex
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Forensic investigation, providing remedial assistance and litigation support for residential building complex due to extensive fire damage.

West Vancouver Townhouses
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Peer review on forty-four, two-story multiple family townhouses on underground reinforced concrete slab parking structure.

Seismic Retrofit; Commercial Building Structure
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Single-story masonry structure retrofitted by introducing a steel moment frame in the front with an underpinning foundation support system.


Affiliations

• SEAOSC (Structural Engineers Association of Southern California); Director, 2011 – 2013
• SEAOSC; Chair – Technology Committee, 2012 – 2017
• SEAOSC; Chair – Convention Technical Committee, 2013 – 2014
• SEAOSC; Committee Member – Seismology, 2007 – 2018
• SEAOSC; Committee Member – Wind Ad-Hoc, 2010
• BPELSG; California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists – Professional Licensing – Subject Matter Expert, 2009
• NCEES; National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying – Subject Matter Expert, 2010
• City of Los Angeles Existing Building Code Ad-Hoc Committee, 2012 – 2017
• FEWA Forensic Expert Witness Association; Member, 2010 – 2018
• CAL E•M•A Registered Post–Earthquake and Disaster Safety Assessment Evaluator – 74169, 2010 – Present
• SEAOC; SE Member 2003 – Present
• NZSEE; New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering – Member, 1997 and 2012,
• AWC; American Wood Council – Member, 2012 – 2018
• CFSEI; Cold-Formed Steel Engineering Institute – Member, 2012 – 2018
• GEER; Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance – Member, 2011 – Present
• ASCE; SE Member, 2021 – Present
• ASCE Forensic Engineering Division; SE Member, 2007 – Present
• IALCCE; International Association for Life-Cycle Civil Engineering 2015 – Present
• EGBC; Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Canada, Advocate Committee, Co-Chair, 1996 – 1998


Qualifications

Casey Hemmatyar actively presents continuing education lectures to audiences of licensed engineers, architects, and general contractors on topics of structural and forensic engineering throughout North America. Mr. Hemmatyar has been the principal structural engineer on projects for clients such as NASA and several other high-profile agencies. Currently, he directs PSFEG and has served as Director for SEAOSC from 2011 to 2013.

He has been interviewed by public media, including the History Channel (documentary episode: “Collapse of Ancient Structures”) and Reuters (Mexico City school collapse).

Mr. Hemmatyar's experience also covers:
• Investigation and evaluation of structural integrity of existing structures,
• Expert consulting, court appearance, and trial testimony.


Awards & Honors

• OCEC; Orange County Engineering Council – Outstanding Engineering Merit Award, 2012
• SEAOSC; Structural Engineers Association of Southern California – Structural Engineering Presentations Award, 2011
• SEAOSC; Structural Engineers Association of Southern California – Presidential Certificate of Appreciation, 2016
• CWC; Canadian Wood Council – Structural Eng. Software Development Contribution Award, 1995
• Ranked 552nd out of approximately one million entry applicants, was admitted to the University of Science & Technology at the precocious age of 16. This university is renowned as one of Iran's top three engineering universities and boasts accreditation from the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)


Seminars & Training

Casey Hemmatyar, SE actively presents continuing education lectures to audiences of licensed engineers, architects, and general contractors on topics of structural and forensic engineering throughout North America. Mr. Hemmatyar has been the principal structural engineer on projects for clients such as NASA and several other high-profile agencies. Currently, he directs PSFEG and has served as Director for SEAOSC from 2011 to 2013.


Publications

• Study of Historical and Design Wind Speeds in the Los Angeles Area, prepared by SEAOSC Ad-Hoc Wind Committee Member, June 19, 2010
• Recommendations for the "Los Angeles Region Uniform Code Program" (LARUCP) Proposed Amendments to the 2010 California Building Code, "ICC Los Angeles Basin Chapter Structural Code" Committee Member, June 24, 2010


Professional References

United States Department of Justice, law firms, insurance carriers, and local governments.


Education

• BS Structural Engineering, University of Science & Technology (ABET-accredited), 1985
• MS Structural Engineering Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 1990
• Structural Engineering Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2000
• Structural Engineering Studies, Irvine Institute of Technology, Irvine, CA, 2002
• Juris Doctor Studies, SBV Colleges of Law, CA, 2014




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