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An analysis of how field-testing conditions affect reliability, interpretation, and evidentiary weight By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) Field testing is often relied upon to evaluate material performance under actual site conditions. In forensic investigations, these results may be used to support conclusions regarding installation quality, material suitability,…
An examination of how testing practices affect reliability, interpretation, and evidentiary value By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) Tile and stone laboratory test reports are often treated as objective and definitive. In practice, the testing process may be influenced by sampling methods, specimen preparation, reporting practices, and selective…
By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) EJ171 is one of the most frequently cited standards in tile and stone failure claims. It is also one of the least realistically implemented in the field. Originally adapted from movement principles used in the concrete industry, EJ171 was introduced into the…
Silicosis Article #9 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) Silica dust isn’t just a shop hazard, it’s a growing legal issue. Fabricators who work with engineered stone are facing increased scrutiny as more workers are diagnosed with silicosis, and lawyers are beginning to treat these cases the…
Silicosis Article #8 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) Silicosis exposure is no longer confined to the jobsite. The tentacles of exposure stretch beyond saws, grinders, and dust-filled shops, into homes, cars, laundries, and the very lives of unsuspecting family members. We’ve been on job sites. We’ve…
Silicosis Article #7 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) In most construction cases, exposure or failure is isolated, a single jobsite, a single product defect, a single injured party. Silicosis cases tied to engineered stone is different. We’ve seen this firsthand: one slab, one saw, one shop,…
Silicosis Article #6 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) When we’re brought in to support silicosis or construction-related litigation, one of the first things we ask is, “What standard is being cited, and is it being applied correctly?” It’s a simple question. But too often, the answer is…
Silicosis Article #5 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) One of the most common mistakes we see in silicosis and construction litigation isn’t about what a lawyer does, it’s about when they do it. Waiting too long to involve your silicosis expert doesn’t just delay strategy. It…
Silicosis Article #4 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) In litigation, an expert report is more than a formality. It’s the backbone of your argument, the first impression for the court, and the first target in cross-examination. Yet too often, reports are rushed, vague, or overly confident,…
Silicosis Article #3 — By Gil Chotam & Greg Andrews | National Tile and Stone Authority (NTSA) The phrase “the next asbestos” gets thrown around too often in litigation circles. But in the case of engineered stone, it may not be hyperbole, it might be an early warning. Across the country, attorneys are filing class actions and personal…