Design Vision's founder, Chris LeBlanc, is a Certified Building Official and Code Specialist with an Architectural Degree and 15 years of experience as a litigation consultant focused on premises liability, construction defects, and property damage. Chris leverages his experience in site documentation and visualization to analyze and clearly compare disputed As-Built Conditions to Building Code Requirements, ADA Regulations, Construction Documents, Expert Reports, and Witness Statements. He is qualified and available as an expert witness, consultant, or visualization specialist.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION:

Building Codes / Life Safety Codes / ADA Regulations
Specialized in assessing disputed As-Built premises conditions to determine applicable code requirements and evaluate compliance with a wide range of building codes, regulations, and standards including the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), ADA Regulations (ANSI 117.1), and Life Safety Code.

As-Built Documentation / Site Inspection
As-built documentation of premises conditions for renovation and forensics via advanced technologies including Laser Scanning, Photogrammetry, and P2P Distometers. Evaluated levels of accuracy achievable and likely sources of error for a wide range of measurement and documentation methods. Developed proprietary and patent-pending tools to evaluate and document compliance with Building Code requirements for Changes in Elevation within the Means of Egress such as stairs, ramps and other walking surfaces.

3D CAD & Design Visualization
Provided technical 3D CAD expertise to architecture and engineering design professional for more effective design development and review.

SELECTED CASE EXPERIENCE:

Trip and Fall on Entry Stair - Defense, LA, Consultant
Assessed alleged code violations related to stair dimensions. Demonstrated the opposing expert incorrectly cited building codes and relied on an unreliable measurement methodology that is specifically advised against in NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

Hurricane Damage Dispute – Plaintiff, TX, Expert Witness
Provided analysis comparing appraisal reports to documented damage of a 4-story hotel. Created a 3D reconstruction of as-failed conditions based on construction drawings, as-built drawings, construction photos, and high-resolution aerial photos. Demonstrated appraisal errors via 3D visualizations which clearly identified areas that were covered vs not covered and compared these to documented wind-created damage.

Renovation Means and Methods Allegedly Violated Buildings Codes - Defense, FL, Expert Witness
Compared documentation of construction progress to permitted construction documents, building codes, and standards. Created timeline of the construction process and permit approval record including detailed 3d visualizations comparing construction details as installed vs required by codes.

Trip and Fall at Night in Parking Lot - Defense, LA, Consultant
Assessed allegations that lighting levels violated certain codes and standards. Provided exhibits and reports which correctly identified the applicable historic building codes and standards for lighting levels where the fall occurred and demonstrated those levels exceeded requirements. Prepared questions for deposition.

Slip and Fall on Water Allegedly Caused by a Single Ply Roof Leak - Defense, IL, Consultant
Analyzed allegations that a TPO roof leak caused a patron to slip and fall. Created a detailed 3d model of the roof and ceiling structure to analyze potential sources of leaks where the fall occurred. Animated sequence explaining the process of installing TPO roofing.

CASE STUDIES:

Hurricane Adjustment Dispute

3D Reconstruction of Conditions at Time of Loss
Documentation of Damages
Analysis of Construction Type and Water Paths Through Building
Analysis of Covered vs Not Covered Areas Compared to Openings in Roof

Construction Defect - Construction Sequence

When making an argument that depends on clearly understanding a complex sequence of events, it is critical to simplify concepts as much as possible. This is a series of trial exhibits created to educate on the fundamentals of a construction sequence which was critical to the expert witness' argument. While photos of the construction existed, they seemed to confuse more than clarify, as can be seen in the last frame of this sequence.