Areas of Service

Gray Smith AIA AICP has worked with many Law Firms throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. In 2003 and 2005, Mr. Smith provided evaluations and recommendations to defense counsel for the Municipalities of San Juan and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico in response to claims filed by a local resident and a national disabilities organization. The 2 cases involved numerous governmental, athletic, health and recreational facilities, and were settled in Federal Court based on the recommendations of Mr. Smith’s extensive analysis. The firm has also worked with several Disabilities Law Projects on behalf of plaintiffs where accessibility was an issue.

In 2006 and 2007, GSO undertook an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) analysis of every polling place in the State of Delaware as to physical and administrative defects. All GSO recommended improvements were implemented by the Delaware State Elections Commission.

Several serious injury and wrongful death, premises liability cases have benefited from Gray Smith’s analysis. Testimony in a stairway fall death at an on-campus fraternity house at a major eastern university resulted in the university’s commitment to a million dollar endowment for fraternity house upgrades. Injuries at construction sites have also been an area of GSO analysis and testimony.

Defense and plaintiff matters involving architects’ design defects and professional duty-of-care have included construction projects costing from $100,000 to $20 million. Various building types from single-family houses to large government facilities have been evaluated as to architects’ and contractors’ performance with technical details, code compliance, accessibility design, and monitoring procedures during construction.

Over eighty percent of GSO litigation matters have been settled based on expert reports provided by Gray Smith’s Office.

Expert reports and trial testimony have consistently met rigorous Daubert standards.

Gray Smith’s Office provides the following:

Litigation Support:

Property investigation and analysis
Design review
Zoning Code analysis
Construction review
Injury site analysis
Technical research
Codes applications
Demonstrative evidence
Expert reports
Expert testimony

Architectural and Construction Experience:

Residential, commercial, Institutional, recreational
New construction
Building rehabilitation
Historic preservation
Feasibility analysis
Site design
Disabled accessibility
Construction monitoring

Planning and Zoning Experience:

Urban Planning
Urban Design
Zoning Code Analysis
Historic Preservation

Neighborhood Plans

Trial Exhibits:

Models, plans and charts
Maps, graphics and photography
Technical data and reports