Richard E. Buck , Esq.

Residential: Single-Family, Condominium and Luxury Custom Homes

• Construction defects concerning roofs, windows, framing, concrete, stucco, plumbing/HVAC, balconies, electrical, pools and soils subsidence
• Represented five builders/developers in class action claim for pinhole leaks in galvanized pipe involving approximately 5,000 homes in Los Angeles County
• Right to Repair/SB 800 claims
• Violations of Business & Professions Code Sections 7100 et seq.
• Soils subsidence/slope creep; water-cement ratio, water vapor barrier, and soils sulfates and complex geotechnical issues
• Subrogation claims involving plumbing and fire losses
• PEX plumbing connections and copper pipe defect claims
• WRAP/OCIP policies
• Homeowners’ association (HOA) claims involving defects in roofing, stucco, concrete flatwork and slope failures
• Defect allegations concerning sewer main pipes
   

Commercial

• Curtain wall/glazing and window defects in high-rise medical office building
• Hotel structural steel defects
• Claims for defective waterproofing on decks, walkways and planters in mixed-use building
• Commercial storage buildings: claims of withdrawal of subjacent and lateral support
• Allegations of defective installation of caissons/columns
• Hotels: construction defect, delay damages, loss of business/rents and business interruption
• Low-income apartment housing projects
• Airplane hangar: alleged construction defects, delay damages and mechanic’s lien
• Subterranean parking garages: water damage/intrusion
• Fire sprinkler failure
   

Risk Transfer/Indemnity

• Interpretation and scope of express contractual indemnity in residential and commercial cases
• Implications of Crawford v. Weathershield and defense exposure
• Additional insured obligations under CGL insurance policies with focus on “completed operations” and “ongoing operations” provisions

Wrongful Termination

• Multiple wrongful termination matters, including whistleblower retaliation

Harassment

• Sexual harassment and Gender Discrimination matter between Team Supervisor and Manager, including hostile work environment and disparate treatment

Separation Agreement

• Matter between corporate officers concerning alleged violation of confidentiality provision

Wage & Hour

• Wrongful death/traumatic brain injuries sustained in commercial trucking incidents
• Motor carrier liability
• Vehicle liability
• Premises liability/slip and fall in commercial retail establishments
• Dog bites
• Negligence and intentional tort allegations asserted against churches and religious organizations

Professional Negligence in Construction

• Architectural design defects and structural design defects
• Claims against mechanical engineers involving HVAC systems
• Claims against geotechnical engineers for failure to properly test soils and soil compaction, failure to properly design residential slabs/foundations

Medical Malpractice

• Claims involving standard of care issues brought against orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, OB/GYN certified specialists and general practice/family practice providers

Real Property/Habitability

• Encroachment and neighboring walls/fences
• Easement disputes
• Landlord/tenant
• Breach of implied warranty of habitability