When Do You Need Expert Witness at VCAT Hearings?
As a homeowner, it’s important to take action for both your own safety and the safety of your property. You got to hire an expert who is experienced in forensic structural engineering. A forensic structural engineer is someone who understands engineering. Someone who is specifically trained to spot defects in a property, assess the severity of the defects, and clarify the cause of the damage. Issues with the building can pop up at any time. Whether your property is newly built or has been occupied for several years. The building can have damage consistent with normal wear and tear. It even could have severe structural failure.
How to Legally Pursue Building Issues?
The VCAT stands for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It is the legal body that handles all litigation in Victoria. Have you ever found a severe fault with your property and decided to sue the responsible party? That’s when MFS Engineering will be with you every step of the way to go through the VCAT. But how exactly can we help? Disputes over building qualities and workmanship are very serious matters. These kinds of conflicts should be handled professionally and thoroughly. When a dangerous defect is noticed in your property, the first step you should take is to call us. One of our highly trained forensic structural engineers will be able to assess the severity of the damage and explain its cause.
Be prepared before taking disputes to court
The VCAT, which stands for the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, is the legal body that handles all litigation in Victoria. If you find a severe fault with your property and decide to sue the responsible party through the VCAT, MFS Engineering will be with you every step of the way. But how exactly can we help? Disputes over building qualities and workmanship are very serious matters and should be handled professionally and thoroughly. When a dangerous defect is noticed in your property, the first step you should take is to call us. One of our highly trained forensic structural engineers will be able to assess the severity of the damage and explain its cause.
Gather VCAT-compliant Evidence
Then, we will be able to fill out a legal report detailing our findings, compliant with the practice note- the PNVCAT2- which is required by the VCAT to serve as evidence should litigation proceed. Forensic structural engineers are the most trusted group by the courts to serve as expert witnesses in cases involving building quality and damage.
At MFS Engineering, we can serve as expert witnesses because we have the expertise needed to determine the cause behind property damage. After filling out the PNVCAT2 and moving forward at the courts, members of the MFS Engineering team can even appear in court as expert witnesses.
Learn more about MFS legal and VCAT expert witness services Here.
What is the Role of an Expert Witness?
Courts often ask for detailed reports about a building’s condition. It’s at this time that they come to organizations like ours to provide accurate information. If you have found property damage and would like to get to the root of the problem, give us a call.
Relying on our expertise, we offer you our independent opinion about the condition of your property. This opinion is independent of whether you want to pursue legal action or not.
However, if you do decide to move forward with legal proceedings against the party responsible for your property damage, we can continue to help. Having MFS Engineering by your side can make all the difference in your case.
Investigation of damage to Victorian and Edwardian style houses in Melbourne
