SUMMIT RESTORATION GROUP 888-602-8223
Litigation Support · Nationwide

Expert Witness & Litigation Support for Property Insurance Counsel

Independent scope, cost, and repairability opinions in first-party property disputes. Xactimate-based damage valuation, written to survive cross-examination — engaged on a flat fee, never a contingency.

CBC1270586FL Certified Building Contractor
29 yrsCombined team experience
Flat feeNo contingency arrangements

What we provide

Retained by policyholder and carrier-side counsel alike. Our work is confined to the construction record — what the damage is, what the repair requires, and what it costs.

Scope of Loss Opinions

Line-item Xactimate scope built from on-site inspection, field measurements, and photographic documentation — with the reasoning behind every line stated so it can be defended item by item.

Repair Cost Valuation

Replacement cost and actual cash value analysis using current regional pricing, including code upgrade requirements, manufacturer specifications, and accessory items commonly omitted from an initial estimate.

Repairability Assessment

Independent determination of whether a roofing or building system can be repaired to a serviceable condition or requires replacement, evaluated against manufacturer specification and applicable code.

Estimate Rebuttal & Review

Line-by-line analysis of an opposing estimate identifying omitted scope, pricing variances, and methodology issues — delivered as a written comparison suitable for exhibit use.

Appraisal Clause Support

Documentation and valuation work in support of the policy's appraisal process, including scope development for a party-appointed appraiser.

Deposition & Trial Testimony

Testimony on scope, repairability, and cost of repair, with a written report prepared to Rule 26 disclosure standards and a documented methodology.

The limits of our opinion — stated up front

Counsel should know exactly where our qualification ends before retaining us. We would rather narrow the engagement than have an opinion excluded.

We opine on

  • Scope of repair required to restore the property
  • Repair cost, RCV and ACV, using standard estimating methodology
  • Whether a system is repairable or requires replacement
  • Code and manufacturer requirements affecting the repair
  • Adequacy and completeness of an opposing scope or estimate

We do not opine on

  • Coverage, policy interpretation, or whether a claim is payable
  • Engineering causation — referred to a licensed engineer
  • Bad faith, claims-handling standards, or carrier conduct
  • Meteorological causation beyond documented NOAA event data
  • Any matter requiring a public adjuster or attorney license

Why flat fee, always

Courts across state and federal jurisdictions have held that contingency fee arrangements for expert witnesses are void as against public policy, and have excluded expert testimony on that basis alone. An opinion purchased on a percentage of the recovery is an opinion with a stake in the outcome.

Every engagement is quoted as a flat fee for a defined deliverable, or hourly for testimony and deposition time. We do not accept a percentage of any claim, settlement, or verdict, and we do not accept referral compensation tied to claim outcome. The fee is disclosed in the engagement letter and is available for cross-examination.

Engagement process

  1. Conflict check and case screen. Send the property address, loss date, and posture. We confirm no conflict and whether the matter fits our scope of qualification.
  2. Document review. Policy declarations, carrier estimate, prior reports, photographs, and pleadings as available.
  3. Site inspection. On-site documentation with measurements, test squares where appropriate, and full photographic record.
  4. Written report. Xactimate estimate with narrative, methodology, and exhibits, prepared to Rule 26 standards where the matter is in federal court.
  5. Testimony. Deposition and trial availability, billed hourly.

Submit a matter for review

Send the property address, date of loss, and current posture. We will confirm within one business day whether the matter is within our scope of qualification.