Davenport Collapse: Investigation of Structural Failures and the Role of an Expert Witness
This three-part presentation explores structural failures, forensic investigation techniques and the legal responsibilities of expert witnesses.
In the first presentation, Rupert Price and Bill Bast analyze the May 28, 2023, partial building collapse in Davenport, Iowa. They discuss immediate emergency response protocols, the primary cause of the failure and recommendations for reforming repair project procurement processes.
In the second presentation, Price reviews recent structural defects, providing insight into forensic investigation methods and key lessons learned to prevent future project failures.
In the final presentation, Bast outlines the role of an expert witness, explaining how to translate complex engineering analysis into credible, defensible courtroom testimony. Key topics include conflicts of interest, engagement letters, document management, report preparation, depositions and trial proceedings.
Presenters
Rupert Price, SOCOTEC
Rupert Price is vice president and principal engineer for SOCOTEC's testing and forensics service lines. He brings more than a decade of experience in structural design and forensic engineering, specializing in litigation support for construction defects, structural failures and site injuries. Before joining SOCOTEC, Price held leadership roles at Thornton Tomasetti offices in London, Abu Dhabi and Chicago. His practice includes structural health monitoring analysis and resolving construction disputes across all major building materials, combining design experience with forensic investigations to evaluate structural integrity.
William Bast, SOCOTEC
William D. Bast is a principal and regional director at SOCOTEC Engineering Inc., with more than 41 years of structural engineering experience. His expertise includes forensic engineering, building envelope evaluation and repair, peer reviews and expert witness testimony. Before joining SOCOTEC, Bast was a principal at Thornton Tomasetti's Chicago office and worked at firms including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. He is a past president of both the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, a certified peer reviewer for the City of Chicago, and a former adjunct professor at the School of Architecture at Taliesin.
