Paul Joelson

Accepting select engagements

Licensed Architect, General Contractor, Certified Access Specialist & Forensic Consultant

Paul A. Joelson AIA, CASp, CSI brings more than 50 years of hands-on experience in architecture, construction management, and forensic consulting to attorneys and clients throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Schedule a Forensic Consultation

Daubert-tested

Reports and depositions

50+

Years of Professional Experience

150+

Post-Northridge Earthquake Projects Led

CA · AZ · NV

Jurisdictions Served

Active Licenses & Certifications

Practice

Areas of Expertise

01

Building Forensics & Failure Analysis

02

ADA Compliance Consulting & Civil Rights Litigation Support

03

Construction Defects

04

Building Envelope Failures

05

Contract Disputes & Delay Claims

06

Reconstruction Design & Management

07

Real Estate Disclosure & Due Diligence

08

Accessibility Compliance Audits (CASp)

09

Quality Control Consulting

10

Personal Injury Claims

11

Expert Witness Services

Engagements

Representative Matters

1994

Post-Northridge Earthquake Damage Assessment & Reconstruction Program

Directed damage assessments, engineering studies, reconstruction planning, and cost estimates across more than 150 insurance-related projects — including shopping centers, office buildings, and multi-family and single-family properties — on behalf of Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Continental, CNA, Prudential, TransAmerica, and AIG Insurance Companies.

Lead Architect / Team Leader

ADA Civil Rights Litigation — Denial of Access

Provided expert witness services to plaintiff and defense counsel across California and Nevada on ADA and CBC Title 24 accessibility compliance issues, including barrier identification, code analysis under ADAAG, FHA, IBC, and ICC/ANSI standards, and civil rights litigation support.

Expert Witness

Building Envelope Failure Investigations

Conducted forensic investigations and authored expert opinions on building envelope failures involving curtain walls, roofs, windows, doors, waterproofing systems, foundations, and exterior finishes for insurance carriers, developers, and property owners.

Forensic Consultant / Expert Witness

Construction Defect Analysis & Reconstruction Design

Retained by multiple California law firms to analyze construction defects, prepare cost-of-repair estimates, and develop reconstruction design solutions for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects on behalf of both plaintiff and defense counsel.

Expert Witness / Forensic Consultant

Contract Disputes & Delay Claims

Evaluated architect, developer, general contractor, and subcontractor performance in connection with contract disputes and delay claims, providing written opinions and testimony for law firms across California and Arizona.

Expert Witness

Real Estate Disclosure & Due Diligence Investigations

Performed condition assessments and disclosure investigations for real estate transactions, identifying latent defects and advising counsel on disclosure obligations and liability exposure.

Consulting Expert / Expert Witness

Engagement

Frequently Asked Questions

Mr. Joelson serves as an expert witness on ADA civil rights and denial-of-access claims, building envelope failures, construction defects, contract disputes, delay claims, and real estate disclosure matters. He is retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel across California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Yes. Mr. Joelson holds a California Division of State Architect CASp certification (CASp-061) and is an ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector and Plans Examiner. He has delivered AIA-approved continuing education seminars to licensed architects and construction professionals on ADA and state accessibility codes.

Mr. Joelson is a licensed architect in California and Arizona, a licensed general contractor in California, and a certified building inspector with more than 50 years of hands-on experience spanning design, construction supervision, project management, and forensic consulting. He founded P.A. Joelson & Co., Inc. in 1984 and co-founded Joelson Vail Associates LLC in 1996.

Yes. Following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Mr. Joelson led a team that completed damage assessments and reconstruction programs on more than 150 projects for major insurance carriers including Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and AIG. He is experienced managing complex, multi-site engagements.

His experience covers a broad range of property types including shopping centers, retail stores, office buildings, hotels and casinos, multi-family and mixed-use residential, schools, public buildings, medical facilities, and sports arenas. He has served government agencies, national retailers, and private developers alike.

Mr. Joelson is primarily available in California, Arizona, and Nevada. His firm, Joelson Vail Associates LLC, serves attorneys throughout California and the Southwest.

Retain an Expert with 50+ Years of Architectural & Forensic Experience

Schedule a forensic consultation or expert witness engagement with Paul A. Joelson AIA, CASp, CSI — serving attorneys throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada.