Built on Carpentry
Most defect allegations involve work Paul has done himself. He joined Carpenters Local 10 in 1989 and spent his early career framing, setting doors, installing millwork and finishing interiors. From 1994 to 2004 he was a lead carpenter and foreman for several firms, leading carpentry, framing, millwork and finish work on commercial, retail and residential projects, including work for Shriners Hospital, Marshall Field's and Jewel-Osco, and overseeing accessibility-compliant remodels.
That trade foundation means he can look at a joint, a fastening pattern or an installation sequence and recognize how it was done and how it should have been done.
Supervising and Correcting Work
Defects are found and fixed by supervisors, and Paul has spent two decades in that role. He was Project Manager and Superintendent for Oakley Construction Contractors in 2004 and 2005, then Foreman and Construction Supervisor for the City of Chicago Department of General Services from 2005 to 2007. Since 2007 he has been a General Foreman at O'Hare International Airport, overseeing renovation, maintenance and construction across terminals and concourses, and directing trades responsible for carpentry, flooring, plumbing, electrical and finish work.
In that role he inspects work before it is accepted and directs correction when it falls short. The same judgment applies when he evaluates a defect claim.
Credentials
| Credential | Details |
|---|---|
| General Contractor License | City of Chicago, active |
| Journeyman Carpenter | Carpenters Local 10, since 1989 |
| OSHA 30-Hour Outreach | Construction, completed 2025 |
| OSHA 10-Hour Outreach | General Industry, completed 2025 |
| Disability Awareness and Assistance Program | Chicago Department of Aviation, 2024 |
Paul does not hold an engineering or architectural license and does not offer opinions that require one.
Defect Matters
Construction defect matters on Paul's testimony list include Scott v. Hartz Construction in the Circuit Court of Will County, Illinois, where he provided a report, deposition and trial testimony for the plaintiff; Englehaupt v. A.B. Edward Enterprises, an AAA arbitration in which he testified at the hearing for the defendant; and Talley v. Thunder Basin Homes in Gillette, Wyoming, where he provided a report and deposition for the plaintiff. They are listed to show the range of his work, not to suggest any result. His CV contains the full list.
How He Works
Paul treats each defect allegation as a question to be answered, not a conclusion to be supported. He reviews the documents, inspects the work and reports what he finds, including conditions that do not help the party that retained him. That is the standard counsel should expect from any expert, and it is the one he holds himself to. See defective workmanship claims for how he approaches a claim.