Happy Holidays
from the staff of Yarmus Engineering, P.C.
We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
and we look forward to continuing to assist you with
your engineering and inspection needs throughout
the Holiday Season.
We are thankful for your patronage of our firm.
What’s New
Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E. has been notified that he is being nominated for the NYSSPE Meritorious Service Award, as well as for the NSPE Member Grade of Fellow.
Recent Projects
- Retained to provide Forensic Engineering services for a slip and fall incident which occurred in a New York City restaurant
- Consultation and review of the circumstances regarding the collapse of a temporary staircase on a Queens, NY construction site
- Retained to provide “expert witness” testimony regarding an accident which occurred at a Dutchess County, NY lumberyard
New Federal Rule on Experts
Takes Effect Dec. 1
A major revision to Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure takes effect Dec. 1, bringing about a significant change in the long-standing procedure governing expert witness reports. No longer will Rule 26 require full discovery of draft expert reports and broad disclosure of any communications between an expert and trial counsel, as has been the case ever since the rule’s revision in 1993.
Instead, those communications will now come under the protection of the work-product doctrine. The new rule will prohibit discovery of draft expert reports and limit discovery of attorney-expert communications. Still allowed will be full discovery of the expert’s opinions and of the facts or data used to support them.
The rule was approved by the U.S. Judicial Conference in September 2009. The Supreme Court approved the change to the rule in April of 2010 and submitted it to Congress. By law, if Congress takes no action to reject, modify or defer the proposed rule, it takes effect on Dec. 1. Please click here to read the article.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. specializes in providing Forensic Engineering services regarding Engineering, Construction, and Property Management related matters. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients.
Efficiency Rebate Program Results In Lower-Than-Expected Savings
In an article published on November 16th USA Today reported that “Lured by $300 million in stimulus-funded rebates on energy-efficient appliances, consumers have bought more than 615,000 washing machines, refrigerators and other appliances under the ‘dollars for dishwashers’ program. But despite rebates up to $425, less than 3% of those consumers bought water heaters – often the second-largest energy hog in the home, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.” That is one reason the program “isn’t meeting the US Department of Energy’s projected energy savings” of $84 million. “With 88% of rebates spent, they’ve generated $27.5 million in annual fuel and water savings.” Energy officials and experts believe several factors have led to the lower-than-expected numbers, including the weather. DOE spokeswoman Jen Stutsman explained that “for most states, the rebate program launched in March or April, giving a boost to cooling appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.” She added that “energy savings were just one goal of the rebates”.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to inspect, provide consultations on, and design domestic water heating systems and energy efficiency enhancement alternatives. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients.