James Groux

Expertise

James provides expert witness services at Gately Smithers Purslow. He is an experienced architect, project manager and expert witness who has also owned and run a successful construction company during the noughties. His expert witness specialisms are in the area of accommodation needs (in personal injury and medical negligence cases) and construction defects and disputes.

With over 40 years’ experience as an architect and 30 years as an expert witness, James is experienced in forensic investigation, understanding construction law and technology and the needs of people who have had life threatening and long-term personal injuries. In addition, James has a long-standing knowledge and expertise in preparing expert witness reports for the courts.

James has experience over all the United Kingdom and in Europe and has travelled extensively on business to Africa, China and the Middle East.

How do you help clients?

In the field of accommodation, I prepare reports for both claimants and defendants and recognised across the industry as a top expert within a small group of accommodation experts working in the UK.

Within Gately Smithers Purslow, I have accepted instructions in the following areas;

• Expert witness in the field of accommodation needs in personal injury cases arising from road traffic accidents (RTA’s), workplace accidents and medical negligence.
• Expert witness in the field of construction disputes, building defects, professional negligence and contract law.

The range of services I provide comprise, in the main, the following:

• Visiting clients in their home to assess their current and future accommodation needs inclusive of full reviews and measured surveys of their property.
• Considering and assessing accommodation needs based on expert team reviews on medical, occupational therapy, care management and other pertinent evidence provided.
• Assessing the future needs of clients by way of relocation to new properties inclusive of researching property prices.
• Providing adaptation advice and costs.
• Preparation of running and maintenance costs arising from property moves and adaptations in line with the clients disability needs.

Experience

1. Advising on the forensic review and report on multiple property defects created by UK leading house builder (acting for Home Build Insurance providers) leading to multiple claims.
2. Leading on the report for a claimant in litigation claim against contractor for unacceptable standard of works inclusive of review of defects in relation to Building Regulations and British Standards.
3. Acting as representation on behalf of claimant in arbitration case against contractor failing to provide standard required relative to the project brief and required level of quality.
4. Delivering a report for a developer claimant against design and build contractor prior to completion of the construction of a terrace of 6 houses with a variety of non- compliant elements of building work.
5. Completion of accommodation reports and adaption proposals for a number of properties owned by a professional man who was seriously injured in a bicycle accident resulting in numerous broken bones, lost limb and other serious injuries.