Michael S. Poles is a Construction Dispute Resolution Specialist



Litigation

 Mediation

 

Construction is an extremely complex industry and is chiefly comprised of architects, building designers, engineers, engineering ("A" license) contractors, general ("B" license) contractors, approximately 46 sub-contractor ("C" license) specialty trades and the manufacturers and suppliers of an endless list of building materials and products.

Disputes often arise and can frequently be mitigated with early intervention by a skillful and highly experienced mediator,  before they become a litigated case. 

When the disputing parties become embroiled in the issues and can no longer deal with each other, the dispute then often goes to the lawyers and the case is filed and litigated in court or arbitration.  This inevitably becomes very expensive and time consuming.

Mediation is an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option to litigation and is a process in which the parties can participate directly with resolving the disputed issues at hand.  Mediating the litigated construction case is a uniquely complex process which often involves numerous parties and is often contentious.

Michael S. Poles is a licensed general building contractor, construction manager, inspector and a forensic expert witness.  He brings more than 45 years of hands-on construction and business experience and knowledge of complex and highly technical issues to the mediation process with the proven ability to get right to the heart of the dispute and reach a successful resolution.

Common Disputes

Change Orders, Contractor vs. Sub-Contractor, Cost Over Runs, Defective Construction, Guest vs. Property Owner, Home Owner vs. Contractor, Personal Injury, Quality of Workmanship, Schedule & Delays, Tenant vs. Landlord

Project Types

Apartments, Commercial, Condominiums, Custom Homes, Fire Stations, Hospitals, Hotels, Industrial, Offices, Police Stations, Public Schools, Public Works, Shopping Centers, Skilled Nursing, Tract Housing, and Theme Parks.

Technical Issues

Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)

O.S.H.P.D. and D.S.A.

Accident Reconstruction

Personal Injury

Building Code Compliance

Plumbing

Building Code Standards

Premises Liability

Change Orders

Quality of Workmanship

Claims Analysis and Mitigation

Reinforced Concrete

Construction Administration

Reinforced Masonry

Construction Defects

Roofing and Waterproofing

Contract Compliance

Safety and O.S.H.A. Standards

Contractors State License Board

Scaffolding

Cost Estimating

Scheduling and Delays

Customs and Practices

Slips, Trips and Falls

Design and Implementation

Standards of Care

Earthquake Hazard

Standards of Practice

Electrical

Steps, Stairs and Railings

Flooring and Floor Covering

Structural Failure

Framing ( Wood and Steel )

Structural Steel and Welding

Geotechnical and Hydrological

Swimming Pools and Spas

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Water Intrusion and Mold

 Approach

Mr. Poles is a "Non-Attorney Mediator" who expertly evaluates the technical aspects of the issues while facilitating the parties in reaching a settlement.

 Biography

Michael S. Poles joined his father's construction business in 1962 and built commercial, industrial and residential projects for many years.  

He conducted continuous special inspections of reinforced masonry and reinforced concrete work during the course of construction for hundreds of projects.

Michael was the Inspector of Record (IOR) for numerous hospital construction projects and was registered as a Class "A" Construction Inspector for health facilities by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), as well as for public schools and state owned facilities registered by the Division of the State Architect (DSA).

Mr. Poles is the chief executive of a construction consulting firm known as MPGroup which is a collaboration of architects, engineers, contractors and other construction technical experts providing forensic expert witnesses for attorneys and insurance companies. 

Michael Poles was educated at the United States Navy Hospital Corps School at the Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, California and served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He majored in pre-med at Santa Monica College and at U.C.L.A. He later attended courses of study at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and at Lumblau Real Estate School.

Mr. Poles received his mediation training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and the Institute for Mediation Studies and maintains a high level of continuing education.

Michael is a member of the Court A.D.R. Panel of Mediators with the Los Angeles County Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and is conducting both court ordered and private mediation services. 

While construction is Michael's specialty area of expertise,  he also utilizes his unique education and medical training combined with more than 45 years of business experience to mediate matters pertaining to Premises Liability, Real Estate, Health Care and Elder Care.

 

Professional Associations

 

American Bar Association 

Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology 

American College of Forensic Examiners International

American Society for Testing and Materials 

American Institute of Architects/Los Angeles 

Beverly Hills Bar Association 

California Dispute Resolution Council 

Consumer Attorneys of California 

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles 

Construction Specifications Institute 

Forensic Expert Witness Association 

International Code Council 

Los Angeles County Bar Association    

Los Angeles Construction Inspectors Association 

 

National Fire Protection Association

 

National Forensic Center

Navy League of the United States | Beverly Hills Council

Southern California Mediation Association 

Structural Engineers Association of California 

West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

For additional information or questions regarding your case
call me for an initial consultation without cost or obligation.
 

Contact Information

Address:

Michael S. Poles GC, CM, RCI, DABFET, ACFE
1202 Greenacre Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90046

Phone:

323.874.8973 | 800.684.9100

Fax:

323.874.8948

E-MAIL

MPoles@MichaelPolesMediation.com

 

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Pacific Design Center | West Hollywood, California |  CLICK TO ENLARGE

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Michael S. Poles
GC,  CM,  RCI,  DABFET,  ACFE

General Contractor
Construction Manager
Registered Construction Inspector
Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Engineering & Technology
American College of Forensic Examiners


Mediator

 

 

Construction
Premises Liability
Real Estate
Health Care
Elder Care

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Legal-Ease for Mediators Symposium - Construction Syllabus

Sponsored by Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Service DRS
Southern California Mediation Association SCMA
March 7, 2009

Construction Process Can Lead to Defects  

Construction Defects Can Be Avoided!  

Construction Defects: What Often Goes Wrong And How the Contractor Can Avoid Defects Litigation 

Controlling Quality Construction - Part 1  

Controlling Quality Construction - Part 2  

Controlling Quality Construction - Part 3  

Construction Defects: Defending Against The Claims 

A Program Syllabus designed for Insurance Claims Adjusters and Attorneys illustrating methods, case precedence and discovery items necessary to successfully manage the Construction Defects' Claims and subsequent Litigation.

By Thomas M. Condas, Esq., and Michael S. Poles

What Are Construction Defects?  

What Are Construction Defects? - An ICBO Symposium  

A Program Syllabus presented for the Orange Empire Training Academy 1997 Training Matrix, Sponsored by the International Conference of Building Officials Orange Empire Chapter Symposium on September 3, 1997

Contractor's’ Customary Duties & Responsibilities

Guidelines for a Successful Construction Project

By: The Associated General Contractors of America, American Subcontractors Association, Inc, and Associated Specialty Contractors

 

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