Environmental Law shareholders Steve Miano and Pete Keays will be part of a short course discussion entitled “When Sinkhole Become Legal Pitfalls: ‘Sinkhole Law’ and How to be an Indispensable Expert Witness” at The Sinkhole Conference on October 6, 2026. Ira Sasowsky (PhD, PG) from the University of Akron will also join the conversation.
Sinkholes can create considerable legal issues that can seem mystifying and difficult to resolve. Steve, Pete and Dr. Sasowsky will help illuminate some of the legal dimensions of sinkhole issues and provide scientific and technical guidance for attendees. Attendees will be better equipped to be effective and practical advisors, consultants or expert witnesses on sinkhole issues.
In the first section , Steve and Pete will offer a primer on the types of legal issues that can arise from a sinkhole, including the types of claims that nearby property owners and other parties might bring, the elements that must be proven for each claim, and the kinds of damages and other remedies that are available. The panelists will also cover the types of legal recourse available to regulators and nearby property owners when addressing or attempting to prevent sinkholes, including permit conditions and modifications, enforcement actions, settlement agreements, and, if all else fails, litigation. There will be a special focus on the concept of causation, a critical but complicated component of most claims.
Steve, Pete and Dr. Sasowsky will then cover the role of technical experts and offer some practical guidance for successfully navigating the legal world. Topics will include: tips for working with lawyers; what makes a great expert; the importance of terminology; communicating complex technical topics to lay audiences through effective expert reports, visuals, and testimony; preparing for or surviving a deposition or cross-examination; addressing unfavorable facts and contrary opinions by experts on the other side; and avoiding common pitfalls throughout the process.
To wrap up the course, the panelists will lead a group exercise that will allow attendees to use what they’ve just learned about sinkholes and the law.
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