David Ahearn, PE, specializes in scientific investigations and root cause analyses for failed components, structures, and systems. He focuses on identifying the various factors that contribute to failure, including design flaws, manufacturing processes, usage conditions, maintenance practices, and applications. His expertise spans a wide range of cases, from common items like roadways and consumer products to intricate industrial applications such as refractory linings and computer components. Beyond individual components and structures, Mr. Ahearn conducts comprehensive systems analyses, ensuring regulatory compliance, performing gap assessments, and verifying code and safety adherence.
Mr. Ahearn brings over 25 years of combined experience in construction defect, failure analysis, and investigative work, with a diverse, deep background in residential construction, including foundations, framing, roofing, exterior finishes, fenestrations, plumbing, and minor electrical.
As a civil engineer practitioner, Mr. Ahearn’s experience included site design (buildings, roads, parking, utilities, and accessibility), municipal planning, stormwater management, and water/wastewater treatment and piping. Mr. Ahearn has investigated failures of water distribution pumps/piping, building collapse, building moisture intrusion, concrete and precast concrete structures, foundations, and soil systems. In addition to construction methods, Mr. Ahearn is an active member of the ANSI A10 committee on construction safety, contributing toward increased workplace safety.
Mr. Ahearn has more than 15 years of materials science experience, which has included materials characterization, testing, fractography, and failure analysis of glass, ceramics, refractories, concretes, and coatings. Some example material applications include cast-in-place and precast concrete, industrial refractory linings, glass and ceramic components, plumbing fixtures, pharmaceuticals, container glass, building glass, and industrial equipment components. Mr. Ahearn has performed hundreds of pharmaceutical manufacturing root cause investigations, including tableted oral dosages, liquid oral dosages, and transdermal patches. He also has extensive experience analyzing coatings used for adhesives, paints, and sealants.
Mr. Ahearn has published peer-reviewed engineering and scientific research and provided testimony regarding engineering analysis, materials science, and safety.
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Secretariat has earned the top position in the Lexology Index Thought Leaders – Arbitration 2025 report, with the most experts listed in the rankings, and highest number of Global Elite Thought Leaders.
Expert Economic Testimony Plays Crucial Role in Puerto Rico Healthcare Antitrust Case
Director Jason Albert provided pivotal testimony in Roberto Vázquez-Ramos, et al. v. Triple-S Salud, et al., which examined allegations of unfair competition and monopolistic practices involving exclusive provider arrangements under Puerto Rico’s government health plan. In May 2019, the Plaintiffs—a group of urologists in Puerto Rico’s Western Region—alleged that Triple-S Salud (“Triple-S”), the region’s government […]
Navigating ECCTA: A Guide for Organizations
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