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Western-EGI›Services›Forensic Engineering
Forensic Engineering & Failure Investigation

Find Out
What Failed.
And Why.

When a slope moves, a foundation settles, a road fails before its time, or a structure shows distress — Western-EGI investigates the cause. Our geotechnical engineers provide objective, technically defensible failure analysis for insurance companies, attorneys, property owners, and contractors across Wyoming and the region.

PE
Licensed Investigators
Geo
Primary Focus
3
Client Types Served
✓
Expert Witness Available
Forensic Engineering

Engineering Investigation Done Right

Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles to the investigation of failures, distress, and disputes. It requires more than technical knowledge — it requires the discipline to separate cause from symptom, the rigor to document findings that will hold up under scrutiny, and the judgment to communicate complex technical conclusions to non-technical audiences.

Western-EGI's forensic practice is grounded in geotechnical engineering — the discipline most often at the root of failures that affect structures, pavements, slopes, and infrastructure in Wyoming's challenging geology and climate. Our investigators are licensed Professional Engineers with hands-on field experience across Southwest Wyoming's coal geology, expansive soils, and subsidence-prone terrain. We know this ground because we work in it every day.

We work with insurance companies and adjusters, attorneys on both sides of litigation, property owners seeking answers, and contractors disputing claims. Our role is always the same: find out what happened, document it thoroughly, and report it accurately — regardless of who hired us.

Investigation Services

What We Investigate

⛰️
Slope & Embankment Failures

Investigation of slope instability, landslides, retaining wall failures, and embankment distress — the most common geotechnical failure type in Wyoming.

  • Failure mechanism identification
  • Slope stability back-analysis
  • Drainage and water intrusion assessment
  • Retaining wall and MSE wall failures
  • Embankment and fill slope distress
  • Remediation recommendations
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Foundation Settlement & Distress

Investigation of differential settlement, heave, foundation movement, and structural distress caused by subsurface conditions.

  • Differential settlement analysis
  • Expansive soil heave investigation
  • Collapsible soil assessment
  • Foundation type adequacy review
  • Crack pattern mapping and interpretation
  • Subsurface investigation to determine cause
🕳️
Subsidence Investigation

Investigation of ground subsidence and sinkhole formation related to abandoned mine workings, natural dissolution, or subsurface voids — a unique risk in Southwest Wyoming's coal country.

  • Mine subsidence cause determination
  • Surface expression mapping
  • Drill program design and oversight
  • Damage causation analysis
  • Risk assessment and remediation planning
  • AML program investigation support
🛣️
Pavement & Road Failures

Investigation of premature pavement failure, base failure, and road distress — including design adequacy review and construction quality assessment.

  • Pavement distress mapping and analysis
  • Subgrade and base failure investigation
  • Moisture infiltration and drainage failures
  • Design adequacy review
  • Construction deficiency identification
  • Laboratory testing of recovered materials
🏗️
Structural Distress Investigation

Investigation of cracking, movement, and distress in buildings, walls, and structures where geotechnical or materials causes are suspected.

  • Building movement and crack investigation
  • Retaining wall and site wall failures
  • Weld and connection failure investigation
  • Construction defect analysis
  • Materials testing of recovered samples
  • As-built vs. design comparison
📄
Reports & Documentation

Technically rigorous investigation reports written to withstand scrutiny — from insurance claim support to litigation-ready expert opinions.

  • Cause and origin investigation reports
  • Insurance claim engineering reports
  • Expert opinion letters and affidavits
  • Peer review of opposing engineering reports
  • Repair cost and scope opinions
  • Litigation support documentation packages
Who We Work With

Three Client Types. One Standard of Work.

Western-EGI provides forensic engineering to insurance companies, legal counsel, and private clients. Our findings are objective — our job is to determine what happened, not to support a predetermined outcome. That independence is what makes our reports useful and our testimony credible.

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Insurance & Adjusters

We provide engineering cause-and-origin analysis to support or refute property damage claims — giving adjusters and carriers the technical foundation they need to make accurate coverage decisions.

  • Cause and origin determination
  • Pre-existing condition vs. sudden event analysis
  • Repair scope and cost opinions
  • Site investigation and documentation
  • Clear, non-technical summary reports
⚖️
Attorneys & Litigation

We provide technically defensible expert opinions for plaintiff and defense counsel — from initial case assessment through deposition and, where appropriate, trial testimony. Brandt Lyman, PE has provided expert testimony in Wyoming and South Dakota proceedings. Western-EGI is selective about the cases we accept, which means when we do engage, our opinions carry weight.

  • Expert witness retention and opinion
  • Case assessment and early evaluation
  • Deposition and trial testimony
  • Peer review of opposing expert reports
  • Demonstrative exhibit support
🏠
Property Owners & Contractors

Property owners and contractors hire us when they need answers — whether they're dealing with a dispute, a warranty claim, or simply trying to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.

  • Independent cause investigation
  • Contractor dispute support
  • Warranty and defect claim analysis
  • Remediation planning and oversight
  • Second opinion reviews
Expert Witness

Testimony That Holds Up

Expert witness work requires more than technical knowledge. It requires the ability to communicate complex engineering conclusions clearly under examination — and the credibility that comes from a career of doing the actual work, not just reviewing it from a desk.

Brandt Lyman, PE has provided expert testimony in Wyoming and South Dakota proceedings, covering geotechnical failure causation, subsidence, and construction defects. His opinions are grounded in field investigation and supported by laboratory data — the same standard he applies to every Western-EGI project. Trial testimony is available where appropriate.

Western-EGI is selective about the forensic cases we accept. We take on matters where we can add genuine technical value and render an honest opinion — not cases where a conclusion is expected before the investigation begins. That selectivity is what makes our work useful to the attorneys and carriers who retain us.

🎓
Brandt Lyman, PE — Expert Witness Licensed Professional Engineer · WY, CO, UT, TX, SD · 21+ years field experience · Expert testimony in WY & SD proceedings
Why Western-EGI

The Integrated Investigation Advantage

Most forensic firms investigate failures from the outside in — reviewing documents, visiting a site once, and forming opinions without in-house lab capability or deep regional experience. Western-EGI investigates from the ground up. We drill. We sample. We test. We know Southwest Wyoming's geology because we've been working in it since 2014.

In-House Lab & Field Capability

Western-EGI's AASHTO-certified lab — consistently rated in the top 5% for testing accuracy nationwide — supports forensic investigation with direct access to soil classification, compaction, strength, and gradation testing. When we investigate a pavement failure, we test the recovered materials ourselves. When we investigate a foundation failure, we drill and sample in-house. No subcontracting the critical data.

  • AASHTO-certified lab, top 5% accuracy nationally
  • In-house drill rig for subsurface investigation
  • Soil classification, compaction, and strength testing
  • Pavement core recovery and analysis
  • Chain-of-custody documentation for litigation
Wyoming Geology Expertise

Failures in Wyoming often have causes that outside investigators miss — coal-bearing geology creating subsidence risk, expansive and collapsible soils causing foundation movement, freeze-thaw cycles driving pavement distress, and drainage patterns shaped by terrain that doesn't behave like textbook cases. Western-EGI's engineers know this ground because they design in it, drill in it, and test in it every week.

  • Deep familiarity with Southwest Wyoming coal geology
  • Expansive and collapsible soil recognition
  • Mine subsidence causation expertise
  • Regional climate and drainage pattern knowledge
  • Established relationships with county and state agencies

Need Answers, Not Just a Report.
Call Western-EGI.

We investigate failures to find the truth — then document it in a way that holds up. For insurance, litigation, or your own peace of mind, we're the engineering firm Southwest Wyoming trusts for honest answers.

Start a Conversation
Western-EGI engineer on site measurement Drill crew investigation Soil sample close-up
Representative Projects

Forensic Engineering in Action

Forensic Subsidence — Blackhawk, SD
Hideaway Hills Abandoned Gypsum Mine

In 2020 a subsidence hole opened in a residential neighborhood in Blackhawk, SD — emergency responders quickly determined it was caused by collapse of an abandoned historic gypsum mine. Several homes were evacuated; by 2023 the hole was still growing and streets remained fenced off. Over 150 homes are affected, with estimated damages exceeding $34M. Fox Rothschild retained Western-EGI in 2021 to evaluate whether the full subdivision was at risk, inspect homes for subsidence damage, and complete a preliminary drilling program to characterize the geology beneath the affected area. Investigation and litigation support are ongoing.

Years: 2021–Ongoing
Client: Fox Rothschild LLP (Kathleen Barrow)
Est. Damages: $34M+
Staff: Gerrard, Lyman, Woods, Meek
Forensic Geotechnical — Rock Springs, WY
Rock Springs High School Track — Subsurface Defect

During demolition of the existing RSHS track field, unforeseen trapped moisture was discovered in the subgrade — caused by an impermeable membrane installed under the field that had been trapping moisture for years. The defect was not identified in the original geotechnical investigation because drilling had not been permitted on the field itself. Western-EGI identified the cause, assessed the extent, and redesigned the section in the field to address the condition and keep construction on schedule.

Years: 2019–2020
Client: Sweetwater County School District No. 1
Value: ~$1.5M
Staff: Lyman, Woods, Meek
Forensic Pavement — Sweetwater County, WY
County Road #33 — Pavement Failure Investigation

Continual failures in CR #33 required a forensic geotechnical investigation to determine why repeated repairs were not holding. Western-EGI's investigation revealed the area had been filled for years without addressing the root cause of failure. Western-EGI designed a repair section targeting the actual failure mechanism — providing confidence that the road would not fail again in the addressed area.

Year: 2020
Client: Sweetwater County Public Works
Value: ~$375K
Staff: Lyman, Gerrard, Meek
Residential Forensic — Rock Springs, WY
Paul Residence — Differential Settlement Investigation

A Rock Springs homeowner experienced nearly 7 inches of differential settlement caused by water runoff from an adjacent property. Western-EGI performed a forensic geotechnical investigation to identify the failure mechanism, conducted structural inspections of the affected home, and provided inspection services during push-pier installation to stabilize the foundation. Brandt Lyman provided expert witness deposition testimony on behalf of the homeowner. The case settled for a confidential amount — Western-EGI's investigation and testimony were instrumental in resolving the dispute.

Years: 2015–2017
Client: Private Homeowner
Staff: Lyman
Get In Touch

Ready to Work Together?

Whether you need a cause-and-origin investigation, an expert opinion, or a second look at an existing report, Western-EGI is ready to help. Forensic engagements are time-sensitive — contact us early.

Office
415 N Street / PO Box 1478
Rock Springs, WY 82902
Phone
(307) 362-5180
Email
Submit an Inquiry
Forensic Contact
Brandt Lyman, PE
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Attorney & Insurance Inquiries
For litigation support and expert witness inquiries, please include case jurisdiction, approximate trial date if known, and a brief description of the failure or dispute. NDA and conflict check available on request.
Submit an Inquiry