Published Friday 14 August 2026 · By the JustEng team
This week’s forensic engineering and construction disputes round-up spans an ongoing New York high-rise near-collapse investigation, a UK cladding supplier collapse triggering nine-figure claims, a landmark High Court ruling on contribution claims, and a leaseholder rights judgment — all stories that underline growing candidate demand for engineering recruitment in dispute resolution and forensic investigation roles.
NYC Department of Buildings publishes findings on Midtown near-collapse
Two structural support columns buckled at the former Pfizer headquarters on East 42nd Street on 7 July 2026, during an office-to-residential conversion, prompting evacuations. The Department of Buildings has since inspected 180 jobsites connected to the project team, issued dozens of violations, and published initial findings on 5 August 2026 stating there is no evidence the failure was inherent to office-to-residential conversions generally. The investigation into the root cause remains ongoing. (Source, Source)
Hiring angle: Conversion projects are under intense scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, and this is exactly the kind of case that drives demand for forensic engineering recruitment specialists able to assess legacy structures under new loading conditions.
Collapsed cladding product firm faced £100m–£135m in claims before administration
Administrators for a collapsed building products firm say it was hit with claims of £100m, later reported to have risen towards £135m, the majority relating to cladding. The company’s collapse leaves multiple ongoing disputes over defective external wall systems unresolved. (Source, Source)
Hiring angle: Claims at this scale generate years of follow-on expert witness work, and firms advising claimants or insurers are actively headhunting facade and building envelope specialists with litigation experience — explore our façade engineering recruitment service.
High Court hands down first ruling on contractor’s cladding contribution claim
In Mulalley & Co Limited v Sto Limited & Sto SE & Co KGaA [2026] EWHC 1552 (TCC), the High Court assessed for the first time how a contractor’s contribution claim against the supplier of a defective external cladding system should be quantified. The court ordered Sto Limited’s German parent to pay £1.77m following a default judgment, with several related claims still unresolved. (Source)
Hiring angle: Precedent-setting judgments like this shape how supply-chain liability is argued for years to come, increasing the need for structural engineer jobs focused on quantum and causation analysis within legal teams and consultancies.
Centre Point House judgment reinforces leaseholder rights in cladding disputes
A recent judgment in the Centre Point House case has reinforced qualifying leaseholder rights in a cladding remediation dispute, adding to the growing body of case law interpreting the Building Safety Act’s remediation provisions. (Source)
Hiring angle: As leaseholder-driven claims multiply ahead of the 2029 and 2031 remediation deadlines, expect sustained candidate demand for chartered engineers able to give independent condition assessments for tribunal proceedings.
Investigation launched into fatal nine-storey building collapse in the Philippines
A nine-storey mixed-use building under construction collapsed on 24 May 2026 in Angeles City, killing 13 people, with several more reported missing. The Angeles City government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Philippine National Police have all launched investigations into the cause. (Source)
Hiring angle: International failure investigations of this kind are a stark reminder of why construction firms worldwide continue headhunting experienced forensic and structural engineers with site-failure investigation credentials — see our forensic engineering salary guide for current benchmarks.
JustEng is a specialist engineering recruitment agency headhunting hard-to-find forensic, structural and expert witness engineers for consultancies, insurers and legal teams across the UK and internationally. Submit your CV or register your vacancy today.