Hydrology & Civil Engineering Expert Witness
Providing defensible forensic analysis, reporting, and courtroom testimony for complex water resources and civil engineering litigation, insurance claims, and infrastructure disputes in Canada, the USA, and internationally.
Core Competencies
Forensic Hydrology & Litigation Support
Forensic hydrology
Vehicular accident from road flooding
Drownings analysis
Forensic flood engineering of creek wet avalanches and river ice
Flood damage assessment
Meteorology and hydrology of flood events
Subrogation and recovery
Cause and Origin (C&O) Investigation
Builder's risk losses
Business interruption claims
First-Party vs. Third-Party Liability
Advanced Modelling & Flood Management
Flood and floodplain analysis
Flood and erosion control
Alternative flood control mitigation
Climate analysis, including precipitation, snowpack, and snowmelt
Open-channel hydraulic modelling
Regional hydrological analysis
Flood frequency analysis
Rainfall analyses return period and intensity-duration-frequency analysis
Numerical urban stormwater modelling
Hydraulic modelling of flood gates, spillways, and pipe outlets
Civil Infrastructure & Industrial Water Systems
Stormwater and drainage systems
River engineering
Land drainage
Bridge hydraulics
Dam reservoir design and operations
Dike design
Hydro power dam operation, maintenance, and surveillance manuals
Dike and dam inspection and review
Ditch and road drainage, pump stations, and hydraulics
River and ocean coastal shoreline engineering
Channel assessment of logged watersheds, forestry bridge hydraulics
River pipeline crossings
Mine water management plans, mining dump drainage design, and tailings ponds
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About Brian LaCas
Brian LaCas, P.Eng., FEC, APEC Engineer, and IntPE (Canada), is a Professional Hydrological and Civil Consulting Engineer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is a member of the Engineers Canada Mobility Register and a Registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and he offers services via the mobility register internationally.
He leads a team providing independent hydrology and hydraulic engineering expertise for rivers, lakes, and coastal/ocean environments for complex litigation, insurance claims, and infrastructure disputes worldwide.
His international credentials through the Engineers Canada Register enable him to deliver professional expertise on legal cases worldwide.
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Award-Winning Expertise
Recipient of over 5 awards for hydrology
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Expert Witness since 1990
Serve lawyers, insurance providers & professionals
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Licensed Internationally
Canada, USA, UK, Asia Pacific
Featured Award
In 2017, we were honoured to receive The Engineers & Geoscientists of British Columbia Environmental Award for my company’s (LCI Group) work on the Mark Creek Flume Flood Management and Rehabilitation Project*.
This award honours exceptional contributions to environmental sustainability in the engineering and geoscience fields. It highlights innovative projects that exemplify responsible resource management and environmental stewardship.
LCI provided hydraulic design and construction services to replace an outdated 480-metre concrete flume in Kimberley, BC.
Through advanced hydraulic modelling, we transformed the flume into an award-winning urban river featuring lakes and waterfalls, significantly improving fish habitat and creating a valuable asset for the community.
*shared with Exp and Aqua-Tex.
Expert Witness Cases
Brian has served as an expert witness in various court cases, assisting both defendants and plaintiffs. He leads a team whose expertise focuses on analyzing floods, floodplains, stormwater management, drainage systems, dams and reservoirs, and road flooding related to vehicular accidents. The extent of our expertise is demonstrated through our case list below.
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Shapiro & Hankinson, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion for ENCON insurers after detailed review of rainfall runoff calculations of a Vancouver based engineering firm (Defendant).
Bellamy & Long, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion on debris flow and flooding on Arnold Creek in Chilliwack, BC.
Scarlett Manson Angus, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion relating to the alleged flooding of 6092-224th Street in Langley, BC for Alantic Contractors Ltd. (Defendant).
George Kincaid and Sharon Radcliffe, West Vancouver, BC
Expert opinion regarding drainage onto the Kincaid/Radcliffe property (Plaintiff).
L Murdy & McAllister, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion regarding land drainage at #24-35060 Clayburn Road, Abbotsford, BC, for the City of Abbotsford (Defendant).
Lindsay Kenny, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion on drainage at Westwood Plateau Golf Course in Coquitlam, BC (Defendant).
Lindsay Kenny, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion on impact of fill on Brohm Lake levels near Squamish, BC for local contractor (Defendant).
Miller Thomson, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion as part of legal team on bridge hydraulics, flooding including review of memoranda and site visit for a MVA in Langley, BC (Defendant).
Whitelaw Twinning, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion regarding land drainage issues at Westwood Plateau Golf Course, Coquitlam, BC (Defendant).
Alexander, Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
Expert opinion relating to the alleged flooding of a business on the Langley Bypass (Defendant).
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang, LLP, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion for the Tyson Creek Hydroelectric Project, Sechelt, BC relating to hydrology, lake taps, turbidity, sediment, and responsibilities of hydrologists (Defendant).
Harper Grey, LLP, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion for a drainage problem in Comox, BC, including a hydrological analysis (Defendant).
Bernard LLP
Bandrova Farms Ltd. v. District of Kent, Vancouver Registry, (Plaintiff).
Expert opinion on flooding issues along Fraser River within District of Kent.
Whitelaw Twinning, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion regarding flooding and land drainage issues near Silver Star Mountain, BC (Defendant).
Rush, Ihas, Hardwick, LLP
Waterway Houseboats Ltd. et. al. v. HMTQ et. al., Sicamous, BC.
Expert opinion on flooding on Sicamous Creek (Plaintiff).
Branch McMaster, LLP, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion for road drainage issues for MVA in Chilliwack, BC Cache Creek, BC, including a hydrological analysis (Defendant).
Morelli Chertkow, LLP
Millard v. Village of Cache Creek, Cache Creek, BC.
Expert opinion on flooding on Lopez Creek (Plaintiff).
Edwards, Kenny & Bray LLP
Expert Opinion on restoration of Brooklyn and Pup Creeks in Brooklyn, BC, including a hydrological assessment (Plaintiff).
Harper Grey, LLP, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion for a flooding issue in Naramata, BC, including a hydrological analysis (Defendant).
Kwasnicki Law Corporation
Expert opinion for a land drainage issue in West Kelowna, BC (Plaintiff).
Kahn Zack Ehrlich Lithwick LLP
Expert opinion for Commotion Creek flooding issue, Chetwynd, BC (Plaintiff).
Morelli Chertkow, LLP
Kuipers v. City of Kamloops et. al., Jorgensen v. City of Kamloops et. al., Kamloops, BC. Expert opinion on flooding on unnamed gulley (Plaintiff).
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
Fletcher v. Wallberg, Victoria Registry.
Expert opinion on road and land drainage issues in Saanich, BC (Defendant).
Branch McMaster, LLP, Barristers & Solicitor
Expert opinion for a flooding issue in Cache Creek, BC.
Baker Newby, LLP
Expert opinion for stormwater issue, Chilliwack, BC (Defendant).
Joseph M Prodor, Law Corporation
Expert opinion for Serpentine River Dike flooding issue, Surrey, BC (Plaintiff).
Drysdale, Bacon, McStravick, LLP
Expert opinion for Salamander Creek flooding issue, Burnaby, BC (Plaintiff).
Paul A. Hildebrand Law Corporation, LLP
Review of watershed boundaries for Coquitlam River Watershed, BC (Defendant).
Taylor, Tait, Ruley & Co
Expert Opinion on flooding issues on properties on Ranch Ave, Abbotsford (Defendant). [On-going]
Slater Vecchio, LLP
Expert opinion for Sumas Prairie flooding issue, Abbotsford, BC (Plaintiff). [On-going]
Killian Cordell Barristers
Expert opinion for Anderson Creek flooding issue, Township of Langley, BC (Defendant)
Cox Taylor Barristers, Solicitors Notaries
Expert opinion for Tseycum Creek (Wsikem Creek) flooding issue, North Saanich, BC (Plaintiff).
Lakes, Whyte LLP
Expert opinion for Kilmer Creek flooding issue, District of North Vancouver, BC (Plaintiff).
Kia Law Firm
Expert opinion drowning at a beach in Georgian Bay, District of Tiny, ON (Plaintiff).
Quarrie Hunter LLP
Expert opinion for 232nd Street Flooding, Langley, BC (Defendant).
Boyle & Company Lawyers
Expert opinion for Prairie Creek Flooding, Summerville, BC (Plaintiff).
Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson PA
Expert opinion on flooding issues related to restoration of Roseau Creek in Michigan (Plaintiff).
Mackoff Mohamed Law Firm
Expert opinion and rebuttal report for dike removal flood concerns, Rolla Creek, BC (Plaintiff).
Lewis Brisbois Law Firm
Expert opinion on flooding issues related to tunnel flooding and drowning in San Fransisco, CA (Defendant).
Whitelaw Twinning, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion on flooding for a property in West Vancouver, BC (Plaintiff).
Preszler Law Firm
Expert opinion for a slip and fall accident 33405 Bourquin Place, Abbotsford, BC regarding ice/frost on a wooden walkway (Plaintiff).
McInnes Cooper LLP/Province of Nova Scotia
Expert Opinion on ditch/culvert erosion potentially causing a hazard, Kentville, NS (Plaintiff).
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP
Expert opinion on drainage design for Ottawa LRT, Ottawa, ON (Defendant).
Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
Expert opinion on flooding during construction of a culvert on Highway 1, Langley, BC (Defendant).
McQuarrie Hunter LLP/ Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
Supplementary expert opinion for 232nd Street Flooding, Langley, BC (Defendant).
Whitelaw Twinning, Barristers & Solicitors
Expert opinion on flooding in Oak Bay, BC.
McInnes Cooper LLP/Nova Scotia Health Organization
Expert Opinion on Liverpool Hospital Drainage Issues, Nova Scotia Health Organization Protective Association; Liverpool, NS (Defendant).
Wagner Law
Expert Opinion on Mud Lake Flood; Labrador, NL (Plaintiff).
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FAQs
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We work with legal counsel and insurance carriers.
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As an expert with court-testimony experience, we charge an hourly rate in line with industry standards, plus a retainer fee, and expenses. We provide a customized retainer agreement tailored to the case's complexity and specific details.
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Our commitment is to provide expert witness reports that are comprehensive, court-ready, exceptionally clear, and easy for anyone to understand. To achieve this, we meticulously craft our reports with concise summaries, intuitive figures, powerful photographic and drone evidence, and clear hydraulic modeling graphics, ensuring maximum impact and accessibility in legal proceedings.
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Our expert file is built on a foundation of thorough site reviews and investigations. This includes critical information gathering, precise measurements, and extensive visual documentation, including drone reconnaissance.
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We have provided expert engineering testimony for plaintiffs and defendants across North America, primarily focusing on flooding, drainage, and hydrological disputes. Our legal case experience spans residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects, including:
Flooding & Drainage: Runoff calculations, debris flows, creek/dike flooding, and land drainage disputes.
Infrastructure & Hydrology: Bridge hydraulics, road drainage (including motor vehicle accidents), watershed delineation, and hydroelectric assessments.
Hazards & Safety: Ditch/culvert erosion, ice-related slip-and-falls, and drownings.