Construction Expert Witness | Florida Contractor

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

James J. Cloud is a Florida General Contractor, construction expert witness, and licensed real estate broker with over 20 years of experience across residential, commercial, and large-scale development projects. His work focuses on evaluating construction practices, identifying failures, and determining how those conditions impact property performance, building code compliance, and real estate transactions. His experience spans South Florida, Southwest Florida, and throughout Florida, including major developments across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. He provides expert analysis, consulting, written reports, and testimony in matters involving construction defects, contractor standard of care, building code compliance, contractor licensing, construction claims, and property damage disputes. Mr. Cloud also evaluates construction and real estate-related issues tied to property transactions, including latent defects, disclosure-related matters, and post-sale defect claims. He has prepared expert reports, provided deposition testimony, and participated in mediation proceedings. He is retained by law firms, insurance carriers, developers, contractors, and property owners to evaluate construction practices, building systems, project documentation, and contractor performance. His expertise includes determining compliance with applicable building codes, industry standards, and contractor standard of care. His work includes construction defect investigations throughout Florida, building code compliance reviews, contract and change order dispute analysis, and property damage assessments, including matters that may involve builder’s risk and general liability claims. Mr. Cloud’s technical background includes construction practices, project management and coordination, water intrusion conditions, and contractor performance across residential and commercial projects. In addition to expert work, Mr. Cloud actively builds in Southwest Florida, including Punta Gorda and surrounding areas, providing current, real-world insight into construction practices, code application, and hurricane-resilient construction. Licenses and certifications include: • Florida General Contractor • Florida Roofing Contractor • Florida Mechanical Contractor • Florida Plumbing Contractor • Florida Pool/Spa Contractor • Florida Real Estate Broker • Florida Community Association Manager • ICC Certified Residential & Commercial Building Inspector His construction career includes leadership roles on complex projects, including nearly a decade with AECOM, a global engineering and construction firm. Project experience includes: • Miami Dolphins Stadium Renovations • Miami Worldcenter • The Plaza Coral Gables • Mixed-use, hospitality, stadium, and residential developments Mr. Cloud provides services in: • Construction defect investigations • Property damage evaluations • Building envelope and water intrusion analysis • Cost estimating and repair scope development • Construction contract and change order disputes • Construction claims analysis • Contractor licensing and standard-of-care evaluations • Real estate condition and disclosure-related issues He also serves as an Owner’s Representative, specializing in contractor procurement, construction budgeting, permitting coordination, project scheduling, and quality assurance for residential, commercial, and large-scale complex construction developments. Education: • B.S., Construction Management – Florida International University • M.S., International Real Estate – Florida International University With extensive field experience and a multidisciplinary background in construction and real estate, James J. Cloud provides clear, credible, and defensible expert analysis in construction litigation, property damage disputes, and real estate-related matters throughout Florida.