Surveyor Negligence Witness Services

No One is Perfect. But Professional Land Surveyors, Like Any Other Professional, Are Expected to Practice with a “Reasonable Duty of Care”

Some common mistakes that land surveyors might make include:

1. Incorrect Measurements: This could result from equipment malfunction, improper calibration, or human error. Even a small mistake in measurement can lead to significant discrepancies.
2. Inaccurate Boundary Determination: Misinterpreting property lines or failing to account for relevant boundary markers can lead to disputes between landowners.
3. Failure to Consider Easements: Neglecting to identify existing easements could result in legal issues down the line, especially if construction or development plans conflict with these easements.
4. Ignoring Environmental Factors: Not accounting for natural features like water bodies, geological formations, or vegetation can lead to inaccuracies in surveys and subsequent development plans.
5. Lack of Communication: Failing to communicate effectively with clients or other professionals involved in a project can result in misunderstandings and errors.
6. Inadequate Research: Insufficient research into historical records, deeds, or previous surveys can lead to oversights and inaccuracies in the current survey.

Nettleman Land Consultants, Inc. may be able to assist you with your easement dispute. Dr. Nettleman provides expert witness services in easement dispute litigation nationwide. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Nettleman has provided a host of expert witness services to property owners and their attorneys, including easement analysis, legal research, advisory services, and proposed mediation and other alternative dispute resolution options based on the objective truth.

Expert witnesses, such as Dr. Nettleman can bring clarity to technical aspects of easement disputes, such as assessing the impact of proposed developments on existing easements or determining the feasibility of alternative access routes.

Who or What Decides What’s “Reasonable?”

As an “expert” that has been asked to judge another professional’s conduct, Dr. Nettleman takes a holistic approach. He puts himself in the shoes of the Professional Land Surveyor and completes the project as if he was that person. Then, Dr. Nettleman step-by-step does the research, completes the field survey, and makes a professional determination. Only then does Tony compare the textbooks/articles to the current situation to make a determination of negligence.

Dr. Nettleman’s Expert Testimony has been instrumental in helping clients and the court understand various issues:

• Whether a surveyor is expected to review every page of a title commitment and report deficiencies to the client.
• Whether a surveyor may interpret the rights of each party subject to an easement.
• Whether the conduct of a Professional Land Surveyor involves boundaries, easements, riparian rights, or land title.
• Whether a Professional Land Surveyor is acting within the scope of the state Rules of Professional Conduct.

Dr. Nettleman’s two decades of case law searches have allowed him to create a large database of the most useful surveying and land law cases. Often, a case previously relied upon will be useful in an upcoming case as well.

 In Florida, we have provided expert insight for many easement and other disputes. We also have  helped with Texas oil and gas surveying matters. You can rely on Dr. Nettleman to find the case law necessary to establish the reasonable standard in any one of the 50 States.