Seth Gitman, P.E., PMP, Esq.
District Manager
Get to know the expert
Expert QuestionS & AnswerS
What is one assumption people commonly make in your area of expertise that’s wrong, and what’s the actual reality?
A common misconception in premises liability is that if an accident occurs on a property, the property owner is automatically at fault. In reality, liability depends on several factors, often including the foreseeability of the hazard and whether the owner exercised reasonable care to identify and address it. Not every accident is preventable, and not every condition that leads to an injury represents a breach of duty.
What questions should clients be asking when they’re vetting an expert in your field — and what answers should they be looking for?
Clients should ask how the expert analyzes a situation. Specifically, how they apply relevant standards and evaluate whether reasonable care was taken. The right answers should be fact-driven, logically structured, and clearly connected to established principles, not just conclusions. Clarity, consistency, and defensibility are the key things to look for.
What separates a strong engagement in your area from a weak one, from your perspective as the expert?
A strong engagement is defined by clear, structured analysis that ties facts to applicable standards and leads to well-supported, transparent conclusions. A weak engagement, by contrast, tends to rely on unsupported assertions or conclusions that aren’t clearly connected to the underlying facts or governing principles. The difference comes down to rigor, clarity, and the ability to demonstrate how the conclusion was reached.
Background
Mr. Seth Gitman holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered professional engineer in several states. He possesses experience in engineering design, planning, construction, project management, engineering management, forensic engineering, and claims analysis services. He has served in a variety of analytical roles, including construction claim analytics and forensic engineering responsibilities. He has designed several projects for private developers, including projects in the areas of water distribution, petroleum, and retail facilities. He has also served in project management roles with responsibilities including change order negotiation, contract negotiation, managing requests for proposals (RFPs), change management, performance reporting, managing requests for information (RFIs), managing submittals, and cash flow projections.
Mr. Gitman has managed, designed, and worked on claims-related issues regarding airports, electric transmission, electric substations, transportation infrastructure, residential housing complexes, single-family homes, mixed-use property, water distribution, retail facilities, and petroleum facilities. He has worked in these capacities for several major airlines, electric utilities, general contractors, departments of transportation, private developers, and law firms. He has experience working on projects worth up to $1.5 billion (B).
Mr. Gitman also holds a Juris Doctorate degree, is a member of the bar in several states, and is a certified Project Management Professional.
Education and Certifications
- Juris Doctor, cum laude: Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (2021)
- Civil Engineering, B.S.: University of Connecticut School of Engineering (2010)
- Licensed Professional Engineer: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
- Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
- Project Management Professional (PMP): Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Commercial Drone Pilot License (Part 107): Federal Aviation Administration