Associates

Kurt Dettman

Kurt L. Dettman is the Principal of Constructive Dispute Resolutions, a consulting firm specializing in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the construction industry. Prior to starting his own consulting firm, Mr. Dettman was a Claims Services Manager for Carter & Burgess, Inc. Prior to joining Carter & Burgess, Mr. Dettman was the Associate Project Director for Claims Resolution of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T) in Boston, Massachusetts. In that capacity, Mr. Dettman was responsible for the resolution of all construction claims and change issues on the Project. Mr. Dettman also served as Chief Counsel of the CA/T Project, in which capacity he provided legal advice in the areas of construction and design claims and disputes, development and implementation of alternative dispute resolution programs, implementation and oversight of an owner controlled insurance program, negotiation of inter-governmental agreements, and review of governmental procurement and regulations at both state and federal levels. Mr. Dettman received a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Prior to joining the CA/T Project, Mr. Dettman was a commercial litigator with Palmer & Dodge and then Hutchins & Wheeler in Boston.

Eric Kerness

Eric M. Kerness is the Principal of Kerness Consulting, a consulting firm providing legal, alternative dispute resolution and consulting services to public owners and contractors throughout the nation. Mr. Kerness was Assistant Counsel to the New York State Department of Transportation's multi billion dollar construction program. In that capacity, he provided legal counsel and guidance on contracts and supervised staff attorneys and claims engineers in the defense of $ 7 billion worth of contract and tort litigation. He was responsible for resolution of all construction claims in that program and developed and implemented the department's alternate dispute resolution process. Prior to joining NYSDOT he was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York defending state agencies in highway, building and infrastructure litigation throughout the state. He currently serves on the Legal Resources Executive Board of the Transportation Research Board, a part of the National Academies of Science and Engineering. Mr. Kerness received his undergraduate degree from Queens College and his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.