Law
26 Years
Expert deposition and testimony since 1995
34 Years
Derek attained his C-53 swimming pool contractor license in 1987.
100%
The EXPERT you can trust for an honest and objective ANALYSIS.
© 2021 Derek Downey / LegalPools.com
Since 1995, Derek has provided expert testimony in a wide variety of civil litigation cases involving the swimming pool and spa industry. Testifying for a wide range of litigants, he has provided expert testimony in cases involving construction defects, personal injury, operational negligence, pool popups, and more. His knowledge and expertise have helped law firms protect their clients’ interests, evaluate damages, mitigate risk, and in many cases resolve claims before going to court.
Whether you need aquatic site inspection, staff training, or management consulting, you won’t find a more reliable or knowledgeable pool and spa expert than Derek Downey.
The Legal Pool Difference
Derek’s broad experience in all areas of pool and spa design, construction, and management make him uniquely qualified to testify on pool and spa cases.
Knowledge
Derek’s ongoing involvement with industry associations and trade groups keeps him at the forefront of pool and spa litigation issues. As a member of the National Spa and Pool Institute Board of Directors for seven years, Derek helped to write national safety standards for designing, building and maintaining pools and spas. He also helped to write safety standards for diving boards and spa suction protection equipment, and sat on the board that advised the writers of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. Derek currently sits on the code committee for the International Energy Code Council and the committee that is developing technical standards for energy and water conservation for swimming pools.
Experience
As a contractor, Derek has designed and built residential and commercial swimming pools and spas of all shapes and sizes, including highly complex projects involving high-rise and rooftop pools. He has first-hand experience with every kind of problem that can occur with pool construction and management, and understands the causes of those problems and how to remedy them. A sought-after expert witness, Derek has testified in a wide range of cases involving everything from cracked pools to slip-and-fall accidents to water runoff and leaks.
Expertise
Derek’s diverse background in all aspects of the pool industry makes him a formidable witness for his clients. In addition to his encyclopedic knowledge of the pool and spa industry, he understands health and building codes that can impact pool and spa cases. He knows when to call in outside specialists in highly technical areas. And he can expose the weaknesses in an opponent’s case that less knowledgeable experts might overlook.
When you need to litigate, don’t just get a pool expert, get THE pool expert—Derek Downey.