Construction lens
Evaluating workmanship, sequencing, access, causation, and repair scope.
Kelly McCann
Attorney
About Kelly McCann
Construction defect and insurance claim lawyer for serious repair-cost disputes.
When the builder’s fix, the contractor’s explanation, or the insurance company’s estimate does not match the real cost to repair the damage, the case starts with three questions: what happened, what will it take to fix it correctly, and who should pay?
Before becoming a lawyer, Kelly worked in construction as an estimator and superintendent. That background helps him evaluate contractor explanations, repair estimates, project sequencing, water-intrusion issues, building-envelope problems, expert opinions, and insurer estimates that may not reflect the true cost of repair.
Kelly also has graduate training in real estate and a finance background, which matter when property damage affects value, financing, rental income, ownership decisions, settlement leverage, or commercial project economics.
Former construction estimator and superintendent
Construction defect and insurance recovery lawyer
Graduate real estate training and finance background
Represents property owners only
No fee unless money is recovered on accepted matters
Washington matters are handled with local Washington counsel where required or appropriate.
Why This Background Matters
Construction and insurance disputes are often won or lost before the legal argument begins.
Construction and insurance disputes are not just legal disputes. They turn on repair scope, sequencing, pricing, causation, water movement, building-envelope performance, claim estimates, expert opinions, and whether the proposed fix will actually solve the problem.
Kelly’s background in construction, insurance recovery, real estate, and finance helps the firm evaluate the dispute from the same angles that often determine leverage: what happened, what repair is required, what the insurance company or contractor is missing, and whether the numbers make economic sense.
Insurance recovery lens
Challenging underpaid, delayed, denied, or narrowed claim positions.
Real estate and finance lens
Understanding how defects affect value, financing, reserves, rental income, and settlement leverage.
Owner-side focus
Representing owners, not insurers, builders, sellers, or inspectors against owners.
Our Team
Legal Strategy for Owners Facing Lowball Repair Numbers and Serious Losses
Building owners hire Northwest Construction and Insurance Law when the dispute needs more than a demand letter or another estimate. They are dealing with defective work, water intrusion, foundation movement, unfinished repairs, denied coverage, underpaid benefits, conflicting estimates, or a contractor or insurance company that will not take responsibility.
The firm’s job is to develop the legal strategy needed to create leverage. That means identifying the viable claims, proving what happened, documenting the full repair scope, preserving deadlines, testing the other side’s defenses, and showing why the number offered does not match the cost to fix the damage correctly.
Kelly leads the legal strategy and advocacy, including whether the matter should be positioned for negotiation, expert-supported demand, or litigation. Dominique Melhado and Chloe’i Paasa help develop the factual record and coordinate key information so the strategy is backed by proof, not just frustration.
Kelly McCann
Attorney
Leads the firm’s legal strategy and advocacy in serious construction defect and insurance claim disputes.
Dominique Melhado
Case Manager
Helps develop the factual record behind construction and insurance claims by coordinating key information, tracking details, and supporting case preparation.
Chloe’i Paasa
Operations Manager
Supports the systems that keep construction and insurance disputes organized, responsive, and moving forward.
Construction & Insurance Disputes
Built for construction and insurance disputes where the repair cost or insurance shortfall is too large to ignore.
Not every construction or insurance dispute justifies legal action. This work is best suited for serious matters where the damage, repair scope, insurance gap, or economic impact justifies a closer review.
The insurance estimate is too low
For underpaid, delayed, or denied claims where the carrier’s number does not match the repair reality.
View path The builder’s fix will not solve the problemFor defective work, failed repairs, water intrusion, and repair proposals that miss the real cause.
View path The damage appeared after purchaseFor hidden defects, disclosure issues, inspection problems, and serious repair-cost exposure.
View path The building envelope is failingFor water intrusion, window systems, siding, roofing, flashing, drainage, and exterior assemblies.
View path The HOA or owner group is facing a major repairFor associations dealing with exterior defects, insurance claims, reserves, and member-facing repair decisions.
View path The commercial loss is affecting income or operationsFor business interruption, rental loss, project delay, repair scope, and commercial insurance disputes.
View path The repair scope does not match the damageFor competing estimates, missing work, code issues, access, matching, and repair numbers that do not reflect the full scope.
View path The loss involves fire, smoke, storm, leak, or collapse damageFor serious residential losses involving repair cost, coverage, access, matching, code, and loss-of-use issues.
View pathThe Repair-Recovery Review
Start with the real repair problem.
The first question is not whether someone is frustrated. The first question is whether the facts, documents, repair scope, and economics support a serious recovery effort.
1
Identify what happened
Understand the damage, when it appeared, what has been done so far, and what still needs to be fixed.
2
Separate documents from conclusions
Review estimates, reports, claim letters, inspection records, photos, emails, contracts, policies, disclosures, repair proposals, and expert materials for what they actually prove.
3
Evaluate the real repair picture
The question is not only what someone says the repair should cost. The question is what work is actually required to make the building whole and whether the proposed number reflects that scope.
4
Assess whether recovery work makes sense
Not every frustrating repair dispute justifies legal action. The first review identifies whether the dispute is serious enough, documented enough, and economically rational enough to warrant deeper work.
Credentials
Education and admissions that support the work.
M.S. Real Estate — University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business
J.D. — University of Montana School of Law
B.S. Finance — University of Montana
Continuing education in real estate transactions and land use law — University of Colorado Law School
Oregon Bar
First admitted in Montana
Washington matters are handled with local Washington counsel where required or appropriate
Based in Portland, Oregon. Oregon matters are handled directly. Washington matters are handled with local Washington counsel where required or appropriate, including pro hac vice association where applicable.
Public Commentary
Practical commentary on construction, insurance, and repair-risk issues.
Kelly has also provided public commentary on hidden defects, real estate, insurance, and construction-related repair issues.
View press and commentaryLearn More About The Firm’s Work
Continue with the parts of the site most relevant to your dispute.
Results
See representative matters and the kinds of disputes Northwest Construction & Insurance Law handles.
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Why Clients Hire Us
See why owners hire Northwest Construction & Insurance Law for serious construction and insurance disputes.
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Press
See selected interviews, quotes, and commentary linked from verified public sources.
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Start a Case Review
Send the facts in for review if the dispute is already serious enough to need a closer look.
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Next Step
Do not let the wrong repair number become the baseline.
Send us the facts before repair decisions, claim positions, or deadlines narrow your options. Helpful materials include photos or videos, insurance estimates, claim letters, contractor estimates, repair proposals, inspection reports, expert reports, emails, texts, notices, warranty documents, policies, contracts, and disclosures.
No fee unless money is recovered for you on accepted matters, subject to a written fee agreement.