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' r1Lt IVO. UOJ U!/W y, 13.OC• lL~~I II~H~lltIVVtK V 6'Jdi:~i3VOO1 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Ms. Ann Tatum <br />-- DATE: June 30, 1995 <br />PAGE: 4 <br />S <br />~ distress if .the original building geometry is distorted. Unlike conventional <br />~ reinforced concrete, steel or timber structures which have any ability to resist, <br />bridge or redistribute loads, and thus minimize visible signs of distress, adobe <br />structures immediately tell you if something is moving. And yet, they have a <br />wonderful ability to accommodate movement while exhibiting distress and <br />~ still remain standing and structurally viable. <br />At the risk of using too many sports clich8s, adpbe structures can "play hurt." <br />~ Mr. Pendleton also takes issue with our statement that, "We understand that <br />~ other investigators have concluded that surface movements due to recent <br />coal mine subsidence area likely reason for much of the damage to the hpLSe. <br />Our observations and interpretations of the distress are consistent with this <br />~ explanation." <br />We find. it difficult to understand how that conclusion could be <br />misunderstood or mischaracterized as unreasonable. <br />~ Perhaps an example may provide further clarification: OJ's blood was found <br />. at the crime scene, which is consistent with the theory that he committed the <br />. murders. Does this evidence, in and of itself, prove that OJ was the murderer? <br />` No. But it does provide circumstantial evidence to support that theory. Did <br />~ we conclude categorically that mine subsidence has caused a majority of the <br />~ distress in the Tatum? No. Did we conclude that recent mine subsidence was <br />• a plausible explanation for much of the damage in the house? Yes. <br />We would hope that the technical experts could agree as professionals that <br />~ there is some possibility that the mine subsidence has contributed to the <br />• distress in the house. We may disagree with respect to the likelihood of this <br />• explanation but to simply dismiss even the possibility that mine subsidence <br />Could have contributed to the distress in the Tatum residence is, to use Mr. <br />~ Pendleton's words, "lacking in scientific merit." <br />Yn summary, we remain comfortable with the observations and preliminary <br />conclusions provided i~t our letter report dated May 23, 1995. If you, or any <br />~ other parties, have additional questions or comments, we are ready and <br />~ wiling to respond. <br />• ', <br />NH~t 5 <br />