When the new junior high in Waterford Maine opened for the first time, a teacher observed that the ceiling was deflected and that dust was coming from the ceiling. The school was evacuated and a short time later the roof to collapsed. Wood products expert witness Rubin M. Zallen, P.E.,…
In Mold Claims: Recognizing What Is Real and Dealing With the Current Excessive Fears and Claims, pollution expert witness Ronald E. Gots, MD, Ph.D.writes: The recent mold frenzy is the strangest environmental claims issue that I have seen in thirty years of toxicological and environmental litigation consulting. Why? Mold is…
Lawyers must be sure that their expert witnesses testify in a way the jury understands clearly. It is often easy for legal counsel to understand testimony because he or she is familiar with it but they must remember that this is the first time jurors have heard it. For example,…
Former Blue Lake, CA, police chief David Gundersen faces two dozen counts of raping his wife Darcie Seal with the use of an intoxicant, as well as charges of violating a court order, attempting to dissuade the victim of a crime, and illegally possessing a submachine gun and a pistol…
Pesticides expert witness Allan Snyder; ACGIH, AIHA, SPCI writes on treatment and control of termites: Treatment and control techniques vary depending on the species causing an infestation. Multiple colonies of the same species of termite or more than one species of termite can infest a building. Subterranean, and less frequently,…
In Using Marketing, Business & Competitive Research to Win Cases, Don E. Smith, marketing expert witness and President of American Consulting Group, Inc. explains that marketing research is a powerful tool that helps lawyers win cases. Areas that benefit from marketing research: Advertising effectiveness Agent performance Best effort evaluation Competition…
In Mediation as a Discovery Tool, insurance expert witness Guy O. Kornblum describes the benefits of going to mediation: So, mediation can be very productive as a discovery tool and opportunity to learn more about your client’s case, and what the other side has to say IF the parties come…
Flooring expert witness Kenneth D. Newson describes the forensic science of floor covering and how investigation begins with discovery. The steps include: 1. Site visit (no geographical limitation) 2. Videography 3. Investigation 4. Document review 5. Dissemination of testimony 6. Development of the “Standard of Practice” with supporting documentation 7.…
Palm Beach Florida and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are seeking $17 million for a beach project to protect properties vulnerable to storm damage. The town says the beach was damaged by the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 but it is being challenged by petitioners seeking to block the…
Dr. Tartaglia of the Stork Climax Research Services testified as a metallurgy expert witness for the defense in a wrongful death suit involving materials testing. The plaintiff alleged that steel making byproduct and manufacturing slag fell from a passing truck and was the cause of death of his client killed…