Articles Posted in Researching Experts

Oil and gas expert witnesses may consult on oil and gas pumps, fracking, petrochemical manufacturing, pipelines, crude oil, and the petroleum industry, as well as related topics. On September 24, 2013, the EPA published final amendments to sections of its 2012 New Source Performance Standard regarding storage vessels used in the production, processing, transmission, and storage of oil and natural gas. On EnergyLegalBlog.com, attorneys at Bracewell & Giuliani write “These amendments specifically modify the regulations applicable to storage tanks with a potential to emit six or more tons per year of volatile organic compounds.”

Property insurance expert witnesses may consult on home insurance, property claims, fire insurance, flood insurance, and earthquake insurance. In the news, flood insurance rates are scheduled to go up sharply on October 1, 2013 as part of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. BW 2012 will require the NFIP to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, make the program more financially stable, and change how the Flood Insurance Rate Map updates impact policyholders.

FEMA offers Q&A re: BW 12 at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/31873?id=7266

Civil engineering expert witnesses may consult on bridges, sewers, flood control, and earthwork. This week the Leo Frigo Bridge in Wisconsin was closed indefinitely due to a section that is sagging by an estimated two feet. The bridge was built in 1980 and last inspected in August 2012. The Federal Highway Administration has sent a team to aid in the investigation.

greenbaygazette.com offers a link to a DataMine: Search for ‘structurally deficient’ bridges in the state: Use this tool to look up the bridges in your community that have been identified as “structurally deficient,” meaning that the deck, substructure and/or superstructure requires attention for issues such as potholes or rusting trusses.

In Quality Fade in China, international trade expert witness Rosemary Coates of Blue Silk Consulting writes:

Products manufactured or assembled in low cost countries, aren’t designed to break or poison anybody. In fact, typically when a new contract is signed and specs are given for initial production at a new supplier, importers of Chinese goods are thrilled. The vendor’s service levels are outstanding, the quality is above expectations and the future looks bright. Customers are pleased with the price of initial production, and they assume that it will last. New importers feel like they’ve hit a home run with low-cost country sourcing.

Don’t be fooled! The initial production runs are often not sustainable. Over time, degradation in quality is likely. For example, the label on your product becomes 10 percent smaller, your 100 ml product may actually be 99 ml, non-toxic paint you specify for toys may become fast-drying lead paint, the 5/8 inch seam may become 3/8 inch.

Bus accident expert witnesses may consult regarding transportation accidents, motor carriers, truck safety, and bus safety. On September 14, 2013, thirty people were injured when a Greyhound bus drove off the highway 25 miles north of Cincinnati and landed on its side. As of Sunday night The Ohio State Highway Patrol said there was no new information to release on the investigation. The firm of Fisher and Talwar note that “National bus crash statistics show almost 13,000 buses were involved in accidents in 2010. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 226 people died from bus accidents nationwide in 2010.” The law firm lists those who may be held responsible for … bus accident injuries here: http://www.ftpersonalinjurylawyers.com/bus-accident-attorneys-in-los-angeles.

FARS is a nationwide census providing NHTSA, Congress and the American public yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Data may be accesses here http://www.nhtsa.gov/FARS.

Weather and meteorology expert witnesses may opine on rain, severe storm analysis, snow, weather forecasting, and more. This week emergency officials say at least 1,000 people in Colorado are waiting to be rescued from flood waters.

Albuquerque National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier commented on the flooding in central and northern New Mexico “As long as you get the right thunderstorm right over your area, I wouldn’t be surprised if more records are broken as far as one-day rainfall totals because we still have that abundant moisture in the area.” Flood waters have followed drought and caused flash floods. The Rio Grande and Pecos River have overflowed as well as nearby creeks.

Demonstrative evidence expert witnesses may consult on courtroom exhibits, computer reconstruction, computer animation, forensic animation, and simulations. While demonstrative evidence is not real evidence, it illuminates the points being argued in court. In Litigation Tip: The Best Way to Get Demonstrative Evidence Admitted at Trial, attorney Morgan Smith defines demonstrative evidence and answers the question, Is Demonstrative Evidence Admissible? including “California law does not require demonstrative evidence to be exact, but only substantially similar and helpful to the jury. (See Andrews v. Barker Brothers Corp., 267 Cal. App.2d 530, 537.)”

Cogent Legal Blog, shares real-world advice about trial graphics, case presentations, legal tech and litigation strategy. “We blog to help attorneys make their case and manage their practice in the most effective and least stressful way possible. Who are we? Litigators like you.”

Mortgages expert witnesses may consult on mortgage loans, variable rate mortgages, reverse mortgages, conventional mortgages, and mortgage fraud, among other topics. In Is Mortgage Fraud Really Decreasing?, attorney and editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog Rachel Dollar comments on The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network analysis of Mortgage Fraud SAR Filings in 2012. While data shows 25% decine, Ms. Dollar notes that “suspicious activity is often only recognized and reported years after loan origination.” FinCEN news release August 20, 2013:

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released an analysis of Mortgage Fraud SAR Filings in Calendar Year 2012. FinCEN’s data on suspected mortgage fraud shows that reports declined 25 percent in 2012 (from 92,561 to 69,277) as compared to the previous year. The past three years of suspected mortgage fraud suspicious activity reports (SARs), if counted by the date they were received by FinCEN, accounted for approximately 46 percent of the past decade’s mortgage fraud SARs. However, suspicious activity is often only recognized and reported years after loan origination, after a review of origination documents is prompted by a loan default, repurchase demand, or other factors. As a result, many mortgage fraud SARs are filed much later than the date that the suspicious activity actually began. Thus in 2012, 57 percent of SARs received reported mortgage loan fraud (MLF) activities that started more than 5 years before the SAR was filed.

Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors.

Neurosurgery expert witnesses may opine on neurosurgeons, trauma neurosurgery, neurosurgery standard of care, and spinal surgery. In the news, The New Hampshire Department of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are investigating the use of contaminated surgical equipment which may have exposed patients to the fatal brain disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob. One patient has died and medical records on thirteen others are being researched. While most surgical equipment is sterilized by heat, the World Health Organization recommends the use of a chemical disinfectant for equipment that may have been exposed to the disease.

Drug abuse expert witnesses may testify on testify on DUI, intoxication, chemical dependence, illicit drugs, and marijuana, as well as related issues. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating the deaths of three people and the hospitalization of 75 others who may have smoked synthetic marijuana. Synthetic cannabis is a psychoactive drug made from natural herbs and then sprayed with synthetic chemicals. the product is marketed as “herbal incense” and “herbal smoking blends.”