Expert Witness Blog

Night clubs expert witness Bill Nesbitt is a Board Certified Protection Professional. On his website he answers the question:

Why is a security assessment (sometimes referred to as a security survey, vulnerability assessment, threat assessment, or security audit) so important?

Many security programs result from a series of reactions to perceived acute security breeches. Many of these kinds of programs resemble a patchwork quilt with no specific theme or mission. At some point, especially since 9/11, every business must establish a baseline from which to move forward into the future. There is a need to establish a foundational basis, at some point, for everything that is to follow. Those enterprises that fail to come to this conclusion usually have security programs that do not sufficiently produce adequate return on investment. A security assessment will allow the business to establish a foundation on which to build on for at least the next five years.

Trucking expert witnesses may write reports and opine on on issues including federal motor carrier safety regulations, truck maintenance, and related topics. The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association writes:

Passenger cars share the road with commercial vehicles like medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which are used to move the vast majority of goods in the United States. Additionally, we depend on school and transit buses and emergency vehicles to operate in a safe and efficient manner. Heavy-duty suppliers provide the original equipment parts used to manufacture commercial vehicles and aftermarket replacement parts needed to maintain the vehicles in service and on the road. Heavy-duty suppliers are also responsible for developing most of the technologies that keep these vehicles safe.

Visit the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) website, part of the MEMA network, to learn more.

Federal motor vehicle safety standards expert witnesses may opine on the truck manufacturing industry, federal motor vehicle safety standards of truck drivers, and related topics. On their website, The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers offers a link to Follow your Wreck-less Checklist

1. Consciously make a decision each and every time you get behind the wheel to make all other activities, passengers and priorities secondary to driving.

2. Before you start your car:

In Toxicity of Crude Oil and It’s Vapors environmental toxicology expert witness Dr. Richard Parent writes:

Crude oil is a complex mixture of chemicals, some volatile and some water soluble. One of the components of crude oil is hydrogen sulfide, a very potent neurotoxin. Although hydrogen sulfide is a gas, it has solubility in water. This characteristic in combination with other sulfides and lower aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which are part of the crude oil, is what we smell when land and water become contaminated with crude oil. Hundreds of chemicals make up the crude including some straight chained hydrocarbons, branched hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds, and naphthenes, as well as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.

One of the more insidious components of crude oil is benzene. Benzene is quite water soluble (1700 mg/l) and is a known human carcinogen producing various blood dyscrasias including aplastic anemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and leukemia. The toxicology of benzene is addressed in the Toxicology Litigation Support section on this website. One of the potential problems with benzene is that it is more soluble in the crude oil than it is in water. It can be released from the floating crude into the air over the water and also released from the crude on the shore by the baking sun. This presents only one of the potential health hazards for those living near a contaminated shoreline. Similarly, a host of additional low molecular weight hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds, and sulfur compounds can act in a similar fashion.

In Medical Office Building Appraisal, commerical leasing expert witness Orell Anderson, MAI, of Bell, Anderson & Sanders LLC, writes:

There are three main topics that relate to the appraisal of Medical Office Buildings 1) the unique characteristics that differentiate them from standard office buildings; 2) the effects of hospitals and hospital proximity on MOBs, and 3) the current medical and political climate, which may alter some of the fundamental aspects of MOB appraisals.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF MOBS There are many unique characteristics that differentiate a MOB from a standard office building. From an investor’s perspective, a well positioned and well-managed MOB represents a relatively secure investment opportunity, as there is always a demand for medical care. Of course, values of investment-grade properties vary, but within the Los Angeles area recent transactions of investment-grade MOB, have ranged from $120 per square foot to $220 per square not. This is significantly higher than standard office space, which often sells for less than $100 per square foot. Recent sales indicate sale prices ranging from approximately $2 million to over $12 million.

Health care expert witnesses may advise regarding health care, health insurance claims, and related topics. The US Department of Labor writes:

Healthcare is a business and, like every business, it needs good management to keep the business running smoothly. Medical and health services managers, also referred to as healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare. These workers are either specialists in charge of a specific clinical department or generalists who manage an entire facility or system.

The structure and financing of healthcare are changing rapidly. Future medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with the integration of healthcare delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. They will be called on to improve efficiency in healthcare facilities and the quality of the care provided.

In Root Causes of Truck Crashes, armored transport expert witness Jim McGuffey, CPP, writes:

Most attorneys representing clients in a truck crash and injury case hire an expert in accident reconstruction. While this is appropriate, the vast majority of these experts have not had full Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility for managing trucking companies which is crucial in understanding what led to the crash.

Understanding the root cause of a truck crash requires more than understanding speed of travel, weather conditions, traffic conditions and driver or roadway conditions. While understanding these elements are essential to determine fault, there are several internal documents that must be examined to determine whether the organization consciously placed the lives of their employees and the public at risk. Examination of documents such as training programs, fleet maintenance records and financial records also help to determine whether a company puts profits ahead of safety.

At Consultox.com, carbon monoxide poisoning expert witness Dr. Richard Parent describes the poisonous gas and offers selected references on the subject.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is generated by incomplete combustion. Inside homes, it can be generated from improperly adjusted gas appliances, wood burning stoves, and furnaces. Carbon monoxide has an affinity for blood cells and prevents oxygenation of the blood resulting in difficulty breathing and stress on the cardiovascular system. Carbon monoxide can be lethal at high concentrations, but even at lower concentrations it can affect the brain and cardiovascular system leading to a condition referred to as anoxia. Breathing even low levels of carbon monoxide during pregnancy can lead to anoxia resulting in miscarriage or effects on the mental development of a child. Dr. Parent has addressed these issues in litigation and has developed pertinent references on the subject that are provided below….

Read more: consultox.com.

On his website, document examination expert witness Richard T. Picciochi answers the following question:

What is Certification?

Certification by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE) identifies qualified scientists capable of providing forensic document services and promotes the advancement of the field through continuing education. In doing so, the Board aims to safeguard the public interest by ensuring that anyone who claims to be a specialist in forensic document examination does, in fact, possess the necessary skills and maintain their qualifications. ABFDE Diplomates are held to the highest level of professional and ethical conduct.