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Worker’s compensation plans expert witnesses may opine on worker compensation, wage replacement and medical benefits for employees, and associated topics. BusinessInsurance.com reports In Brief:

Washington state legislators approved a workers compensation reform bill that its backers say will save the state’s disability system $1.1 billion over the next four years. H.B. 2123 passed the Washington state House on a 69-26 vote and the Senate on a 35-12 vote last week, wrapping a three-week effort to revamp the state’s system. Gov. Christine Gregoire is expected to sign the bill into law.

Read more: businessinsurance.com.

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Insurance regulations expert witnesses may may be relied upon to testify on insurance companies, insurance claims, property insurance, and more. Christian R. Cámara, Florida Insurance Project Director, Heartland Institute writes:

The editorial “Property-insurance reform package could harm consumers” (OrlandoSentinel.com, Feb. 5) is a reminder of an alarming fact: Despite five hurricane-free years, Florida’s insurance market is still in shambles.

More than half the property insurers are losing money even without hurricanes, fewer insurance companies are competing, financial stability is reduced, and the state-owned property insurance company has grown to be the largest insurer in Florida.

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Fuel charges expert witnesses may opine on trucking transportation charges, fuel surcharges, and related topics. Transport Topics reports that U.S. commodities regulators have filed a civil lawsuit against two oil traders in Australia and California and three American and international firms over oil market manipulation in 2008, the record-high year for crude prices, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

The suit says that in early 2008 the accused tried to hoard nearly two-thirds of available oil supplies, then abruptly dumped it and collected $50 million, the Times said in a front-page story.

Read more: ttnews.com.

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Trucking expert witnesses may write reports and testify on federal motor carrier safety regulations, truck maintenance, qualifications of truck drivers, and related topics. Transport Topics reports that The Missouri Department of Public Safety has suspended hours-of-service rules for motor carriers rushing to deliver relief supplies to the tornado-battered Joplin, Mo., area.

The emergency HOS waiver applies to truckers directly involved in relief or the delivery of essential services or supplies, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Read more: ttnews.com.

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Industrial psychology expert witness Dr. Bob Rose of The Rose Porterfield Group writes that one example of Industrial Organizational Psychology case work is sexual harassment. One of his cases was a Fortune 100 company with a middle manager who was terminated for sexual harassment.

Industrial Psychologists (also “Industrial Organizational” or “IO Psychologists”) – those of us who work with the people aspects of work – know that these things really do happen and we know what to specifically look for.

Be proactive. Consult your general counsel or your attorney; don’t assume HR’s sophisticated procedures are being used in the field; and, make sure everyone in the company knows how serious termination is. Well-crafted policy, frequent training and an awareness of change brought about by technology (“textual harassment” is now an issue) can help prevent problems. And watch who puts what into a file.

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Environmental toxicology expert witness Richard Troast, PhD, Troast Environmental Consulting, explains lead toxicity and environmental exposures:

Environmental lead (Pb) and its toxic effects on adults and children have long been recognized. The US EPA has had a continuing goal to minimize exposures to lead to populations threatened by exposures to lead in the air, soil and paint. Lead exposures have been linked to neurological effects including IQ decrement in children and to systemic and reproductive toxicity in adults. Data continues to demonstrate that children are the most sensitive to the effects of lead and this sensitivity forms the basis of the EPA Superfund approach to remedial of cleanup environmental soil lead to levels that would insure a maximum blood lead concentration of 10ug/dl. Adult lead exposures, within the control of Superfund, are cleaned below the levels expected to affect adults by cleaning to the levels not expected to present health risks to children. The EPA has used two models to predict blood leads during its remedial efforts and has used blood lead as the biomarker of exposure. The children’s model is the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model (IEUBK) and the adult exposures were calculated using the Adult Lead Model (ALM). Both of these were published by EPA after significant peer review.

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Psychology expert witness James H. Hilkey for accused murderer Shelton Mills told jurors that the shooting deaths of Cylvonnia Preddy Crowder and Robert Bizzell Jr. Aug. 26, 2007″ is not a ‘who-dunnit,’ crime, but a ‘why-dunnit’ crime.”

In Pitt County Superior Court, North Carolina, the psychologist described Mills’ personality as paranoid, avoidant, psychotic and probably schizophrenic. He also testified that Mills, who was last tested with an IQ of 71, has “mild mental retardation.” The state threshold for eligibility for the death penalty is 70.

Read more: reflector.com.

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Florida’s new homeowners insurance laws will combat fraud which has increased since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Insurance expert David Miller, CEO of Brightway Insurance and independent agency, said change is long overdue and that recently passed state insurance laws will reduce fraud. “We’ve seen a tremendous increase in fraud over the last few years,” he said. “The law is meant to clamp down on … (fraud) which does not help anyone.”

Read more: firstcoastnews.com.

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Tree removal expert witnesses may write reports and opine on tree pruning, the safety of nearby trees, and tree removal, among other topics. The Tree Care Industry Association reports that winter storms with high winds, ice and snow, put tremendous pressures on trees growing near houses or power lines. In their wake, property owners face the task of clearing trees and downed limbs. TCIA offers these safety tips to help avoid personal injury or damage to property during storm clean-up.

When deciding whether to try removing a tree yourself:

Consider the size and location of the tree. If it is more than 20 feet tall or you would have to leave the ground to take it down in pieces, call a professional. Even small trees bent under tension can be extremely hazardous.

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In What the Defendant Can Do Wrong, risk assessment expert witness Ira Somerson, BCFE, CPP, CSC, writes on organizing security functions.

Reasons for Failure Why do organizations persist in having incidents of violent crime? Why are their employees and business invitees exposed to serious security risks? Organizations usually look for quick fixes to problems that they believe are within their area of stewardship. Having never had any serious exposure to the art and science of security management, they are likely to feel that they have the ability to conserve and protect their assets (people, information, property and reputation) without expert support. Unfortunately, “security” is usually folded in with the image of the “rent-a-cop” at the entrance or “those things that you put on doors,” etc. It’s easier to keep it simple than to admit you are vulnerable or unaware of how to manage a problem. It may also require capital investment and/or operational outlays (this will serve as an excellent rationalization for doing nothing). As with most management problems, security is a complicated problem requiring knowledge of a significant body of knowledge. Security risks do not disappear simply by buying “things” and wish it will then go away. As with all business problems it requires data to arrive at a strategic plan.