Expert Witness Blog

Pesticide products expert witnesses may testify on fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and related topics. Here, the EPA discusses pest control devices.

If a device and a pesticide product are packaged together, that combined product is a pesticide product subject to registration requirements. For example, 1-Octen-3-ol (octenol) is registered as a pesticide product intended to attract certain species of mosquitoes and biting flies. If octenol is distributed or sold in or packaged with a trap for that purpose, the combination product is a pesticide product that must be registered separately. If the trap is sold without the octenol, it is a device regulated by EPA.

A device is NOT required to be registered with EPA; however, other requirements do apply to devices. The sections on this page below provide additional examples and links that highlight different ways devices are regulated, not regulated, and associated information. For questions about whether a specific product is a device or not, you should contact your EPA regional office.

Biomedical expert witnesses may write reports and testify on biomedical engineering, biomedical physics, and biotechnology, among other topics. On their website, the Biomedical Engineering Society describes bioengineering:

Bioengineering integrates physical, chemical, or mathematical sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates for the molecular to the organ systems levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health[iii].

Generally, bioengineering encompasses other engineering disciplines when they are applied to living organisms (e.g. prosthetics in mechanical engineering). Bioengineering is often synonymous with biomedical engineering, though in the strict sense the term can be applied more broadly to include food engineering and agricultural engineering. Biotechnology also falls under the purview of the broad umbrella of bioengineering. Biological Engineering is the same thing as Agricultural Engineering, whereas Biomedical engineering (also known as bioengineering) is related with the medical field. Biological engineering is called Bioengineering by some colleges and Biomedical engineering is called Bioengineering by others.

In No room to stand, medical insurance expert witness Robert H. Dobson writes on maximum benefits:

Abstract

The idea of taxing so-called Cadillac plans may not sound unreasonable upon first glance. But an actuarial view quickly reveals that the high cost of these plans has as much to do with the characteristics of the covered population as it does with benefit richness. It also reveals that the method of determining the taxable benefit threshold may create unintended consequences-especially when coupled with other benefit-level requirements under various reform proposals, leaving little room between benefit floors and the ceiling in certain slices of the insurance market. Is there a better way to structure a ceiling for maximum benefits? One solution might entail better defining actuarial value and using the refined notion to address both the floor and the ceiling.

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.

Biomedical engineering expert witnesses may write reports and opine on medical devices, biomedical physics, and biomedical science. The Biomedical Engineering Society website offers information including research, publications, and industry updates. See BMES.

Hospital administration expert witnesses may write reports and opine on hospital regulations, physician credentialing, hospital bylaws, and related topics. In How to Work as a Hospital Administration Expert, eHow.com writes:

Hospital administrators are executive-level staffs who oversee all areas of hospital management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook, the median salary for a medical and health services managers is $73,340 per year.

Get a degree in a field related to hospital administration. Although you may work as a hospital administrator with a bachelor’s degree, most hospital administration experts have a master’s degree or doctorate in healthcare management or related field.

In Understanding healthcare plan costs and complexities, medical insurance expert witness Robert H. Dobson writes:

Abstract The many available choices in the U.S. commercial insurance market, combined with the unique complexities of the current healthcare market, create a complex cause-and-effect matrix that is reflected in a range of different health plan costs. This paper examines five types of plan design and the costs associated with them, and includes an analysis of the many variables at work. The paper also cautions that actuarial considerations must be used in the proper context if they are to support an effective healthcare reform effort.

Read more: insight.milliman.com.

Entertainment expert witnesses may testify on motion picture distribution, media piracy, royalties, and related topics. In Protecting Creativity, Expanding Consumer Choice, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. writes:

More than 2.4 million American jobs rely upon a healthy film and television industry in the United States. We are committed to safeguarding these jobs by protecting intellectual property and delivering innovative choices to consumers. To be successful, we seek to constructively engage with diverse stakeholders. This includes:

* Partnering with the technology and communications communities to reduce copyright theft and expand the diversity of legitimate choices available to consumers, so they can enjoy the genuine product – authentic copies of movies & TV shows – at a fair price and in flexible and hassle-free ways.