by

Independent medical examinations expert witness Dr. Charles Wetli testified Friday that Renee Javier Perez could not have been fatally injured in the time frame that ex-cop George Bubaris is accused of killing him. LoHud.com reports:

‘He did not sustain this injury after 11 o’clock p.m.,’ said Dr. Charles Wetli, who was the chief medical examiner for Suffolk County for more than 11 years. Wetli testified at the state Supreme Court Homicide trial of Bubaris, a former Mount Kisco police officer charged in Perez’s death.

Wetli is th last defense witness in Bubaris’ manslaughter trial and is the second medical expert who refuted findings from the Westchester County Medical Examiner as well as a new York City medical examiner, both of whom previously testified that Perez was mortally wounded after 11 p.m. the night of April 28, 2007.

by

Residential real estate expert witness Steve Cohen writes this on mold:

Mold (fungi) can be found indoors and outdoors and is present everywhere. Of the more than 100,000 species of mold, at least 1,000 species are common in the U.S. Some of the most commonly found species are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus.

Molds reproduce by producing tiny spores. The spores float through the indoor and outdoor air continuously. When spores land on a damp area indoors, they may begin growing and digesting the material they have landed on in order to survive. Molds can grow on a variety of materials, but the most common are wood, paper, carpet and food. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth often occurs.

Continue reading

by

Neurology expert witness Michael I. Shevell, M.D writes in “The Pediatric Neurologist as Expert Witness with Particular Reference to Perinatal Asphyxia,”

The situation in which a pediatric neurologist is most likely to be requested to act as an expert is that of a child whose impairment and resulting disabilities and handicaps are the result of an alleged perinatal asphyxia secondary to obstetrical management. Within this setting, the expertise of a pediatric neurologist is focused on the following four main issues:

1. Causation and precise determination of etiology-is asphyxia the root cause for the child’s observed disabilities?

Continue reading

by

When selecting an expert witness, choose the one best qualified and make sure that the expert’s work on the case is better than that of the opposing expert. When possible, the expert witness should adhere to the scientific method by testing and confirming each underlying fact or premise in your case. For example, the anesthesiology expert witness testimony should be based on similar observations and tests as opposed to mere thoughts. This has two advantages. It allows you to test the expert’s thesis for accuracy and it provides a firm basis for arguing why the judge or jury should accept the proven opinions of your expert.

by

The most common use of photographs in court are those that depict physical injuries, damage to automobiles, and the appearance of complex products and objects. While we are told that “the camera doe not lie,” it is also true that photographs can present distorted images, so be watchful for photographic techniques that tend to distort reality. A photography expert witness can help you determine which photographs are accurate and therefore likely to be admissible into evidence. These expert witnesses can explain photographic techniques that can be used to distort the appearance of objects.

by

Tucson copper producer Asarco LLC is suing its former parent company Americas Mining Corp over the value of the company’s investment in Peruvian mining operations. Asarco alleges fraudulent transfer of Asarco’s majority share in two Peruvian copper mines and related facilities. Asarco contends that the loss of that revenue led to its 2005 bankruptcy. Americas Mining Corp mining expert witnesses testified about the value of the Peruvian mines question. AMC asserts that Asarco’s bankruptcy occurred more than two years after the transfer.

German Larrea, one of Mexico’s richest men and chief executive and chairman of Grupo Mexico, parent company of AMC., testified Tuesday that he acted in the best interest of Asarco when he shifted its most valuable asset to one of his other subsidiaries.

by

Former NYPD detective James M. Gannalo is a forensic firearms consultant, firearms and ballistics expert witness and President of Stria Consulting Group. Here he describes aspects of firearms identification:

3) Laser Trajectory Analysis of Bullet Paths – use of a portable scientific laser and inclinometer to determine the direction and angle of a bullet’s flight. This method is also used to accurately determine the origin of a gunshot.

4) Gunshot Residue Distance Determination – creating and analyzing test specimens to illustrate the approximate distance a firearm was discharged from an individual. This test can produce crucial evidence when assessing the validity of witness statements.

Continue reading

by

Occupational and environmental health expert witness Dr. David Egilman is concerned about two cases of Parkinson’s disease that he recently encountered in employees from one of the largest flavoring companies in the country. seattlepi.com writes:

It has been repeatedly documented that inhalation of vapors from diacetyl butter flavoring has destroy lungs of scores of workers at popcorn plants and in other industries involving flavoring agents…Egilman, who has served as an expert witness for many workers reportedly injured by exposure to diacetyl, says the Food and Drug Administration and the companies manufacturing, using and selling flavoring agents must be held accountable for exposing workers, and in some cases, the public, to toxic food additives that remain untested for adverse effects.

by

Former NYPD detective James M. Gannalo is a forensic firearms consultant, firearms and ballistics expert witness and President of Stria Consulting Group. He describes aspects of firearms identification:

1) Microscopic Analysis of Ballistic Evidence – visual assessment of firearm related toolmarks using a comparison microscope to evaluate an agreement or disagreement of class and individual characteristics. Bullets, bullet fragments, cartridge cases and live ammunition can be examined and evaluated using this scientific method.

2) Shooting Incident Reconstruction – use of precise measurements, digital imaging, bullet damage assessment and crime scene sketches to reconstruct shooting incidents. This can be used by both the prosecution and defense in cases where questions are raised as to the actual location of the person discharging a firearm or when witness statements fail to coincide with the physical evidence.

Continue reading

by

Insurance attorney and bad faith expert witness Steven Plitt is the current author of Couch On Insurance 3d. His expert practice involves the analysis of complex insurance coverage and bad faith claims in both the 1st party property and 3rd party liability contexts.

COUCH ON INSURANCE 3D is the authoritative source for expert guidance on almost any insurance law question. It provides coverage on virtually every type of insurance in every phase of insurance law: substantive and procedural, state and federal, case and statutory. The treatise series contains 23 substantive volumes and also is supplemented with COUCH ON INSURANCE FORMS 3D which contains nearly 1,000 forms for insurance litigation in the business of insurance. The Couch treatise has been cited thousands of times by attorneys and courts each year as being the authoritative source of insurance law.