Expert Witness Blog

In The Role Of The Forensic Engineer, forensic engineering expert witness Philip J. O’Keefe, PE, MLE, writes:

Methods used in forensic engineering investigations, sometimes referred to as “root cause failure analysis,” can include reverse engineering, testing of exemplar components, review of documentary evidence, and examination of alleged failed components. Investigations are conducted in view of engineering principles, standard design practices, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

In the course of a forensic investigation, it’s sometimes impossible to dissect components and devices without destroying any evidence that might be contained within. If destructive examination is unacceptable or impossible, non destructive techniques can be used effectively. Examples of non-destructive examination (NDE) techniques can include the use of a hand-held multimeter to check for electrical continuity or the use of x-ray equipment to reveal telltale signs of failure.

In The Insurer’s Duty to Defend: A Quick Analysis, attorney and insurance expert witness Thomas H. Veitch explains:

The application of the “duty to defend” in liability policies has been a cause of controversy for many, many years. Consequently, there is now an abundance of case law dealing with a variety of issues involving the duty to defend. The case law provides some general guidelines for dealing with these issues. While the precise rules of law may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the guidelines are much the same. The following are some general rules applied by Texas courts and other jurisdictions following the “Eight Corners Analysis” regarding a duty to defend.

Read more: insuranceexpertnetwork.com.

In New or Existing Building Turnover to Condo Ownership, architecture expert witness David E. Chase writes that no matter how many units are involved, a future condominium association should consider both the physical and financial status of any new or existing complex before Turnover to assume full ownership.

Actually, the Turnover Condition Report, covering the building common areas, site development improvements and individual units, should be carried out after the “punch list” and a Certificate of Occupancy but… before the association accepts full ownership of the complex.

A Turnover Condition Report ,prepared by an independent Architect and/or Engineer , should follow the professional standard of care commonly accepted for constructed improvements of this nature. The process begins with a walk-through and other visual observations together with an examination of the “permitted” building construction documents. Although not as exhaustive as a “punch list”, this due diligence activity will result in a Turnover Condition Report offering a generalized compilation of line items for the association to accept or… developer to correct, before the association accepts full Turnover ownership.

In Preparing and Presenting Expert Testimony, traffic engineer and accident reconstruction expert witness Lawrence Levine writes:

Case Preparation As Traffic Engineers, our goal is to provide safe movement on highways and streets. However, all too often accidents occur resulting in injuries and property damage, from which lawsuits often arise. The lawsuit, which in this case would either be criminal or civil, is the basic manner in which money is distributed and justice served to the injured parties. In a criminal case (involuntary manslaughter, for instance) the question is “who dunnit?” and “was it intentional – was there a motive – why did they do it?” A civil case, however, involves the question of “what were the proximate cause(s) which enabled the injuries and damages to occur?” An example of a civil case would be if a party’s vehicle hits a signal pole which is unprotected and installed too close to the road, and thereby becomes injured. These are two fundamentally different issues. The Criminal case generally deals with investigating people, determining wrongdoings, and consequently assigning blame and doling out punishment accordingly. Traffic Engineers can become involved in criminal cases as Accident Reconstructionists or in determining if there was some sort of criminal malfeasance in the construction of a project which consequently failed and caused injury. However, generally traffic engineers are involved as experts in civil cases where the injured party seeks relief through monetary judgments.

In The Role Of The Forensic Engineer, forensic engineering expert witness Philip J. O’Keefe, PE, MLE, writes:

Forensic engineers are much like scientific detectives. They are called on to conduct investigations and determine the causes of accidents, fires, equipment failures, safety system malfunctions, and structural collapses. Milton F. Lunch, the former General Council for the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) sums it up very well:

“Forensic engineering is the application of the art and science of engineering in the jurisprudence system, requiring the services of legally qualified professional engineers. Forensic engineering may include investigation of the physical causes of accidents and other sources of claims and litigation, preparing of engineering reports, testimony at hearings and trials in administrative or judicial proceedings, and the rendition of advisory opinions to assist the resolution of disputes affecting life or property.”

Disability insurance expert witnesses may write reports and opine on managed care, HMOs, and insurance claims. Medical expert Richard N. Podell, M.D., M.P.H. explains that for someone with fibromyalgia, it’s a difficult step to apply for disability and upsetting if an insurance company representative appears not to believe that they are actually very ill. He says the patient can improve their fibromyalgia disability claim by imagining themselves in the medical insurance examiner’s place.

Medical Expert Witness Issue #3:

With fibromyalgia, when you physically push through your limits the expected flare-up of symptoms might not occur right away. Often the flare-up is delayed for hours or even a day. This pattern of fibromyalgia disability is very different from that of most other illnesses. Insurance industry representatives and indeed many physicians– don’t yet understand this very basic fact.