Design Engineering

William R. Acorn, P.E., FASHRAE, is principal and founder of Acorn Consulting Services, LLC (ACS). For over 30 years, he has been involved in the Engineering Analysis and Design of hundreds of projects ranging from Institutional Laboratories to Cleanroom Facilities for the semiconductor industry.

Mr. Acorn has significant experience as an Expert Analyst of System Design, System Failures, Code Compliance issues and Cause/Effect relationships of problems related to the built environment. Mr. Acorn has received numerous awards for technical excellence and is recognized for his technical achievements, innovation and foresight by peers, associates and clients in the advanced technology industry.

Mr. Acorn is an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University; the author of the book Code Compliance for Advanced Technology Facilities; and a frequent lecturer to the industry and academia on a variety of technical topics related to building and cleanroom design, construction and project management.

Mr. Acorn is registered as a Professional Mechanical Engineer in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah. He is also registered with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Forensic & Litigation Consulting

Analysis and evaluation of losses related to failed systems or other facility performance issues is provided on behalf of owners or attorneys. These services are provided with regard to deficiencies in HVAC Systems, Cleanrooms, Piping Systems, Refrigeration Systems, Construction Claims, Building and Fire Codes:

Litigation Consulting

Technical Analysis and Investigation

Claims Preparation and Analysis

Expert Testimony

Project Consulting

ACS assists their clients to optimize the outcome of new and retrofit facilities by providing a range of high level services including:

Strategic Planning: Conceptual Design; Feasibility Studies & Evaluations; Value Engineering

Facility Retrofit and Renovation Strategies

Program Management: Project Delivery Strategies; Selection of Design and Construction Teams

Design Consulting and Design Review

Code Compliance Analysis and Negotiation

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Albert Ferrari, P.E., C.S.P. is a Mechanical Engineer and Safety Professional experienced in both the micro and in the macro focus. Mr. Ferrari is particularly sensitive to reliability, safety, and function. His Forensic Engineering experience includes 25 years in Accident Reconstruction, Causal Analysis, Failure Analysis, Codes, Standards and Regulations, Consulting and Testimony.

Mr. Ferrari provides Expert Witness Consulting and Testimony services to Defense attorneys, Plaintiff attorneys, Claims adjusters and Insurance companies.

Engineering Work Includes:

Automotive Engineering

Pedestrian Facilities

Machine Design

Thermal and Mechanical Energy Analysis

Structural Load and Stress Analysis

Piping and Tanks

System Safety and Human Factors Analysis for Design of Hazardous Equipment

Evaluations Include

Cause of Injury, Loss and Damage

Adequacy of Products, System, Materials

Standard of Care of Design, Use, Repair

Cause and Origin of Fires; Arson

Services Include:

Investigation and Consultation

Diagnostics, Testing and Analysis

Technical Photography and Video

Literature and Standards Studies

Codes and Regulations Analysis

Reports and Testimony

Evaluations

Henry Chamberlain is the president of Allied Glass Experts, LLC., a Kansas corporation offering Technical Services Regarding Glass and Glazing Systems. AGE offers Forensic Services, Glazing System Design, Consulting to Glass Manufacturers and Fabricators, Plant Design, Product Development, Testing, Research and Engineering. Mr. Chamberlain's clients are given firm written commitments regarding costs, standards, approvals, deliverables and completion dates.

Services Include:

Design

Simulation

Failure Analysis

Fractography

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Optics

Energy Efficiency

Process Control

Forensics

Testing

Alpine Engineering & Design, Inc. is a company that specializes in Rapid Product Development. Their engineers have had over 20 years developing the skills of new product design. Their innovative approach to product design can be seen in over 100 patents held by their engineers. When we create a product, we must sell it to our customer. We use resources such as our model shop, computer graphics and animations, full size prototypes and written descriptions to communicate our ideas to our customers. We effectively teach them about the product and its merits.

We apply the same skills we use in developing new products to our work as expert witnesses. We give honest, understandable opinions with the underpinning required to help attorneys, judges and jurors make good decisions.

Alpine Engineering's Design Experience reaches a number of industries including Refuse Equipment, Hydraulically Operated Equipment, Trucks and Related Equipment, Aerial Lifts, Manlifts, Industrial Equipment, Mobile Equipment, Material Handling, Forklifts, Pallet Trucks, Boom Trucks, Suspension Systems, Garbage Trucks, Front Loaders, Side Loaders, Automated Loaders, Rear Loaders, Rolloffs, Liftgates, Exercise and Sports Equipment, Trucking Equipment, Turf Care Equipment, Farming Equipment.

Alpine Engineering's Comprehensive Services include:

Product Development Innovative Concept Multi-Industry Experience Powerful Design Tools Full Service Fabricating Materials	Expert Witness Services Vast Technical Knowledge Intellectual Property Creative Display Presentations Great Reputation
Patent & Patent Related Issues Patent Searches Provisional Patent Complete with Illustrations Patent Infringement Review	Design Analysis Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Electrical Structural Integrity Tests Value Analysis

Alvia Services, Inc. (Alvia) provides Engineering, Construction and related Forensic services including:

Civil Engineering: Comprehensive understanding of federal, state and municipal regulations. Develop timely and effective land-use, permitting, mitigation, and compliance strategies.

Geotechnical Engineering: All phases of construction, from feasibility and foundation studies through testing and construction management. Coordinate lab testing services with expert laboratories, certified by NIST and CCRL. Geotechnical studies and recommendations for site work, difficult excavation, slope instability, saturated ground conditions, and other adverse conditions.

Environmental Engineering: Compliance services to Public and private clients. Over 45+ collective years of experience between Engineering Geologists, Environmental Engineers, Environmental Assessors (REA I & REA II), and Environmental Technicians.

Structural Engineering: Value engineering solutions and multi-discipline team approach.

Construction Management: Project Management, Construction oversight, Cost Estimating, Scheduling and Claim Analysis and Preparation.

Forensic Services Residential and commercial site investigation of cause and origin of structural or mechanical failures or defects, fires and explosions, or mold. Environmental assessments. Damage assessment from defects, failures, or catastrophes such as windstorm damage, hail damage, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

Types of Projects include: Buildings and civil construction, bridges, roads, hotels, storm and sanitary sewers, wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, single and multi-family housing, tunnels, mass transit, shoring, retaining walls, landslide stabilization, foundation upgrade, canals, levees, water conveyance and pipelines, shopping malls, governmental facilities, seismic retrofit, environmental restoration projects associated with wetlands, underground storage tanks (UST) and chemical contamination to soil and groundwater (RCRA and Superfund) in addition to asbestos abatement (TSCA).

View Expert Witness Profile.

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New Jersey Office: PMB 4066 55 Madison Avenue - Ste 400 Morristown, NJ 07960 T: (973) 401-0010 F: (973) 401-0056

New Hampshire Office: Analytic Engineering 105 Juniper Ridge Road Gilford, NH 03249 T: (603) 293-4477 F: (603) 293-4142

Analytic Engineering combines Professional Engineering with Effective Communication. We offer Technical Analysis and Services in the Engineering field and provide experienced Expert Testimony to communicate the conclusions reached.

Engineering Services:

Mechanical Engineering Safety Engineering Vehicular Accident Reconstruction Failure Analysis Computer Animation

Premises Liability Patent Claim Analysis Product Design & Liabilty Product & Equipment Design Engineering Services

Steven R. Thomas, PE, the Principal Engineer at Analytic Engineering, earned his Bachelor of Science - Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical) at Widener University, Chester, PA in 1979 and a Master of Science in Engineering Science (Safety Engineering and Human Factors) at The New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1997.

Professional Experience: Steven R. Thomas, P.E. has worked for such organizations as General Motors, Thomas & Betts, General Cable and Breed Automotive Corporation. He has worked in the engineering fields of Research and Development, Product Design, Machine Design, Manufacturing, Industrial, Tooling, Safety, Facility Design, Failure Analysis and Accident Reconstruction. Since 1991 Mr. Thomas has worked as an Engineering Consultant in the Forensic field and has testified in numerous jurisdictions.

David Alley is a Consulting and Forensic Engineer with over three decades of Design Engineering Experience, Field engineering experience and financial analysis experience for power Generation Projects in Cogeneration, Nuclear, Hydropower, Diesel Engine, Combustion Turbine and Gas Turbine Powered Power Generation Facilities. Mr. Alley is a National Electrical Code NFPA-70 expert and an Hazardous area delineation expert.

BSEE-Clemson, MBA-Darden

Michael Nranian, JD, MBA, MS has over 25 years experience focusing in Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, and Product Liability Litigation. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan, Texas, & the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nranian is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Professional Engineer, & Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, IP, Electrical, Chemical & Computer Engineering, & Business. He has testified extensively as an expert witness in depositions, hearings, and trials in state & federal courts.

Mr. Nranian conducts Product and Technology Analysis, Patentability & Prior Art Research,and provides Technology & Litigation Support for Intellectual Property. His litigation background includes patent infringement / non-infringement under literal infringement and the doctrine of equivalents, patent validity / invalidity, prior art, & file-wrapper estoppel, for both ITC and Federal cases. He conducts analysis of patents and products, prepares claim charts, & expert witness reports. This includes testimony and document preparation for cases before state, and federal court jurisdictions, and the International Trade Commission.

Mr. Nranian is thoroughly familiar with all 101, 102, 103, 112, and other enablement and prior art arguments. His experience includes Technology Standards Boards and Licensing Authorities, Antitrust / DOJ, Technology Development and Transfer, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights.

His Product Liability Expert Witness litigation background includes all types of Safety Systems, Electrical Systems, Fires, Accident Reconstruction, and Evaluation of Alternative Designs for Automotive, Medical and other industries. He has over 20 years of experience in Automotive Safety Systems, Sensors, Seatbelts, Airbags / Curtains, Seats, Diagnostic Systems, Crash Recorders, Crash Pulse Analysis, System Diagnostic, Fault Codes, Structure (including roof-crush and door) and front, side & roll-over systems (including sensing and algorithm development) for domestic and international corporations. He is thoroughly familiar with all regulatory (including FMVSS), and corporate due-care requirements, & preemption arguments, occupant kinematics, & injury causation.

B.E.C. Consulting, LLC was established in 1982. Since that time, we have provided top-level consulting engineering services and accident reconstruction to our clients; law firms, insurance companies, state and local agencies, manufacturing companies, and clients who are seeking product design analysis and other engineering related services.

Our engineers represent a broad range of engineering disciplines which enables us to work on a variety of cases using the team approach. The teams at B.E.C are comprised of Engineers, Technical Specialists, Graphics Specialists as well as Research and Administrative Personnel, so that each case is given personal attention and is handled efficiently and effectively. We are located in Tallahassee, Florida, but are active in AL, GA, MS, TN and SC. We have worked in almost every state in the United States, including Alaska.

Areas of Expertise:

All Areas of Accident Reconstruction

Failure Analysis

Product Design

Product Development

Product Delivery

Material Handling System

Computer Animation, Electronic Graphics and Video Reenactment

Every aspect of our firm is designed to serve our clients needs; conference rooms for mediations and depositions, a research and testing lab, secured evidence storage, facilities for expert inspections, and easy access to airport and hotel facilities for our out-of-town clients. We are truly a full service engineering firm.

Because of this team approach and a commitment to customer service, B.E.C. has attained regional and national recognition as a leader in forensic engineering services and new product development. This excellent example and tireless dedication to serving our client’s needs has resulted in a devoted client base and reputation second to none.

Dr. Charles Benedict, P.E. founded Benedict Engineering Company in 1982. He has over 35 years experience in the fields of product and machine design and analysis, vehicular accident reconstruction of all types, and product and system failure analysis. He has designed, developed, manufactured, and tested more than sixty different products and machine systems. Dr. Benedict is well respected in the fields of forensic engineering, product and machine system design and analysis and patenting.

Expertise:

Biomechanics Occupant Kinematics Vehicle Restraint Systems Vehicle Controlability Material Handling Patent Infringement

Automobile Accidents Pedestrian Accidents General Engineering Product Design Fire and Explosion Analysis Tractor / Trailer Accidents Electrical Issues

Dr. Jim Dobbs, P.E. is a principle in the organization and has been practicing forensic engineering for the past 12 years. He was a design/development engineer at General Electric for a decade prior to coming to BEC Consulting. He has extensive experience in product development and design and hold several patents. He is nationally known for metallurgical failure analysis and accident reconstruction. He has particular experience and knowledge with motorcycles and tractor-trailer accidents.

Expertise:

Metallurgy Medical Devices Railroad Accidents Seat Belts and Airbags Seatback Analysis Automobile Accidents

Pedestrian Accidents General Engineering Product Design Slip / Trip / Fall Tractor / Trailer Accidents

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E. is also a principle with BEC Consulting, and has been practicing forensic engineering for over 15 years. He holds several patents on roadside safety devices and studied roadside safety at the University of Nebraska. He has considerable knowledge about maintenance of traffic plans and traffic engineering. He is equally knowledgeable about accident reconstruction, especially involving tractor-trailer accidents.

Expertise:

Roadside Hazards Vehicle Controllability Occupant Kinematics Roadway Design Guardrails and Bridges Biomedical Engineering

Automobile Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Tractor / Trailer Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall Product Design General Engineering

Dr. Ying Lu

Expertise:

Biomedical Analysis Occupant Kinematics Injury Causation Low Speed Accidents Recreational Injury Sports Injury General Engineering

Accident Reconstruction Pedestrian Accidents Bicycle Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall Product Design Ergonomics Human and Environment Interaction

Mrs. Traci Campbell, P.E.

Expertise:

Industrial Accidents Safety Analysis Product Design / Failure Analysis Slip / Trip / Fall Guarding / Warnings Workplace Safety Bicycles

OSHA Regulations Pedestrian Accidents Automobile Accidents Tractor / Trailer Accidents Fire and Explosion Theme Parks Airbag and Black Box General Engineering

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E.

Expertise:

Black Box Analysis Motorcycle / Bicycle Mechanical Design Product Guarding Design Fire and Explosion Seat Belt Analysis

Automobile Accidents Pedestrian Accidents General Engineering Product Design Tractor / Trailer Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall

Marvin R. Blethen, PE, MBA, MS, founder of Blethen Mining Associates, PC, is an Engineer and Mining Consultant who has worked as an industry insider on the front lines and in executive and advisory positions for over 28 years. He earned his MBA from Troy State University and graduated cum laude with a BS in Mining Engineering from West Virginia University Institute of Technology. He is a licensed member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and a Founding Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

Mr. Blethen has real life experience as an Engineer in Sand, Aggregates, Coal, Fire Clay, Kaolin, Novaculite, Quartz, Precious Metals, Magnesite, Bauxite, Graphite and Industrial Minerals Mining and brings a high level of technical experience to a business he understands. His focus is delivering state of the art technical engineering support to all phases of operation, from exploration to site reclamation, surface and underground mining, domestic and international. As a mining consultant, Mr. Blethen provides technical support and stands as a professional liaison between you and federal, state and/or local governments and regulatory agencies.

Experience Includes:

• Estimation & Evaluation of Resources & Reserves
• Mine Permitting
• Mineral Appraisals
• Mine Ventilation Design
• Mine Planning & Design
• Evaluation & Design of Ground Control
• Design & Evaluation of Process Flow
• Legal & Safety Concerns
• Coordination of All Engineering Fields
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Reclamation Plans
• MSHA New Miner Training & Refresher Training
• Certified First Aid / CPR Training