For over 15 years A'LaCarte Foodservice Consulting Group (A'LaCarte) has been providing operations and growth related consulting to Restaurants, Hotels, Convention Centers, Casinos, Country Clubs, Stadiums and Airports. A'LaCarte has successfully completed projects for start-ups, independent restaurant companies and large multi-unit chains. They have consulted on concept development operations, and growth related matters with a variety of chains (franchisors and franchisees) and independent operators.

Chris Tripoli has over 35 years experience in the Hospitality industry as a Designer, Developer, Owner and Operator. He has provided research and opinions on a variety of legal issues facing the hospitality industry. Mr. Tripoli has written for Food Service News, My Table Magazine, Restaurant Start-up and Growth and has been featured in various other trade publications. He lectures at the Art Institute and teaches courses in opening restaurants and proper growth strategies at the Small Business Development Center of the University of Houston.

Services Include:

Concept Development

Finance Planning (Mergers & Acquisitions)

Business Valuations

Operations (Policies and Procedures)

Management and Staff Handling (Labor Related)

Safety, Sanitation and Food Handling

Franchise Development and Field Services

Major Mark Willingham, BS. MSA., provides expert witness services and litigation consultation in Dram Shop lawsuits and other matters concerning the service and consumption of alcohol including alcohol service policies, employee training, management systems, and risk assessment. Maj. Willingham policed and regulated the alcoholic beverage industry for 30 years and is a PhD candidate in Business Security focusing on responsible alcohol retailing. He is the past international president of the FBI National Academy Associates, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Certified Public Manager.

Major Willingham is a nationally recognized expert in the field of Responsible Retailing and the Service and Use of Beverage Alcohol. He is an author, lecturer, industry and government consultant, researcher, and expert witness in State and Federal Courts. His experience includes 30 years as a State Police commander responsible for law enforcement, regulation, and licensing of the alcoholic beverage industry.

Ares of Expertise:

Alcohol Related Injury or Wrongful Death:

Reasonable Standards of Care In The :
- Management and Service of Beverage Alcohol
- Prevention of Alcohol Service to and Consumption by Underage Patrons
- Prevention of Service to Habitually Addicted Persons
- Creation and Maintenance of a Safe Business Environment
- Prevention of Drug Sales and Use
- Training and Supervision of Beverage Servers

Dram Shop Liability and Over Service of Alcohol

Criminal Matters including DUI and Disorderly Intoxication

Responsible Beverage Solutions:

Business Plan Development and Review:
- License Acquisition, Facilities Location and Design, Employee Screening and Selection

Server and Service Policies and Practices
- Development and Implementation of Management and Server Alcohol Training
- Development and Implementation of Alcohol Sales, Service, and Use Policies

Risk Abatement and Liability Mitigation
- Environmental Design
- Due Diligence Review
- Secret Shopper and Compliance Reviews
- Poly-Drug Sales and Use Prevention

Drug Free Workplace Standards
- Drug Free Workplace Policies and Practices
- Drug Free Workplace Training

Business Remediation and License Sanction

Responsible Vendor Compliance

Alexander Anolik, a seasoned trial attorney, is widely recognized as one of the pre-eminent Travel Attorneys in the world. He is president of the largest U.S. law corporation emphasizing the practice of Travel Law and Travel Industry Litigation, with a travel law support staff including attorneys, consultants, paralegals and industry trained registration assistants in his Tiburon, California offices.

Mr. Anolik is a travel industry professional with over 42 years of experience working with clients on all aspects of travel services, including tour operators, travel agencies, injured passengers and providers of travel.

Mr. Anolik has testified or consulted in hundreds of cases on a variety of issues including, but not limited to, evaluation procedures, liability and "custom and practice" within the Travel, Tourism, Transportation and Hospitality Industry. He has provided testimony in various state, federal, legislative, arbitration and mediation proceedings.

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Jeff Nelken is a Food Safety expert with 35 years experience in the hospitality industry. He specializes in Food Safety, Accident Prevention and Training in restaurants, casinos, manufacturing plants, and health care facilities. Mr. Nelken consults for attorneys that need expert opinions on topics, such as food-borne illness complaints, food allergies, accidents, foreign objects, burns and standards of performance and care.

He coaches personnel to improve food safety awareness, through inspection and customized quality HACCP training programs. He is a certified trainer and provider with the Los Angeles Health Department. In addition, Mr. Nelken has worked with CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC, INSIDE EDITION, and Dateline MSNBC’s investigation team, as well as Restaurants, Casinos, Schools, Supermarkets and Food Manufacturers to provide food safety.

Services Offered:

Litigation Support

Food Safety Training

Accident / Safety Training

AIB Audit Preparation

Vulnerability Inspections

Food Safety Speaker

Health Dept. Issues

Dr. Gary K. Vallen is an expert in Hospitality Management, Lodging Operations & Casino Gaming; including Hotels, Casino Management, Bed and Breakfasts, Dude Ranches, Resorts, Restaurants, etc. He has numerous years of Hospitality Management Industry Experience, including senior management positions.

Dr. Vallen has been a Professor at Northern Arizona University, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, since its inception in 1988. He is author of a best-selling text book on hotel operations; Check-In Check-Out, and other articles and publications.

Download Dr. Vallen's Curriculum Vitae

Food Service & Restaurant Design Consultant. I have been involved in the design of restaurants and commercial kitchens for over 10 years. I have personally designed over 125 restaurants including front of house and back kitchen design, including project management. I have a B.A. in interior design. I have worked on projects throughout the United States and Phillipines, and Honduras.

Over the last 2 years I have owned my own company which has provided complete construction drawings for over 30 restaurants ranging from 1,500 sq. ft. to over 3,000 sq. ft. I have also been retained by architects and business owners to provide coordination drawings for commercial kitchen design for over 35 projects ranging in size from 1,000 sq. ft to 5,000 sq. ft. I have also worked on franchise restaurant projects for McDonalds, Chevy's Mexican Restaurant, Jamba Juice, Tahoe Joe's, Taxi's Hamburgers.

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*Serving California, Arizona and Nevada Exclusively

Arizona Office: 6619 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85250 T: (480) 347-0211

Nevada Office: 2620 Regatta Drive, Suite 102 Las Vegas, NV 89128 T: (702) 733-8711

Robert A. Gardner, CPP, is a "Board Certified" Security Management Professional with multi-state security consultant, private patrol and private investigator "Qualified Manager" licenses. His background includes more than 40 years of training and "hands on" experience in evaluating, developing, and managing security and crime prevention programs. For 25 of those years he served as both a private sector security professional and a public sector Peace Officer.

Areas of Expertise include:

Guard / Bouncer / Investigator Conduct Use of Force Detention & Arrest Premises Security Issues Security Adequacy Assessment

Crime Prevention Theory Building & Site Security Design Workplace Violence Issues Unlicensed Security Activity State & Local Regulatory Compliance

Mr. Gardner provides technical guidance and training to business managers, employee groups, homeowners, developers, property managers, planning officials, and government executives in security awareness, the recognition and reduction of crime risks, and the implementation of security and crime prevention measures.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
• Certified Security Professional (CSP)
• California Private Investigator License # PI6477
• California Private Patrol Operator License # PPO10770
• Nevada Security Consultant/PI License # 852
• Nevada Private Patrol License # 852
• Nevada Private Investigator License # 1588
• Arizona Private Investigator License # 1003680
• California Advanced & Supervisory Peace Officer Certification
• National WMD Standardized Awareness Trainer
• Crime Free Multi-Housing Instructor
• Risk Assessment Methodology Certification
• California Lifetime Teaching Credential
• Police Firearms Instructor Certification
• CA/NV/AZ Concealed Weapon Authorization

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Dram Shop, Drugs and Premises Security at Robson Forensic

Robson Forensic is well equipped to investigate any injuries or fatalities involving the use of alcohol or drugs. These investigations are headed by experienced experts in dram shop, toxicology and premises security. When appropriate, the group may draw upon the expertise of Robson Forensic experts in related disciplines including human factors, biomechanics, crash reconstruction and industrial safety.

Our experts provide investigations, reports and testimony for both plaintiff and defense nationwide. Please contact Elizabeth A. Trendowski to discuss your case and determine which of our experts is most appropriate to assist with your matter.

Elizabeth A. Trendowski
Dram Shop / Liquor Liability Expert

As the founder of SMART, a national certification program for the safe service of alcohol, Liz is a leader in the hospitality industry. Liz has trained more than 20 thousand participants including alcohol servers, managers, security, liquor agents, insurers, and police officers in the safe service of alcohol. Liz is currently an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven in the hospitality department. She has provided expert testimony in cases for both plaintiff and defense throughout the country. View Curriculum Vitae



Michael J. McCabe Jr., Ph.D.
Toxicology Expert

Dr. McCabe is an internationally-trained and nationally-recognized toxicologist who has spent more than 24 years as a teacher and researcher. He applies his expertise in assessing the toxicology of alcohol and drugs associated with motor vehicle collisions, dram shop liability, premises liability, assault, and worker’s compensation claims. Dr. McCabe has provided expert testimony for both plaintiff and defense attorneys and has testified in criminal and civil cases in state and federal courts. View Curriculum Vitae



Donald J. Decker
Premises Security / Police Practices Expert

Don's expertise includes violent crime cases and premises security safety. He is a certified security guard instructor. His professional career includes over 30 years as a state trooper, liability and fraud investigator, and private detective. He is well-versed in the requirements to provide secure environments for people wherever they live, work, or congregate. Don has trained and evaluated others in the performance of their duties and has testified in both state and federal courts. View Curriculum Vitae

Mr. Stearns leads a collection of highly experienced and specialized hotel and hospitality experts with offices in AZ, FL, LA, MA, ME and NH. THE HOTEL EXPERTS, LLC has provided hospitality consulting, litigation support and impartial expert witness research, reports and testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants who are individual litigants, hotel owners, hotel operators, franchisors and franchisees since 2002. THE HOTEL EXPERTS, LLC always endeavors to balance the specific resume attributes of its experts and their location with the strategic needs of each individual case in matters from contract or brand disputes and employment conduct to accounting and valuation, and safety and security issues including various personal injuries and wrongful deaths.

Areas of Expertise:

Operating Standards

Product Standards

Safety & Security Standards Emergency Procedures

Integrity Standards

Employee Qualifications & Hiring Practices

Standards for Training

Marketing Practices

Franchise Agreements & Management Contracts

Franchise Relations

Casino & Gaming Operations

Restaurants

Alcoholic Beverage Services

Accounting

Taxation

Valuation