Experienced in Fire Cause and Origin, Arson Prosecution and Defense, Product Subrogation, Fire and Building Codes, Life Safety Codes, Fire Injuries and Fatalities, as well as Fire Department Operations and Management.

With over 28 years of fire department experience and 13 years in the private sector, Mr. Agosti has completed over fourteen thousand investigations of fires, explosions, and life safety incidents. He has testified in both federal and state courts for both plaintiff and defense clients.

John Michael Agosti & Associates provides assistance to insurance companies, attorneys and other agencies in the determination of cause and origin in fires and explosions.

Our goal is to provide independent and articulate findings to you the client, quickly and accurately.

Expert Witness and Case Preparation Services provided for litigation involving Automobile Industry Standards & Practices, specializing in Dealership Operation, relating to Sales, Leasing, Finance, New & Used Cars, Service & Parts. Auto Industry Veteran Since 1978.

Issues:

Fraud Unfair Business Practices Single Document Rule Document Disclosure Spanish Contracts Finance Reserve Payment-Packing Purchase/Lease Flip Rental Disclosure Sales, Closing and Desk Procedures 4-Squares AB-68

Deferred Down Payment Regulations M & Z Wholesale Procedures Reconditioning Safety Inspection Title History Wrongful Termination Discrimination Wrongful Death Class Actions Sales & Management Training Song-Beverly Lemon Law

American Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Los Angeles Business & Resale Licenses
Resume & References upon Request

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.

Michael Nranian, JD, MBA, MS has more than 25 years on Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Development and Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, and Product Liability Litigation. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan, Texas, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nranian is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Professional Engineer, and Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, Electrical, Chemical, Computer Engineering, and Business Financial Management.

Mr. Nranian’s expert witness litigation background includes patent infringement / non-infringement, patent validity / invalidity, prior art searches, and file-wrapper estoppel, for both ITC and Federal cases. He analyzes patents and products, prepares claim charts for Markman hearings, produces expert witness reports, and testifies with respect to all of these areas. He is thoroughly familiar with all 101, 102, 103, 112 and other enablement and prior art arguments.

Mr. Nranian also conducts Product and Technology Analysis, Patentability and Prior Art Research, and Provides Litigation Support and Technology Education of Intellectual Property.His experience includes Technology Standards Boards and Licensing Authorities, Antitrust / DOJ, Technology Development and Transfers, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights.

Mr. Nranian’s 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 the development of Automotive Safety Systems in all aspects of Sensors, Seatbelts, Airbags / Curtains, Seats, Diagnostic Systems, Crash Recorders, Structure (including roof-crush and door) and System Design. Mr. Nranian has developed and designed front, side and roll-over systems (including sensing and algorithm development) for Ford, GM, and other domestic and international corporations. He is thoroughly familiar with all regulatory (including FMVSS) and corporate due-care requirements.

Bison is a multi-disciplined engineering firm specializing in failure analysis, forensic engineering and fire sciences with a team of P.E.'s who have performed thousands of forensic assignments including in excess of 1,000 fuel gas investigations.

Legal professionals turn to Bison to scientifically conduct investigations to determine the cause of destructive events. Forensic Engineers provide expert testimony and consultation. Investigations include explosions, fires, carbon monoxide incidents, electrical fires and failures, structural failures, mechanical failures, accident reconstruction, specialized testing, and courtroom presentations:

Fuel Gas Incidents: Fire and Explosion Causation; Propane Explosions, Natural Gas Explosion, Gas Delivery Systems; Carbon Monoxide Testing and Evaluation, Production and Migration Investigations; Plant & Pipeline, Piping Evaluation; Operational Analysis; Appliance Evaluation; Code Compliance; Soil Gas Migration; Vapor Dispersion

Fire Investigation and Explosion Analysis: Cause and Origin, Scene Documentation; Collection of Evidence; Certified Fire Investigator

Electrical Engineering: Electrically Related Fires, Electrical Service and Wiring Failures, Production Facility Service and Controls for Chemical, Petroleum, and Distribution Facilities, Electrical Contacts, Electrocutions; Lightning Strikes

Mechanical Engineering: Equipment Design and Operation; High-Pressure Oilfield Equipment; Pump Design and Operation; HVAC Systems; High and Low-Pressure Seals; Plastic Part Design and Manufacture, Industrial Equipment

Accident Reconstruction: Accident Sequence Reconstruction; Speed, Time and Distance Calculations; Crush Damage; Braking; Steering and Mechanical Analysis, including Tires; Electrical System / Electronic Failures; Mechanical and Fuel Systems; Airbag and Seatbelt Fatalities/Injuries; Staged Vehicle Impact

Failure Analysis: Industrial Equipment, Vehicle Impacts, Airbags and Seat Belts; Elevator Failures; Helmet and other Protective Equipment Failures; Infant Crib Design Inadequacies; Carbon Monoxide Investigations, Crane Failures, etc.

Metallurgical Engineering: Metal Fatigue of Gas Compressor Components; Electrical Contact Evaluations; Cracking of Structural Plastics; Chemical Analysis; Corrosion & Stress Evaluation and Analysis; SEM Analysis; Electron/Optical Microscopy; X-ray Examination

Bison's clients argue their cases with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their claims are based on unbiased, scientific data.

Donan Engineering Co., Inc., a family owned company founded in 1947, provides full-service Forensic Engineering and Fire Investigation Services. For over 60 years, Donan Engineering has been providing unbiased answers to their client’s complicated questions. Their team of licensed and experienced forensic experts provides investigative services in the fields of engineering investigations, fire and explosion origin & cause, roofing investigations, and component testing. The diversity of their multidisciplinary staff allows them to provide not only a complete service, but a complete service whose conclusions can be successfully and completely supported.

Donan Engineering has become a richly diverse, industry leader with over 190 employees operating from 36 offices in 19 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Throughout their growth, Donan Engineering has maintained their commitment to providing exceptional customer service, unparalleled quality, unmatched integrity, and timely reporting. Most importantly, they pride ourselves on delivering their clients quality services at an affordable price.

Services Include:

Engineering Investigations
Bridges Foundations and Basements Geotechnical / Sink Holes Lightning Low and High Voltage Mechanical Systems Retaining Walls	Steel Construction Trusses Vehicle Mechanical Studies Vibrations: Earthquakes and Blastings Water Infiltration / Mold Wood Frame Construction
Fire / Explosion Origin and Cause Commercial Fires Equipment Fires Vehicle / Residential Fires	Roofing Investigations Commercial Residential - Asphalt Shingle Residential - Slate, Tile, Etc.
Heavy Trucks Motorcycles	Passenger Vehicles

Jason R. Babcock, PhD - Chemistry and Materials Consulting

Dr. Babcock has formal training in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and materials property analysis. He has specialized throughout his career in the role that materials contribute to the limitations and failures of products and systems. He has substantial experience in a variety of materials, corrosion, measurement instrumentation, materials testing, materials processing and processing equipment, chemistry, R&D practices, and project management. Dr. Babcock has a broad General Chemistry knowledge that is invaluable to understanding the interaction of materials on a molecular level. He has extensive experience designing and building experimental apparatus and performing analytical testing of a wide variety of materials, interpreting the results, and providing detailed reports summarizing the findings. He can provide practical and comprehensive testing that is independent and unbiased. He has practical experience performing a broad range of tests to determine the strength, physical, chemical, and wear properties of metals, ceramics, composites, and plastics. Dr. Babcock is the author of over forty technical papers and holds five patents. View Curriculum Vitae.

Richard J. M. Bidwell, PE - Chemical, Industrial Incident Investigator

Ric Bidwell is a Licensed Professional Chemical Engineer that brings to ITC Expert Services nearly 30 years of multidisciplinary engineering experience. He has fully utilized his diverse hands-on experience in the national and international investigations of fires and explosions involving residential, commercial, chemical industrial facilities and heavy equipment. He has also been responsible for failure analysis and incident investigations relating to industrial and chemical processes or process equipment, chemical exposure, industrial accidents and safety.

Mr. Bidwell has nearly two decades of experience in all engineering aspects of chemical processing and industrial plant operations, including design, maintenance, safety and bulk material handling and transportation. Clients have included major petroleum and chemical producers, fuel gas companies and suppliers, the United States Chemical Hazard and Safety Board (CSB) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr. Bidwell Specializes in:

Fire and Explosion Investigation Natural Gas, LP and Propane Systems Chemical and Industrial Processes Industrial Incident Investigations Chemical Release and Exposure Bulk Material Transportation Incident Investigation

Plumbing, Piping and Pumping Systems Combustion & Heating Equipment Industrial and Commercial Safety Industrial and Heavy Equipment HVAC and Refrigeration Equipment

View Curriculum Vitae.

Kevin Pedersen, CFI, CFEI - Director, Fire Investigations

Mr. Pedersen, an investigator for over sixteen years, has extensive training in fire and explosion investigation techniques and experience in many forensic disciplines. He is certified in fire, explosion and arson investigation, holding both CFI (Certified Fire Investigator) and CFEI (Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator) certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), respectively. He is an Illinois licensed Private Detective, a Wisconsin licensed Private Detective, and a trained and accomplished evidence photographer. He has worked on investigations for both civil and criminal cases involving industrial accidents, traffic accidents and fires involving injuries, fatalities and property damage. He has also worked on criminal investigations involving surveillance, assault and battery, and homicides occurring during shootings, cases of arson, and bombings. Mr. Pedersen spent five years as a major crimes investigator for the City of Chicago Police Department in their Bomb and Arson Unit where he investigated over 1,000 incidents involving many major crimes. His experience includes incidents and explosions involving natural gas and propane, as well as residential and industrial fires, and fires in machinery and appliances. View Curriculum Vitae.

Shaun Pergande, PE - Mechanical Engineering / Transportation

Mr. Pergande focuses on engineering activities that involve mechanical equipment, structures, systems, vehicles and machines. He specializes in accident investigation and reconstruction, failure analysis, testing, computer-aided simulation and analysis of machine design, usage and safety. He has performed product safety evaluations and failure investigations for a broad range of mechanical equipment including power tools, manufacturing processing equipment, material handling equipment, construction equipment and on-road and off-road vehicles. He has investigated workplace accidents that occurred on manufacturing and warehouse floors, on warehouse docks, on construction sites and in the field.

Mr. Pergande has extensive experience investigating and reconstructing on-road vehicle accidents including those involving passenger vehicles, heavy trucks, buses, motorcycles, pedestrians and bicycles. He performs accident site investigations, vehicle and component level inspections and evaluations, "black box" data interpretation, and utilizes state-of-the-art computer modeling and simulation methods in the analysis.

Mr. Pergande has M.S. and B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is a licensed mechanical engineer in the state of Illinois. View Curriculum Vitae.

Michael Rogers, PE - Mechanical / Transportation

Mr. Rogers is Senior Vice President overseeing the Mechanical/Transportation Group at ITC Experts, Inc. He is responsible for engineering activities involving various types of vehicles and transportation related equipment as well as activities involving machine design and mechanical systems evaluations. He specializes in accident reconstruction and analysis of vehicles and equipment utilized in either on-highway or off-highway applications including material handling and construction equipment. He has specialized knowledge, training and experience in analyzing traffic accidents involving automotive, heavy truck, motorcycle and pedestrian collisions. He has also analyzed various mechanical systems in various types of vehicles including steering, braking and suspension components as well as restraint systems and vehicle structures as well as interpretation of vehicle “black box” data. He is a trained and certified forklift operator with considerable experience in testing, evaluating and analyzing designs of various types of lift trucks and other material handling equipment. His experience includes working with vehicles involved with aircraft ground support, railroad and construction and has conducted numerous vehicle fire investigations. He is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and Michigan, holds NAFI certification in vehicle fire investigation and has extensive training in heavy vehicle brake systems and accident reconstruction techniques.View Curriculum Vitae.

James Salmon, PhD, PE - Mechanical / Transportation

Dr. Salmon specializes in the investigation and analysis of consumer, military and industrial products and systems in the transportation, industrial and manufacturing environments. He specializes in the investigation of the performance of consumer products, or accidents involving products, vehicles, industrial and military equipment. Dr. Salmon investigates concerns relating to the mechanical design of parts, assemblies or systems, evaluating the real world performance of products. Dr. Salmon has consulted and assisted companies with the design, analysis and test of their products and systems. He specializes in the analysis of product trade secrets and has over 10 years of experience in product reverse engineering and the evaluation of reverse engineering activities. Prior to joining ITC Experts, Dr. Salmon spent 23 years in industry as an engineering leader in research, product design, and manufacturing environments. He has designed, tested and analyzed products and systems in the naval ship, military aircraft, and automobile industries. View Curriculum Vitae.

Mark Fleming, PhD, PE - Mechanical / Vehicle Engineering

Dr. Fleming is an experienced mechanical engineer who uses his specialized knowledge of engineering mechanics and material performance to analyze vehicles and machines, both as part of the design process as well as following an accident. He has inspected and analyzed dozens of vehicles involved in crashes and has performed testing and finite element simulations in his analysis of design performance. He has a background in design engineering and spent six years designing and analyzing off-highway equipment and has used this experience in conducting design analyses and reviews. Dr. Fleming has a Ph.D. in theoretical and applied mechanics studying fracture mechanics and computer simulation methods. He also has a M.S. in theoretical and applied mechanics studying reliability and fracture mechanics. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Illinois. View Curriculum Vitae.

Aaron Jones, PE - Mechanical / Transportation and Materials

Mr. Jones specializes in analyzing the mechanical and materials causes of failures in engineered systems with an emphasis in vehicle and transportation equipment, piping systems, pressure vessels, consumer products, process equipment, and joined components such as welds and bolted joints. Mr. Jones has also conducted investigations related to corrosion of materials and environmental effects on corrosion. His professional activities focus on understanding how applied forces, environment, and material properties influence the performance of materials in service. Mr. Jones also has extensive experience investigating fires on machinery, trucks, busses, and cars. View Curriculum Vitae.

Kevin Jones, PE - Mechanics and Materials

Kevin Jones is a Director in the Mechanics and Materials group at ITC Experts, Inc. Mr. Jones is a highly experienced materials engineer and accident investigator who has examined product failures involving transportation equipment, cranes, power and process equipment, consumer products and medical devices. Mr. Jones applies his materials, corrosion, and forensic science skills to solve complex problems related to the fields of materials science and mechanical engineering. He has extensive experience dealing with fatigue, deformation and fracture of materials, fractography, welding and joining, mechanical testing, and all aspects of corrosion as related to chemical and power plant components, consumer products, construction industry, plumbing and piping, welds and brazing, and consumer products. View Curriculum Vitae.

Nik Ellis, Managing Director of Laird Assessors, specialises in Accident Investigation Services, providing quality independent, comprehensive reports to the insurance and legal industries, examining vehicles and accident sites throughout the UK. Mr. Ellis comes from an Engineering Background having served eleven years in the Crash Repair Industry prior to moving over to consultancy work in 1997. Laird Assessors is now one of the market leaders in thier field, with staff engineers covering all major cities and counties throughout England.

In the last twelve months alone, their highly experienced engineers have examined over £75 million worth of vehicles. All of their engineers are members of either the Institute of Automotive Engineering Assessors or the Institute of the Motor Industry but normally both, amongst a host of other qualifications, and are fully conversant with Audatex, Glassmatix and most other estimating systems.

As expert witnesses, their reports comply fully with Civil Procedures Rules. They regularly support their contents in County, Magistrates and Crown Court and are often instructed as a Single Joint Expert. Laird Assessors aims to provide an independent, honest and clear report backed by technical accuracy.

Services Offered: Laird Assessors prides themselves in the rapid but accurate turnaround from your initial instructions to the final completed report. Typically they will contact your client within one hour of instruction, examine the vehicle anywhere in the UK within 48 hours and produce a full colour comprehensive report within 24 hours of examination.

Accident Damage Reports

Accident Reconstruction

Causation

Diminution in Value

Fraud Investigation

Locus Reports

Repair Authority

Salvage

Video Imaging

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