The CECON Group, Inc.

Consulting in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials, Nanotechnology, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Related Science and Engineering Fields. Technical Experts with Experience in Patent Litigation, Products Liability and Personal Injury.

Our inside technical professionals will help you find the expert you need, either from CECON's network of over 1200 science, engineering, and technical business experts in 19 countries, or by doing a custom search. We will help you find the best consultant for your project. Advantages are:

Quick response, and no fee until the expert is working for you

Inside technical staff is able to understand the nuances of your project and effectively screen experts for your case.

Skilled at quickly assembling multidisciplinary technical expert teams.

26 years of experience serving the legal community and industry.

Litigation Experts For:

Products liability, patents and trade secrets, chemical and fire hazards, OSHA, EPA, FDA compliance, labeling, fitness for use, failure analysis, evidence evaluation, forensic investigation, insurance claims, damage valuation, IP valuation.

What CECON Consultants Do:

CECON consultants have decades of experience in industry, federal agencies and academia. CECON's strength is in finding the right consultant for your exact need from a world class network of technical experts. If the expert is not a CECON Consultant, we will use our external network to find the expert that meets your specifications.

Areas of Expertise:

Agriculture Bio Technology Ceramic / Glass Chemical Analysis Chemical Engineering Chemistry Composites Controlled Release Electrical Electronic Energy Engineering Environment Failure Analysis FDA Compliance Fermentation Fertilizer Fibers / Films / Coatings Food / Beverage Food Engineering Geo Science Hazardous Materials

Herbicides Insurance Legal: Expert Testimony Legal: Patents Manufacturing Materials Engineering Material Safety Medical Device Medicinal Chemistry Metals / Metallurgy Nanotechnology Particle Size Pesticides Pharmaceutical Physics / Optics / Magnetics Polymers / Plastics Regulatory Compliance Safety / Risk Assessment Sensors Toxicity

National Expert Witness And
Consulting Service For Attorneys

KHB CONSULTING SERVICES provides research, consulting and expert witness services to the legal profession for cases involving:

Chemicals Paints and coatings Chemical specialty products Household chemical products Industrial chemicals Hazardous materials

Labels and warnings Toxic substances Aerosols OSHA Chemical spills Chemical explosions

We provide:

Translation of technical terminology File review Research Field site visits Laboratory testing/analysis

Reports Strategy assistance during discovery Deposition Testimony

The primary areas of expertise are:

Chemistry Chemicals Industrial Chemicals Household Chemicals Paint and Coatings Adhesives and Sealants Chemical Specialty Products Solvents Fumes Hazardous Materials Aerosols and Spray Products

Labels and Warning Toxic Substances Polymers / Resins / Plastics MSDS Review OSHA Laboratory testing and Analysis Failure Analysis Propellants Chemical Spills Chemical Accidents

Dr. Joseph D. Jolson has over 28 years of industrial experience providing Product Development, Product Support, Litigation, Subrogation, and Intellectual Property Services. He has championed the development of two-dozen commercially successful products. Dr. Jolson's experience includes:

The development, testing, use, and analysis of failed aqueous and lithium batteries

The development, placement, testing, use and analysis of failed carbon monoxide, chlorine, combustible gas, ethylene oxide, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic hydrocarbon gas detectors

The development, testing, use and analysis of failed air purifying respirators including self-contained self-rescuers

Areas of Expertise:

Batteries

Chemical Analysis

Gas Detection

Failure Analysis

Industrial Hygiene & Safety

Laboratory Safety

Material Safety Data Sheets

Mine Safety

Product Testing

Respiratory Protection

Dr. Edward Funk is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He also provides consulting to attorneys in the following areas:

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Products

Polymers

Patent Infringement

Hazardous Materials

Environmental Technology

He has extensive experience in chemistry-related technology from R&D with Exxon and Honeywell, and is the author of 6 U.S. patents and over 60 technical publications.

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Dr. Mark Goldstein, Ph.D. has 29 years of leading expertise in Carbon Monoxide Safety and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. He is the President of Quantum Group, which manufactures carbon monoxide alarms, controls and sensor.

Dr. Goldstein was a founder and President of the Carbon Monoxide Safety and Health Association (COSHA). He served on Underwriters Laboratory's Standards Technical Panel (STP) of experts and currently serves on several panels for carbon monoxide alarms.

Dr. Goldstein has managed large projects for private American companies, U.S. government agencies, and foreign companies. He has over 30 patents and has published over 40 papers in scientific journals and magazines.

Areas of Expertise:

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Forensic Science and Engineering
• Explosions
• Fire
• Sensors
• Air Purification
• Accident Reconstruction
• Gasoline and Other Hydrocarbon Pollutants

Technical assistance to counsel in litigation involving Chemical and Environmental Forensics, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous Materials, Regulatory Compliance, Dioxins, Fires and Explosions at waste facilities and cement plants, and injury or chemical exposure claims due to hazardous materials or hazardous operations.

GCI provides the technical expertise and develops the evidentiary basis for legal arguments relying on or involving:

Industrial and environmental chemical forensic analysis

Causation proved by fate and transport of chemicals and their degradation products in the environment

Appropriate standard of care for and regulations of hazardous waste and hazardous materials

Safety and prevention of catastrophic events such as fires and explosions

Prevention of injury or chemical exposure resulting from hazardous materials or hazardous materials operations

Prevention of chemical spills and/or proper management of historical environmental contamination

Expert Witness & Consultant: Meyer R. Rosen, President of Interactive Consulting, Inc., serves as an Expert Witness & Consultant. Provides plaintiff/defense services to attorneys and insurance companies regarding technical products liability, personal injury issues, and intellectual property matters. Areas of specialty include, but are not limited to:

fires

explosions

hazardous chemicals

chemical burns

toxic exposures

hair relaxers

hair coloring

Mr. Rosen is nationally certified as both a Forensic Chemist and a Forensic Chemical Engineer. He is experienced in litigation matters for household and industrial products, safety in product design, formulation and ingredients, technical aspects of warnings, instructions & labeling, OSHA regulations and Codes & Standards. He has been accepted in both Federal & State Court as an Expert.

He has over thirty years of experience in Corporate Specialty Chemical and Allied industries, fifteen years in Academia as Adjunct Professor of Chemistry and eighteen years as Founder and President of Interactive Consulting, Inc. He is a recognized Expert in the Technical Marketing of Specialty Chemicals, their formulations and applications.

He is a member of several ASTM standards-making committees and serves as a referee for peer reviewed technical journals. Mr. Rosen is the organizer/moderator of HBA Global's International Safety and Regulatory Symposia, Chief Scientific Advisor for HBA Global's Personal Care and Cosmetic Technical Conferences, editor (U.S. and Canada) EuroCosmetics magazine, and an Editorial Advisory Board member for Knovel Corporation.

Patents & Publications: Mr. Rosen holds over 20 U.S. patents, has authored four books, edited a 1,000 page book "Delivery System Handbook for Personal Care and Cosmetic Products: Technology, Applications and Formulations," is co-author of the "Rheology Modifier Handbook" and written over 40 peer reviewed articles for technical publications.

Technology Expertise (Intellectual Property): Mr. Rosen provides consultation and litigation support in patent infringement, trade secret issues and licensing matters. He specializes in:

Organosilicones: Surfactants, Emulsions, Foams, Antifoams, Silane Coupling Agents

Water Soluble Polymers, Poly(ethylene oxide), Polyethylene Glycol, and Poly(acrylamide)

Colloid and Surface Chemistry: Stability of Dispersions, Wetting & Spreading Phenomena, Suspensions & Emulsions, Clays, Paint & Coatings, Personal Care, Cosmetics

Flocculating and Coagulating Agents

Applied Rheology, Rheology Modification of Aqueous & Non-Aqueous Media

Certifications:

Chartered Chemist and Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry - London

Fellow: American College of Forensic Examiners

Fellow: American Institute of Chemists

Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Examiners

Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology

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.