Richard Ernest is an award winning Forensic Scientist and Consultant who has over 31 years of Experience in Analytical Criminalistics and Forensic Ballistics. During his career he has worked literally thousands of forensic cases, and testified hundreds of times. Mr. Ernest is one of a very few private forensic ballistics consultants in the United States. He also owns and operates his own independent forensic firearms laboratory. He has worked cases all across the United States. His clients include law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, civil and criminal case lawyers, private individuals, journalists, writers, educators and students.

Mr. Ernest has performed work on such notable cases as the Atlanta Murdered and Missing Children (Georgia vs. Wayne Williams), the Branch Davidian cases from Waco, the Texas Cadets Murder (Texas vs. David Graham and Dianne Zamora), the Miami SWAT case (USA vs. Acuna, et. al. - the Richard Brown case), and the Jayson Williams case (NJ vs. Jayson Williams).

Areas of Expertise:

Firearm Examination and Testing

Bullet and Cartridge Case Examinations and Comparisons

Ammunition Evaluation and Testing

Shooting Scene Reconstructions

Shooting Accident Reconstructions

Shooting Scene Re-enactments

Distance Determinations from Gunshot Wounds and Clothing

Gunshot Residue Analysis (GSR) and GSR Consultation

Tool Mark Examinations and Comparisons

Gun Safety and Design Issues

Serial Number Restorations

Crime Scene Examinations and Consultations

Footwear Identification

Tire Track Identification

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

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

Forensic Analytical Sciences, Inc., is an independent, full-service criminalistics laboratory located in the San Francisco Bay Area (www.forensica.com/fasc) that serves both prosecutorial and defense agencies as well as insurance companies and investigators. Forensic Analytical Sciences, Inc. offers forensic services worldwide in:

• Crime Scene Investigation / Reconstruction
• Blood Stain Pattern Analysis
• Firearm and Tool Marks
• Fingerprints / Impression Evidence
• Forensic Biology / DNA
• Forensic Pathology
• Toxicology
• Blood Alcohol Analysis / DUI
• Questioned Document Examination
• Trace Evidence / Gunshot Residue Analysis

Few independent laboratories have the unique combination of personnel, experience, facilities, and equipment to provide the wide range and quality of services necessary to address comprehensive forensic issues encountered in complex casework.

Gerard Petillo is an Independent Forensic Firearm and Tool Mark Consultant who provides consultation services to Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Private Attorneys, Law Enforcement Agencies, Insurance Companies, Educational Institutions and private individuals in the area of Forensic Firearm Identification and Shooting Incident Reconstruction.

Mr. Petillo is a Criminalist who has worked in the Firearm/Tool Mark Section at the State Forensic Laboratory in Meriden Connecticut. Prior to that Mr. Petillo was a Police Officer, Detective, and Sergeant with the New York City Police Department. After 23 years of service in the NYPD, he retired from the Crime Laboratory in 2005. Mr. Petillo worked in the Firearms Analysis Section and the Evidence Control Section of the NYPD laboratory. He has also been a life long recreational, competition shooter, ammunition hand-loader and firearm enthusiast.

Gerard Petillo has a Bachelor Degree from the State University of New York with his major area of course work in Criminal Justice and Police Science. He has received much forensic training. The most significant forensic training comes from the New York City Police Department, Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, the FBI, ATF, the New York Microscopical Society, and numerous firearm manufacturers. He has performed casework in two ASCLD/LAB accredited Crime Laboratories as well as an independent Laboratory and has been qualified as an expert in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Federal Court. Mr. Petillo has testified as an expert for both the Prosecution as well as the Defense.

He is an active Distinguished member in the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners as well as a member of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, the NRA, and the New York Microscopical Society.

He has presented scientific papers relating to firearm and tool mark identification, shooting incident reconstruction as well as instruct forensic firearm workshops to students of forensic science and professionals in the criminal justice system. His primary area of interest is the examination of firearm related evidence and reconstruction of shooting incidents.

Mr Petillo was trained in and believes in the team approach. The team approach involves a number of scientists with areas of expertise in a variety of forensic disciplines working together in an attempt to understand what h

George Schiro is a Consulting Forensic Chemist and DNA Technical Leader. His duties include incorporating the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) standards, accountability for the technical operations of the lab's biology section, conducting DNA analysis using the 13 STR core loci in casework, DNA research, forensic science training and crime scene investigation.

Mr. Schiro has worked over 2900 cases and has qualified as an expert over 145 times in 28 Louisiana parish courts, one Arkansas county court, one California county court, one Florida county court, one Mississippi county court, one Missouri county court, one Nevada county court, one New York county court, federal court, and two Louisiana city courts. Has also consulted on cases in 23 states.

Qualified as an Expert in the Following Areas:

Latent Fingerprint Development

Serology

Crime Scene Investigation

Forensic Science

Trajectory Reconstruction

Shoeprint Identification

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

DNA Analysis

Fracture Match Analysis

Hair Comparison

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Carlos Torres, M.D. provides Expert Witness Services in the areas of Gastrointestinal Pathology, Liver Pathology, and Tumor (cancer) Pathology.

Dr. Torres is the current Director of Quality Assurance at Caris Life Sciences. He is an active participant in clinical research projects, the Medical Advisory Committee, and supports the pathology team through daily high-volume case sign-out, participating at the peer review consensus conference and providing numerous intradepartmental consults.

Dr. Torres was instrumental in helping start a rather unique model of GI subspecialty-focused anatomic pathology laboratory. Dr. Torres has spent the last ten years contributing to the success and growth of the operation, with the principle of providing the highest standards of patient care and service to GI clinicians.

Background:

Former Assistant Professor and Director, Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology: University of Texas Medical Center

Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship: Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School

Surgical Pathology Fellowship: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Anatomic Pathology Residency: Barnes Hospital/Washington University

Dr. Michael J. McKenna, is a Toxicologist with over 30 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Product Development Industries. His experience extends to Research, Drug Development, Drug Safety, Commercialization, Executive Management and Consulting to companies and investment firms in the Life Sciences Sector.

Strategic Services Include:

Drug Development Strategic Planning

Product Portfolio Evaluations

Due Diligence Support for Product or Company Acquisition

FDA and EU Regulatory Strategy

Advice on Funding and Sponsored Research

Preclinical and Clinical Drug Safety Issue Management

Expert Witness Consulting

Operational Assistance:

Advice on R&D Operations, Structure and Performance

Preclinical and Clinical Product Development Plans

Evaluation and Selection of CRO's

Project Management

Regulatory Submissions and FDA / EMEA Meeting Preparation

Troast Environmental Consulting (TEC) is a multi-component group of retired Federal Scientists specializing in Risk Assessments, Exposure Analysis, and Regulatory Analysis. TEC staff includes Environmental Scientists, Medical Doctors, Human Toxicologists and Eco-Toxicologists.

TEC specializes in asbestos fiber risks, characterization of exposure routes of asbestos, lead in paint, arsenic and heavy metals in foods, and other environmental sources posing risks to children and adults. In addition, they advise on regulatory strategies for assessing chemical hazards and presenting information to State and Federal agencies.

TEC provides consulting and expert witness services equally for Plaintiff and Defense counsel.

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Dr. Sandy Bigelow, Ph.D., is a Board Certified Toxicologist and a Research & Development Professional with over 20 years of experience in leading global technology responsibilities in the food, nutrition, personal care, and medical device industries. He has a proven ability to craft product opportunities based on the safety and efficacy of novel proprietary, bioactive ingredients used in food, nutritionals, personal care, medical device, and pharmaceutical products.

Dr. Bigelow has both extensive industry and government experience in global food and nutritional issues including new product development, claims substantiation, bioactive and product safety, clinical affairs, and building and fixing research departments. Dr. Bigelow has both extensive industry and government experience in global food and nutritional issues including new product development, claims substantiation, bioactive and product safety, clinical affairs, and building and fixing research departments.

Areas of Expertise:

• Active Ingredients
• Cosmetics & Personal Care Products
• Dietary Supplements & Nutritionals
• Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
• Food & Food Supplements
• Medical Devices

View Consulting Profile.

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