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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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.

Gary E. Kilpatrick and Associates, PA is a Forensics Engineering Firm dedicated to the application of the art, science and methodology of engineering and the scientific method to answer questions of fact in the jurisprudence system pertaining to personal injury and wrongful death. We provide technical competency, forensic evidence collection from the field and from documents, oral and written communications, objective, ethical and professional responsibility.

We are familiar with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence and Daubert and have given sworn expert testimony under oath during judicial proceedings. We are retained by law firms, public defenders and insurance companies on plaintiff, defense, criminal and claimant cases and work nation wide.

Areas of Expertise:

• Traffic Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Crash Data Report Retrieval and Interpretation
• Off-Road ATV Accident Reconstruction
• Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Inspections
• Industrial Accident Reconstruction
• OSHA Safety 29CFR1910
• OSHA 29CFR1926
• OSHA 29CFR1928
• Product Liability Investigations

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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.

ITC Experts provides top Technical Experts for the Legal and Insurance Communities. ITC is organized as a collaborative of experts and facilities from multiple, varied groups, but unlike a brokerage or finder service, ITC has a staff of experts who augment their deep experience and industry-leading qualifications with the specialized knowledge and resources of collaborators from leading universities, government laboratories, technical societies, and industry.

Dr. David Curry, PhD, CHFP, CSP - Consultant, Human Factors and Safety

Dr. Curry is Vice President, Human Performance Sciences and Technology for ITC Expert Services. He holds graduate degrees in Experimental, Human Factors, and Cognitive/ Perceptual Psychology, Industrial Engineering, and Business and his experience includes nearly 30 years of work in accident investigation, product design and development, operational testing and analysis, and both laboratory and field research. He consults on all aspects of human factors, human performance, ergonomics, and safety.

Areas of particular expertise include: human-machine interface design and evaluation, human capabilities and limitations in applied environments, industrial ergonomics, warnings, vision and visibility, slips/trips/falls, the evaluation of equipment, facilities, and structures from a human use standpoint, and safety-related issues in general. He is recognized as an expert in operator-vehicle interaction, is both a Certified Human Factors Professional and Certified Safety Professional, has published nearly fifty technical papers dealing with various issues relating to applied human performance and accident investigation. He has been awarded several patents and sits on national standards-making committees for a variety of organizations (ANSI, ASTM, and SAE.) He has provided testimony in both State and Federal courts. View Curriculum Vitae.

John Meyer, PhD, PE - Mechanical & Materials Engineering

Dr. John Meyer is responsible for the engineering investigation and reconstruction of accidents, incidents, and failures of all kinds. With his background in mechanical engineering and physics, Dr. Meyer has conducted and directed hundreds of investigations over the past 16 years involving a widely diverse range of items, including aircraft, industrial equipment and machinery, automobiles and other vehicles, as well as consumer products. In addition to incident causation, Dr. Meyer frequently evaluates issues such as engineering design, machine guarding, warnings, and human behavior. Dr. Meyer has particular expertise in the modeling, analysis, and control of vibration and dynamic systems. He analyzes loads, forces and assesses mechanical design.

Areas of Expertise:

• Modeling, Analysis, and Control of Vibration and Dynamic Systems
• Analyzes Loads, Forces and Assesses Mechanical Designs
• Human Factors including Human Perception, Reaction, and Operator Behavior

View Curriculum Vitae.

Steven Meyers - Aviation Safety

Mr. Meyers is an experienced aerospace professional that combines scientific analysis, material science, laboratory testing, piloting expertise, aircraft maintenance, and human factors to investigate air safety issues. He has a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science, B.S. in Engineering Physics, A.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and an Extension Diploma in Applied General Metallurgy.

Profile:

• Aviation and Human Factors: Piloted / instructed in 51 different types of aircraft ranging from turbines to gliders to sea planes. Multi-engine, instrument rated commercial pilot, active flight instructor, FAA licensed Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic (A&P), and FAA maintenance inspector (IA). Understands the interrelationship between the Person-Machine-Environment.
  
  
• Accident Investigator: Applies scientific methods to accurately reconstruct and explain the circumstances of an accident. Investigations ranging from the in-flight failure of composite airframe structures to the use of unapproved parts to reconstructing ground vehicle incidents. Adjunct Faculty Member in the Aviation Department of Lewis University teaching courses in Applied Aircraft Accident Investigations. IL licensed Private Detective.
  
  
• Material Scientist: Brings a strong experience in applying modern materials science coupled with a focus on failure analysis and the use of standardized testing techniques. Evaluates the effects of corrosion, temperature, and mechanical stresses on the performance of materials. Analysis performed on fractured thru-bolts, crankshafts, fuel pumps, carburetors, and bearings.
  
  
• Failure Analyst: Provides practical and comprehensive laboratory testing that is independent and unbiased. Capable of performing a broad range of tests to determine the strength, physical, chemical, and wear properties of metals, coatings, ceramics, composites, and plastics. Access to ASTM qualified test machines, optical microscopes, SEM, FTIR, load cells, and accelerometers.
  
  
• USAF Non-Commissioned Intelligence Officer: Confident public speaking skills with experience in preparing briefings and making recommendations to high-level military commanders.

Areas of Expertise: Aircraft Design and Operation, Aircraft Performance, Avionics & Autopilots, Piloting & Training, Turbines/Reciprocating Engines, Major Repairs/Alterations, Human Factors, Aviation Psychology, FAA Regulations & Certification, Accident Investigation, Wreckage Reconstruction, In-Flight Break-Ups, Mid-Air Collisions, Flight Path Reconstruction, Crashworthiness, Loss of Control, System Failures, In-Flight Fires, Cockpit Automation, Mechanical Testing, Material Compatibility, Fracture Analysis, Metal Fatigue, Composite Materials, Mechanical Fasteners, Tribology & Wear Testing, Fretting, Galling & Corrosion, Lubricants, Greases, & Fuels. View Curriculum Vitae

KnightHawk Engineering, Inc. is a technology based Specialty Engineering Company that performs consulting, field services and testing. They do this with a broad spectrum of experience-based personnel utilizing a multi-discipline integrated systems approach. Using the same approach KnightHawk develops and manufactures performance enhancement products. KnightHawk Engineering is frequently called on to solve the most difficult and challenging problems in industry which need to be solved within aggressive time constraints, without sacrificing safety, quality, or performance.

KnightHawk Engineering have made their mark in the analysis of static equipment including selective linear exchangers, quench coolers, furnace tubes, pelletizing dies, and blow-down systems into closed headers. Rotating equipment analysis includes machine and structural dynamics, evaluation of acoustic pulsation, and rotordynamic modeling. They have also established a good reputation in specialty machinery design and third party design audits.

Cliff Knight is President of KnightHawk Engineering and a Professional Engineer with 36 years of experience. Besides his corporate responsibilities as President, Mr. Knight is also Chief Engineer. Mr. Knight specializes in design, failure analysis and troublshooting in static rotating equipment. He has 21 years of experience in utilizing computer applications, which include Finite Element Method, Numerical Modeling, Heat Transfer, Pipe Stress Analysis and Computer Fluid Dynamics.

While with KnightHawk, Mr. Knight has developed proprietary tools and methods for performing analysis on Pelletizing Dies, Presure Vessels, Heat Exchangers and Centrifugal Compressors. He holds four patents related to this work. Before coming to KnightHawk, Mr. Knight spent ten years at Dow Chemical, U.S.A., where he acheived the position of Sr. Mechanical Engineering Specialist and Group Leader.

Services Include:

FEA – Linear / Nonlinear – Elastic / Plastic CFD – Transient and Steady State Fitness for Service Pipe Stress Machine Design Rotating Equipment Repair Pressure Vessel / Heat Exchanger Design Thermosyphon Analysis – Complex Systems Process Simulation on Static and Rotating Equipment Rotordynamics Heat Transfer

Thermodynamics Water Hammer / Steam Hammer Structural Dynamics Earthquake Analysis Off Shore Wave / Wind Analysis Code Compliance Risk Assessment Catastrophe Investigation Vehicle Dynamics Controls Analysis Third Party Design Audit

Specialty Areas Include:

ASME Code Compliance Boilers Compressors Critical Piping Systems Elastic / Plastic FEA Fit For Service Analysis Heat Transfer Driven FEA Engines Flow Induced Vibration Furnaces Reciprocating Pumps and Compressors

Gas and Steam Turbines High Pressure Reactors Pelletizing Dies Selective Linear Exchangers Specialty Equipment Design Steady State / Transient CFD Analysis of Static and Rotating Equipment Structural Analysis Transfer Line Exchangers Vessel Alterations and Repairs Process Performance Analysis of Static and Rotating Equipment

Electrical Engineer, B.S. & M.E.E. in Electrical Engineering. Licensed Professional Engineer. Over 50 Electric Shock and Electrical Fire cases. www.ljkamm.com/forensic.htm, www.ljkamm.com/resume.htm.

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Expert Background: Dr. Thomas L. Read is the Principal and CEO at A. Read Consulting, LLC. He received his PhD. from Stanford University in 1972 and has over 25 years of manufacturing experience in electronics, metallurgy, factory safety, failure analysis, glass fracture, glass failure and bottle failure. As a member of the electronics industry, he has earned process patents and has an extensive background in manufacturing techniques.

In parallel, Dr. Read has spent over twenty five years as a consultant to attorneys and engineers. He has given more than 100 depositions and has appeared in court numerous times.

Company Profile: Read Consulting, LLC is a full service laboratory providing services in the following areas:

Failure Analysis; Factory Safety and Personal Injury (including machine guards and manufacturing safety)

Glass Failure Analysis - Glass Fracture, Glass Failures and Bottle Failure

Metal and Ceramic Failure

Grinding Wheel Failures

Intellectual Property and Patent Disputes

Product Liability and Product Quality

Manufacturing Disagreements (such as Intellectual Property, Failed equipment and Contract Disputes)

Reverse Engineering

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E. Smith Reed provides consultation in Machine and Product Design, Manufacture, Service and Operation, based on over 30 years of consumer and industrial product design and production experience.

Mr. Reed is a Board Certified Diplomate in Forensic Engineering, certified through the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) in accordance with the requirements and guidelines set forth by and accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Board (CESB).

Issues Evaluated:

Adequacy of Design and Design

Control of Quality and Manufacturing Processes

Reliability and Durability

Guards, Shields and Interlocks

Human Factors Considerations

Information, Instructions and Warnings

Accidents (non-highway) and their Reconstruction

Patent Disputes

Products and Machines Investigated:

Lawn & Garden and Turf Care Equipment

Agricultural Equipment

Industrial and Off-Road Vehicles

Institutional Equipment

Industrial and Production Machinery

Home Appliances

Specialty Machinery

Wheeled Equipment

Richard Silverman has amassed extensive expertise during more than forty years as a Consultant and as a member of top management in the field of Distribution, Manufacturing and Engineering Management. Mr. Silverman provides service as an Expert in dozens of Personal Injury and Property Damage litigation cases representing the plaintiff or the defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Warehouse Operations Material-Handling Retail Operation Manufacturing Safety

Personal Injury Property Damage Transportation & Truck Operations Retail Store Operation Accident Reconstruction

Expert Services Include:

Determination of the cause and responsibility for the incident

Preparation of an opinion report

Deposition by the opposition

Testimony in court