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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Ray Helmer is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Ohio. He is available to perform Expert Witness Services in all 50 states.

At present, Mr. Helmer enjoys working in depth on Water & Wastewater cases such as: water supplies, toxic contamination, industrial pollution, water intrusion, and flooding.

Areas of Expertise:

Civil, Structural and Forensic engineering

Highway engineering, roadways, sight distance

Concrete and Asphalt Pavements

Highway / Street lighting

Traffic engineering, signals, signs, striping

Traffic noise studies

Accidents – automobile, train, motorcycle, pedestrian

Traffic accident testimony involving city / County / State DOTS

Hydraulics, hydrology, drainage, flooding

Sanitary engineering, sewers, overflows

Water treatment, distribution, pumping

Water disinfection byproducts (DBPs)

Wastewater treatment plants, lift stations

Soil expansion, contraction, settlement

Foundation failure, structural damage

Plumbing, leaks, water intrusion

Airports, FAA standards, runways, taxi ways, ramps

Bridges, buildings, corrosion, concrete cracking

Construction defects, fraud, accidents, delays, estimates

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.

John B. Giacoma provides consulting and evaluation services for Plumbing, Mechanical and HVAC related projects. He has over 40 years of field experience as a tradesman Plumber and Contractor.

Mr. Giacoma has installed, supervised, managed, consulted and designed Mechanical, Plumbing and HVAC projects for Residential, Commercial and Industrial sites. He works with attorneys representing both Plaintiff and Defense.

Expertise:

Construction Defects

Personal Liability Claims

Asbestos Exposure

Construction Claims

Cost Estimating

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

Thomas L. Liston is an Expert specializing in Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Mr. Liston also specializes in plumbing, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide associated with heating equipment.

Mr. D.E. Hansen, M.E. founded Piping Analysis Incorporated (PAI) in 1972 as a full service Engineering Company specializing in Piping, Mechanical, Machinery, and Civil / Structural Design Problems. Originally serving the local Gulf Coast region (Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi), PAI has seen tremendous growth in its business and now solves complex engineering problems all over the world. The results of their work are presently operating throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

PAI understands that efficiency loss and shut-downs cut deeply into the bottom line. PAI will work around the clock to provide the correct answers as quickly as possible and you can expect the most workable, cost-effective solution.

Areas of Expertise:

Piping Stress & Flexibility Finite Element Analysis CFD & Fluid Flow Heat Transfer Vibration Failure Analysis

Plant Design Civil & Structural Construction Drawings Project Scheduling Design Review Construction Follow-Up

Construction Practice at Robson Forensic

The Construction Practice at Robson Forensic consists of experts in architecture and civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Our experts have designed, built and maintained residential, industrial, institutional, municipal, heavy civil and commercial buildings and structures.

Our Construction Group consists of more than 50 experts across 17 locations. Please contact one of the practice group leaders below to discuss your case and determine which of our experts is most appropriate to assist with your matter.

Mark E. Williams, AIA, NCARB
Architectural / Professional Liability Expert

Mark is a broadly experienced architect with a diverse career that included new construction, adaptive-reuse, and renovation projects on a wide range of building types and occupancies. Through his 25 years of experience and his focus on problem solving, Mark provides technical investigations and expert analysis on construction contract disputes, large construction defect claims, and matters of architect professional liability including claims of bad faith. View Curriculum Vitae



Brent Leisenring, P.E.
Civil Engineering / Construction Safety Expert

Brent is a Civil Engineer with more than 30 years of hands-on experience in construction and engineering. He has experience in construction as a contractor, construction manager, engineer, subcontractor and material supplier on projects ranging from single-family dwellings to oil refineries. His unique background and experience qualify him to analyze the actions and responsibilities of all parties involved to determine liability for defective construction as well as unsafe conditions on construction sites. He is a Professional Engineer in five states and has testified in several states. View Curriculum Vitae



Dale Cagwin, P.E.
Building Systems Expert

Dale’s experience includes over 20 years as a mechanical engineer designing, testing and maintaining building systems including fire suppression, HVAC, plumbing, gas, water and sewage in a variety of commercial, industrial, institutional and municipal buildings. Dale has served on standards writing committees and worked with product approval agencies. He is a P.E. in seven states, a Certified Fire Investigator and has testified in a broad range of building systems cases. View Curriculum Vitae

MEP Engineer of Record for the design and construction of more that 1300 MEP projects located in the USA, Europe, Canada, Asia, South America, and Carribbean since 1965.



REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEER and Engineer of Record for the design and the construction of HVAC, & Plumbing Systems



REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER and Engineer of Record for the design and the construction of Interior and Exterior Lighting Design, Interior Electrical Power Distribution Systems, Exterior Power Distribution to Class 35kV, Large Un-interruptible Power Systems, Large Emergency Power Generation Systems to 750kVA, Electrical Power Quality Analysis Documentation & Harmonic Current Attenuation Design



EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES for Facility HVAC, Electrical Power. Lighting and Plumbing Systems; Construction Contract Administration Services; Project Construction Cost Estimating Services; Life Cycle Cost Analysis Report Services; Energy Consumption Analysis Report Services; Diesel power engine-generators and fuel systems; UPS systems; Data Processing power and Grounding systems;

Harold M. Wasserman, PE, has over 20 years experience with small to large professional engineering services, construction, and real estate development operations and over 10 years of experience as an Expert Witness. He is a New York City Licensed Master Plumber and Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, and a Qualified Master Plumber in Town of Hempstead and State of New Jersey. Mr. Wasserman has served as a Site Safety Manager in City of New York, OSHA Outreach program trainer and Adjunct Professor, and Former Lobbyist to the NYS Legislature.

Plumbing & Piping related expertise and Services include:

• Design of general, structural, fire suppression/sprinkler systems, HVAC, mechanical and plumbing systems for small laboratories, commercial, shopping centers, hospital, entertainment facilities, large boiler rooms small commercial, institutional and residential buildings.
• Installation and Erection of plumbing and mechanical systems, on a multitude of projects for private and federal, state and local governmental agencies.
• Design and supervise installation of Nuclear Pipe Seismic Supports.
• HVAC, boilers, fire suppression and mechanical piping systems evaluations, field inspection, facility assessments and construction cost accounting.

View Construction & Engineering Expert Witness Profile.