Design Engineering Consultants: 26

William R. Acorn is founder of Acorn Consulting Services, LLC, an engineering firm. As a consulting mechanical engineer, Bill provides project analysis, forensic reconstructions and litigation support services relating to the design, delivery, and functioning of high-tech manufacturing facilities, semiconductor fabrication facilities, institutional laboratories, data centers, health care facilities and a variety of commercial buildings. He is a recognized expert in the evaluation of deficiencies in HVAC systems, cleanrooms, piping systems, refrigeration systems, construction defects, building and fire code compliance, and patent and trade secret disputes. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants.

Bill has more than 40 years of experience as a professional engineer and is a recognized expert in assessing, evaluating, remediating and providing testimony on complex project design, construction and operational matters. His consulting expertise has been influential in shaping approaches to code compliance and life safety in semiconductor and similar advanced technology facilities.

Certifications and Designations:

• Registered as a Professional Mechanical Engineer in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
• Registered with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying NCEES (Certificate No. 6999)
• Fellow in the HVAC industry leading organization ASHRAE
• Visiting lecturer at the Arizona State University Del E. Webb School of Construction in Tempe, AZ
• Advisor to CREATE, ACE – Alliance for Construction Excellence and the IAB – Industry Advisory Board, all affiliated with ASU

Building Systems Analysis:

HVAC and Refrigeration Process and Power Piping Plumbing Systems Standard of Care in Design and Construction

Chemical Exposures in the Workplace Cleanroom Design and Performance Codes and Standards Patent and Trade Secret Disputes

Litigation Support: Bill’s pragmatic approach to both forensic and litigation consulting as well as project consulting is based on more than 40 years of real-world experience as a design professional, mentor and forensic analyst, as well as many years as an instructor in professional and academic settings. Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of jurisdictions throughout the US and Asia. Bill’s ability to explain complex issues to non-technical audiences, including juries, mediators and judges, is a key to successfully solving your litigation challenges.

• Forensic Analysis
• Strategic Litigation Consulting
• Trial Demonstratives
• Expert Testimony

Acorn Consulting Services

Consulting Services: Services range from peer review to conceptual design to development of strategies and programs for expedited project delivery.

Bill frequently acts as an owner’s agent and mentor, functioning as an extension of the owner’s project team. On other projects, Bill serves as a subject matter expert assisting project delivery firms in their development of viable solutions and review of construction documents.

As a project consultant, Bill assures the project gets off to the right start and provides his expertise through completion and operation to maximize return on investment.

Consulting Expertise Includes:

• Project Design and Management Consulting
• Forensic Analysis and Litigation Consulting
• Mentoring & Advanced Education

Dr. Adam K. Aleksander, PhD, PE, CSP, has over 40 years of experience in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, Human Factors, and Safety Engineering. His consulting services include industrial projects related to utility and heavy industrial plant events, equipment failures, combustion, STG, chlorine, and material handling systems. Principal at ALEKSANDER & Associates and VP of an Energy Services firm, Dr. Aleksander has been a practicing engineer since 1972, focusing his Manufacturing, Consulting and Forensic investigations on Problem Definition and Root Cause Analysis of complex problems in confidential issues.

Dr. Aleksander has performed extensive research in his field of expertise. The author of numerous publications on Mechanical Engineering, Human Factors, and Safety Engineering, he has delivered lectures and presented seminars to such entities as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the International Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

ALEKSANDER & Associates Services Include:

Investigative Engineering Accident / Incident Investigation Accident, Loss, & Exposure Evaluations Environmental Permitting & Reclamation Product Liability Risk Management & Safety	Preventive Engineering Accident / Incident Investigations Human - Machine Interaction & Ergonomics Research & Investigations RMP & PSM Work Site Evaluation
Safety / Ergonomics Industrial Ergonomics Risk Management, PSM, Loss Control Accident, Loss, & Exposure Evaluations	Consulting Engineering Engineering Design & Analysis OSHA & Regulatory Issues Industrial Forensics

View Dr. Aleksander's Expert Witness Profile.

David Smith is an experienced mechanical engineer (MS, PE) with seven issued patents. Award-winning inventor. Vice President of Alpine Engineering and Design, a mechanical engineering consulting company with clients around the United States ranging from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies. Worked on the development of multiple successful products including among other things: aerial lifts, garbage trucks, thrill rides, ziplines, trailers, oil and gas equipment, exercise equipment, manufacturing equipment, and multiple consumer products. 

Graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Completed a master's of science degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA with an emphasis in product development. Licensed professional engineer (PE) and certified safety professional in comprehensive practice (CSP). Certified trainer for boom lifts, scissor lifts, rough terrain, and counterbalanced forklifts. Over 10 years of experience in product development, patents, equipment safety, and risk assessments. 

Experienced expert witness having drafted over 200 reports/declarations in patent cases and catastrophic injury and death cases. Designed and built multiple custom testing devices to obtain data and evaluate opinions. Created multiple demonstratives to explain the mechanics and circumstances of accident sequences and patented devices. Testified in deposition 11 times and in trial once.

Expert Witness Services Professional Expert Reports Testing Forensic/Failure Analysis Accident Reconstruction Demonstratives Inspections/Measurements Compliance with Standards Expert Testimony Patent & Patent Related Issues Patent Searches Provisional Patent Complete with Illustrations Patent Infringement Review

Product Development Innovative Concept Multi-Industry Experience Powerful Design Tools Full Service Fabricating Materials Design Analysis Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Electrical Structural Integrity Tests Value Analysis

Michael Nranian, JD, MBA, MS has over 30 years experience focusing in Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, and Product Liability Litigation. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan, Texas, & the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nranian is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Professional Engineer, & Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, IP, Electrical, Chemical & Computer Engineering, & Business. He has testified extensively as an expert witness in depositions, hearings, and trials in state & federal courts.

Mr. Nranian conducts Product and Technology Analysis, Patentability & Prior Art Research,and provides Technology & Litigation Support for Intellectual Property. His litigation background includes patent infringement / non-infringement under literal infringement and the doctrine of equivalents, patent validity / invalidity, prior art, & file-wrapper estoppel, for both ITC and Federal cases, including Inter Partes reviews. He conducts analysis of patents and products, prepares claim charts, & expert witness reports. This includes testimony and document preparation for cases before state, and federal court jurisdictions, and the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Mr. Nranian is thoroughly familiar with all 101, 102, 103, 112, and other enablement and prior art arguments. His experience includes Technology Standards Boards and Licensing Authorities, Antitrust / DOJ, Technology Development and Transfer, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights, Licensing, Unfair Competition/Trade, False/Deceptive Advertising, & Lanham Act Actions, & Class Actions.

His 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 29 years of experience in Automotive Safety Systems, Sensors, Seatbelts, Airbags / Curtains, Seats, Diagnostic Systems, Crash Recorders, Crash Pulse Analysis, System Diagnostic, Fault Codes, Structure (including roof-crush and door) and front, side & roll-over systems (including sensing and algorithm development) for domestic and international corporations. He is thoroughly familiar with all regulatory (including FMVSS), and corporate due-care requirements, & preemption arguments, occupant kinematics, & injury causation.

Bonneau Dickson, PE, is a Sanitary Engineer with over 35 years of experience in all aspects of studying, designing, and constructing water, wastewater, and stormwater facilities, both in the United States and abroad.

Mr. Dickson provides consulting services in the following areas::

Sewage Overflows Wastewater Facilities Design Wastewater Facilities Planning Septic Systems Water Facilities Design

Water Facilities Planning Standard of Care Stormwater Facilities Design Stormwater Facilities Planning PCE Contamination

Design Experience - Mr. Dickson has participated in the design of approximately 300 water, wastewater and stormwater projects, ranging in size from a single septic tank or well to a 120 MGD pure oxygen wastewater treatment plant. He was the project manager on many of these projects.

Construction Management Experience - Mr. Dickson has been resident engineer or otherwise participated in the construction phase of approximately 20 water and wastewater projects.

Management Experience - Bonneau Dickson has both project management and general management experience. Has been project manager on approximately 175 projects. He was operations manager for a 150 person engineering firm, and has frequently managed design teams and design departments. He has served as staff to technical agencies assisting them select, hire, and manage other consultants.

View Bonneau Dickson's Expert Witness Profile.

Dr. David Schaafsma, PhD has over 25 years of experience in Optical Systems, Optical Physics, Microscopy & Spectroscopy, Optical Materials, Lasers, Optoelectronics, Sensors, Data Acquisition, Product Development. sales, marketing, business development, operations, and management at small businesses, at government laboratories, and as an independent consultant. Before founding Applied Optical Engineering, Dr. Schaafsma was the director of Sensor Technology at Tetra Tech Data Systems (later Ipitek) and was responsible for all R&D, product development, and commercial activity in fiber optic sensors, and also worked on numerous projects involving fiber communications and embedded systems. As a Senior Scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, he made the first chalcogenide fused fiber coupler and achieved the first results with single-mode IR-transmitting fiber in mid-IR scanning near-field microscopy. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Dr. Schaafsma's research focused on Quantum Optics and Fundamental Metrology of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers, and included the construction of a confocal fluorescence system with a noise floor of 4 photons. As a Senior Characterization Engineer at Bandgap Technology Corp., he oversaw the production of compound semiconductor devices such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) modulators, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), solar cells, and laser diodes for an industry which was then in its infancy. Dr. Schaafsma holds two patents, a near-field optical microscope with infrared fiber probe and an infrared optical fiber coupler. He has spoken about many topics at professional venues such as conferences, to potential clients and corporate officers of multi-billion dollar companies, as well as to classes of students. Dr. Schaafsma is also a noted authored having written numerous publications in his areas of expertise. Areas of Expertise

Medical Product Design / Development Optics – Geometric, Diffractive, Waveguide, Optical Technology, Optical Materials Networks, Data Links, Protocols Fiber Optics Lasers & Light Systems Embedded Computer Systems, Microcontrollers Infrared Materials, Technology, Products Imaging & Microscopy (SEM & Optical), Spectroscopy

Software & Programming, Embedded & High Level Languages Electronics, Embedded Design Sensors, Data Acquisition Semiconductor Metrology, Photovoltaics, Renewables Project Planning / Management ISO 9000, SPC Tooling / Process Development Market / Patent Research Grant Writing

View Dr. Schaafsma's Expert Witness Profile.

Creative Product Solutions, LLC provides engineering consulting services to the Consumer Goods Industry, including various Appliance and Product Manufacturers. Their services are available to clients with specific projects or intermittent support for the same client as needs arise.

Creative Product Solutions offers GD&T and dimensioning schemes which are functionally focused to relate component dimensions directly to product performance. This strategy has demonstrated improved product performance and reduced field service incident rate significantly.

Consulting Services

Product Design and Development Product Safety Testing Product Approval Testing Quality / Manufacturing Processes

Failure Analysis Root Cause Analysis Test Plans / Data Analytics Product Field Investigations Code Review

Robert C. Hoffman Jr, PE, CFEI, Principal at Creative Product Solutions, LLC, is a licensed Professional Engineer certified as a Fire and Explosion Investigator. With 30 years of experience, the primary focus of his knowledge is a deep understanding and application of all aspects of Product Safety for the Consumer Goods Industry.

Background Experience: For 27 years, Mr. Hoffman worked with the Whirlpool Corporation in various roles. He served the company as a Drum Sub-System Design/Development Engineer, a Laundry Product Approval Engineer, and Dryer Platform Structures Sub-System Leader and Engineer. His final position with the company before retirement was Principal Engineer, a position he served in for 8 years. 

Mr. Hoffman's primary areas of specialization are Heat / Combustion Containment strategies, and Electrical System Design strategies in expected customer abnormal use.  His involvement in field investigation evaluations and product liability support allow him to understand how products react in the field and produce both relevance safety tests and design solutions.

Qualifications:

• Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan
• Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
• Master Certified in Design for Safety
• Master Certified in Force Failure Testing
• Certified Statistical Blackbelt
• Member of the UL Standards Technical Panel for Appliance Codes related to Clothes Washers and Dryers

View Robert C. Hoffman's Expert Witness Profile.

DireenTech is a Design and Systems Development firm in the Electronics and Software Industry. They are currently under contract with the US Air Force Academy Center for UAS Research, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the area of using General Purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU) in UAVs / Drones to provide fast autonomous target identification and GPS denied navigation. DireenTech has also partnered with FalconWorks and Falci Adaptive Motor sports on the NeuroGroove program to develop technologies to help those with neuromotor disabilities, including U.S. veterans, increase their ability to control and interact with their environment.

Core Services

• Software Design and Development
• Electronic Hardware Design and Development
• Research using GPGPUs for Control, Navigation and Image Processing
• Intellectual Property
• Reverse Engineering Hardware, Software, and Firmware
• Product Forensics

Chief Operating officer, Harry Direen, PhD, PE has over 30 years of experience as an engineer Designing and Developing Systems in the Electronics and Software Industry. He has taught engineering courses at the US Air Force Academy and at the University of Colorado. Dr. Direen currently works with a research group at the US Air Force Academy developing control systems and image processing using GPGPUs for UAVs. An inventor, he holds 3 United States patents. Dr. Direen has a broad base of knowledge in electronic and software systems gained from a long career developing a wide range of products and systems. He has reverse engineered a variety of complex systems over the years, including: media players, modems, modem compression algorithms, coriolis mass flow meters, database systems, and a range of other products to support patent infringement cases generating detailed claim charts and writing expert reports to demonstrate infringement. Dr. Direen has successfully discovered and analyzed complex digital signal processing algorithms and pertinent operations within these products for many years.

View Dr. Direen's Expert Witness Profile.

James Parker has over 35 years of relevant industry experience specializing in Electronic Security Systems & Sensors, Electronics R&D and New Product Development. With executive and strategic leadership skills, Mr. Parker served as a principal product architect, is highly credible with customers, distributors, and suppliers. He is a prolific inventor having been granted over 24 unique patents with approximately 80 patent documents published worldwide. Mr. Parker is the Past Vice President of Engineering for Digital Security Controls Ltd. (DSC), a leading global manufacturer of electronic security systems and components with sales exceeding $400 million annually. He is currently the President at EE-Systems Group Inc. Canada (R&D) where he is responsible for overseeing new product and business development. 

Consulting Services - Mr. Parker's consulting services include identifying patent filing opportunities while avoiding infringement risks. He has in-depth knowledge of electronic product design in both Wired and Wireless Technologies and outstanding knowledge of Environmental and False Alarm Immunity. 

Mr. Parker also has expertise in the research, development, design, and manufacturing of electronic based products such as Security Systems, Burglar Alarm Systems, Intrusion Detection Systems, Occupancy Detection Systems, Fresnel and Mirror Optic PIR (Passive Infra-Red) Motion Detectors, Microwave Doppler Motion Detectors, Solar Powered, Motion Controlled, LED illumination Systems, and similar devices. 

View James Parker's Expert Witness Profile.

• Over 35 years of experience in Mechanical / Structural Engineering & Design, Failure Analysis, Product Liability, Industural Asbestos,Pressure Vessel & Boiler analysis and evaluation of mechanical and structural components.
• Extensive trial experience. Has been involved in multi-million dollar cases. Areas involved included:

  
  

  - Piping & pipe supports - Structural failure of products - Failure analysis - Industrial asbestos - Seismic analysis - Fire protection - Pressure vessels

  - Tanks - Construction - Heat transfer analysis - Environmental qualification of equipment - Welding - Product design - Patent information

• Expertise in developing litigation rate-case exhibits and detailed supporting testimony, and in organizing case documentation into easy-to-use computer databases for trial use.

Finity Engineering, LLC comprises highly-accomplished engineers and industrial practitioners that work alongside leading researchers to provide design, analysis, consulting, and litigation support services. Associates are subject-matter experts in the areas of Automation, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Consumer Products.

Finity Engineering professionals have served scores of industry-leading companies and research institutes, and have developed and provided technical oversight for the implementation of hundreds of robotic, automation, and controls systems deployed within the facilities of high-profile end users. Collectively, Finity Engineering professionals are named inventors on over 60 patents and have founded dozens of successful entrepreneurial ventures, demonstrating pragmatic and marketable engineering innovation.

Clients Include: Alcoa, Apple, BMW, Boeing, Cargill, Caterpillar, Chernobyl, Cummins, Ford Motors, Fukushima, General Motors, Gestamp, Google, Honda, Hundai, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Controls, Kia Motors, Lockheed Martin, and many more.

Design, Analysis & Business Consulting Specialties:

Additive Manufacturing Aerospace Engineering Biomedical Engineering Consumer Product Design Control Systems Cranes Design Methodology Dynamics Electrical Engineering Failure Analysis Fluid Power / Hydraulics Haptics Hazard Analysis Image Processing Industrial Control Systems Industrial Design

Machine Design Machine Learning Machine Vision Manufacturing Mechanical Engineering Mechatronics Motion Control Optics Photogrammetry Product Design Rapid Prototyping Robotics Signal Processing Traction Control & Wheel Slip Vibrations Warnings

 Founder, Khalid Sorensen, PhD, is a highly accomplished technology leader in Automation, Mechatronics, Motion Control, Manufacturing, Machine Vision, and Human-Machine Interaction. He has over 20 years of experience developing and deploying world class, mechatronic, motion control, and automation solutions.

Dr. Sorensen has directed the development and implementation of 100s of complex, multi-disciplinary mechatronic systems for high-profile industry leaders including Toyota, Ford, Alcoa, Caterpillar, Boeing, NuScale, and many others, and high-profile facilities including Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Previously, Dr. Sorensen Founded a technology company where he invented and was the Chief Architect of Expertoperator^TM, Safemove^TM, Automove^TM, and Cranevision^TM – technology known within the primary metals, automotive, and heavy-equipment sectors for enhancing crane safety, productivity, and ease-of-use; Developed state-of-the-art, on-line, time-optimal trajectory synthesis software for Cartesian machines - key drivers in the acquisition of his company 5 years after inception by a global leader in automation.

View Dr. Khalid Sorensen's Expert Witness Profile.

Dr. Fari Barzegar is a Licensed Engineer with 37 years of experience in Civil and Structural Engineering & Construction Forensics, Construction Project Management, university teaching/research. He has been an Expert Consultant / Witness in over 80-cases.

Litigation Consulting Expert Witness with testimony and trial experience. Has been retained by insurance companies, law firms, construction, energy, mining, technology & manufacturing industries, governmental & educational institutions, engineering and architectural firms, property owners and individuals. Consultant in both plaintiff and defendant cases.

• Insurance Claims, Peer Reviews
• Buildings, Structures & Materials: Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Historic Structures; Bridges, Towers, Stacks/Chimneys, Containment Vessels, Tanks, Grain Silos, Conduits & Pipelines, Retaining Walls, Foundations, Slabs & Pavements; Concrete, Steel, FRP Composites, Wood, CMU, Brick Masonry & Adobe
• Design / Construction / Integrity issues, Seismic Resistant Design; Errors & Omissions;Standards of Care; Repair & Retrofit Design Documents
• Construction Defects & Accidents; Defective Concrete; OSHA Standards, Excavations / Trenching / Scaffolds
• Slip/Trip/Fall, Code Compliance
• Damage & Failure Investigation; Due Diligence; Non-Destructive Testing 
• Explosion, Impact, Earthquake, Wind, Fire, Hurricane & Flood Damage Inspections / Analysis/Report
• Pile Driving & Demolition Damage to Adjacent Facilities: Vibrations, Cracking / Settlement
• Dynamic, Fracture, Thermal & Finite Element Stress Analysis; Product Design; Failure Simulation / Reconstruction
• Intellectual Property & Patent Infringement

John Hatcher is an industry leader in Building Systems Engineering including, Information Technology, Audio Visual, Security, Building Automation Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Intelligent Building Concepts and Commissioning. He has worked on some of the most prestigious facilities in the world including the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Russia, India and Southeast Asia. 

Dennis E. Wilson has over forty years of experience in Land Planning, Civil Engineering, and Land Surveying. His company, Horizon Consulting Service, specializes in Entitlements, In-Fill Projects, Civil Engineering, and Land Planning and Design for commercial, industrial and residential properties. Mr. Wilson works on both private and governmental projects. As an Expert Witness, Mr. Wilson has participated in property line disputes, condemnation resolutions and land use issues. 

Professional Memberships:

• American Planning Association
• Past Chair of Land Use Committee, National Association of Home Builders
• Past Chair Land Use & Government Affairs, California Building Industry Association
• Past Chair of BIACC PAC
• Past Chair/Current Member on Land Use & Transportation Committee, Modesto Chamber of Commerce

Isaak Technologies provides expert witness, consulting & training services in the areas of design, construction, procurement, implementation, commissioning and operations of information technology, telecommunications, network systems and critical data center facilities. Isaak Technologies provides clear solutions to complex challenges using best-practice forecasting, strategy & risk mitigation. 

Philip J. Isaak, PE, P.Eng., DCDC, RCDD, SMIEEE, has over 20 years of experience as a design & operations consultant & training provider, with a focus in the information technology, telecommunications & critical data center facility industries. 

In recognition of Mr. Isaak’s professional standing, the Officers & Board of Directors of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association for advancement of technology, certified his election to the grade of Senior Member, a level only 9% of IEEE’s over 400,000 global members hold. 

Professional Services:

Litigation	IT & Telecommunications	Critical Facilities
IP, Trade Secrets, Contracts Design, Construction, Implementation Claims, Damages, Defects, Delays, Failure & Quality Control Analysis Failed System Analysis Unfulfilled SLAs Technical Investigations Claims Preparation & Analysis Expert Reports Settlement Opinions & Strategies Deposition & Trail Testimony	Needs Assessment, Gap Analysis & Audits Strategic Plans Design, Procurement & Implementation Management Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning Capacity Planning & Forecasting Operations Planning Enterprise Architecture, Network Systems, Services & Cabling Infrastructure Planning Outsourcing Analysis & Planning for Colocation, XaaS or Cloud Services	Design Consultant, Contractor & Commissioning Vendor Qualification & RFP Development Reliability Analysis Design Peer Review Site Assessments & Planning Facility Assessments & Audits Space, Power & Cooling Capacity & Redundancy Planning Commissioning Management Standard Operating, Maintenance & Emergency Response Procedures

View Philip Isaak's Expert Witness Profile.