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The four PhD and registered PEs at Miller Engineering are celebrating 40 years of Professorships at three universities along with providing services to Government, Insurance, and Industry—through research, publications, presentations, and expert testimony. We have a dedicated office with a full time staff of engineers, researchers, and technical writers. The span of our collective academic and experiential expertise covers well the Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Agricultural, Industrial, Human Factors, Ergonomic and Safety fields of engineering. The areas listed below are from actual projects completed in our 40 years of history.

Vehicles

Car/Truck Accident Reconstruction
Crash Data Retrieval (CDR)
Visibility & Reaction Time Analysis
Tires, Trailers, Brakes & Accelerators
Truck/Off Road Vehicle Egress/Ingress
Traffic Signing and Construction Zones
Electronic Vehicles

Mechanical & Electrical Safety

Product Safety & Analysis
Machinery - Metal, Wood, Plastic Molding
Machine Guarding & Safety, Robots, Automation
Hazard and Risk Analysis
Employee Safety Procedures – OSHA
Electrical Distribution & Transmission Hazards

Warnings & Instructions

Warning Labels & User Manual Design
Hazard Analysis & Product Label Designs
Medical Device & Drug Warnings & Instructions
Inadequate Warnings Analysis
Standard Compliance (ANSI Z535)
Product Recall Information & Strategies

Consumers/Household Safety

Appliances & Tools
Child Furniture, Choking, Playgrounds
Swimming Pools & Exercise Equipment
Recreation - ATV, Boats, Bicycles, Boards
Ladder, Stair, Step and Railing Accidents
Slip, Trip, & Fall Accidents
CPSC Recall Information & Strategies

Chemicals Safety & Labeling

NEW OSHA HAZCOM (2012) & GHS Review
MSDS, SDS and Product Label Compliance
Toxic Torts - Diacetyl, Asbestos, Benzene, Lead, Carbon Monoxide
Vaping & E-Cigarette Health Effects

Chemical Exposures & Workplace Safety

Chemical Inhalation, Ingestion, Dermal Contact
Contamination - Water & Environmental
Manufacturing & Process Line Accidents
Slips, Trips, Falls, & Entanglements

Fires & Explosions

Cause & Origin Investigations
Gas, Vapor, & Electrical
Spontaneous Combustion
Vaping & E-cigarette Battery Failures
Fire Control & Explosion Issues

Agriculture

Tractor & Equipment Accidents
Chemical Applications & Exposures
Crop Storage & Harvesting Accidents
Pesticides

Construction

Vehicle Visibility Accidents
Slip, Trip, & Fall Accidents
Power Tool Repetitive & Immediate Injuries
Scaffolding - Cranes - Hoisting - Fork Lifts

Insurance Subrogation & Forensics

Accident Investigations
Electrical & Fire Causation
Chemical Leakage Damage
Defective Equipment Injuries
Premise and Process Damages

James M. Miller, PE, PhD – Founder Dr. Miller is an Emeritus Engineering Professor at the University of Michigan. He has directly served in Washington originating several Federal OSHA safety regulations, and interacts regularly with CPSC regarding safety and product recalls. Dr. Miller often works on projects relating to compliance with occupational safety standards, provides upper management guidance on product design, recall and liability issues, and serves as an expert witness.

Mark R. Lehto, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Lehto is a Professor of Engineering at Purdue University. He completed his Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Michigan, where he specialized in Human Factors Engineering, in particular Warnings and Labeling. Dr. Lehto specializes in knowledge engineering, warnings and instructions, structuring expert systems, accident modeling, accident statistical analysis, consumer product safety, boating safety, in-field national surveys of product usage, and product information effectiveness.

Adam M. Olshove, PE, MSE – Engineering Manager Mr. Olshove has over 10 years of experience providing consulting services to industry and the legal profession. He holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on control systems and battery modeling (2019), and a BS in Mechanical Engineering (2012), both from the University of Michigan. He has performed dozens of on-site investigations nationwide in relation to consumer product design and industrial accidents, including failure analysis and testing.

James M.L. Miller, MS, PhD, EIT – Engineering Associate Dr. Miller is an Assistant Professor of mechanical engineering at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Dr. Miller graduated with a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering from Stanford University in 2021, advised by Dr. Thomas W. Kenny. At JMME he has applied his expertise to biomedical heat transfer problems and energy management in hydroelectric systems, solar arrays and portable battery usage.

Jeffrey D. Rupp, MSE – Engineering Associate Mr. Rupp has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a MS in systems engineering and engineering management from Wayne State University. Among his company affiliates is 26 years with Ford Motor Company and Volvo Car Corporation, where he was involved in crash development and crash sensing calibrations.

• Project Examples

• Publications Index

Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics for Engineers, Second Edition

Mark R. Lehto & Steven J. Landry

Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics for Engineers, Second Edition presents and integrates important methods and tools used in the fields of Industrial Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics to design and improve jobs, tasks and products. It presents these topics with a practical, applied orientation suitable for engineering undergraduate students.

Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics for Engineers

Mark R. Lehto, Steven J. Landry & Jim Buck

Emphasizing customer oriented design and operation, Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics for Engineers explores the behavioral, physical, and mathematical foundations of the discipline and how to apply them to improve the human, societal, and economic well being of systems and organizations.

Warnings: Fundamentals, Design and Evaluation Methodologies, Vol. 1

Mark R. Lehto & James M. Miller

Instructions and Warnings: The Annotated Bibliography

James M. Miller, Mark R. Lehto & J. Paul Frantz

Warnings & Safety Instructions: Annotated and Indexed

James M. Miller, Mark R. Lehto

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Florida Office:
Andrew Avalon, PE, PSP
Chairman & CEO
8633 Willow Kane Court
Orlando, FL 32835
aavalon@long-intl.com
T: (407) 445-0825 F: (407) 650-3399

Long International provides expert engineering and construction claims analysis, expert testimony, project management consulting, and insurance claims analysis services. We focus on projects in the following industries: building and construction; gas, gasification, GTL, LNG, and NGL; industrial and manufacturing; mineral and mineral processing; offshore oil and gas; oil sands; pipelines and utilities; power; refineries, petrochemical, and chemical; transportation; and water, wastewater, dams, and marine. We analyze claims, not limited to, disputed change orders, schedule delay, acceleration, time extensions, liquidated damages, loss of productivity, defective specifications, and deficient project management performance.

Richard J. Long, P.E., P.Eng., Founder of Long International, has over 50 years of U.S. and international consulting experience involving construction contract disputes analysis and resolution, arbitration/litigation support and expert testimony, project management, engineering/construction management, cost and schedule control, and process engineering. As an internationally recognized expert in the analysis and resolution of complex construction disputes for over 35 years, Mr. Long has served as the lead expert on over 300 projects having claims ranging in size from US$100,000 to over US$2 billion. He has presented and published numerous articles on claims analysis, entitlement issues, CPM schedule and damages analyses, cumulative impact claims, and claims prevention.

Rod C. Carter, CCP, PSP is President of Long International and has over 20 years of experience in construction project controls, contract disputes and resolution, negotiations, mediation, arbitration support, and expert testimony on scheduling, loss of productivity, and quantum issues. He has experience in entitlement, schedule, and damages analyses on over 30 construction disputes ranging in value from US$100,000 to US$7 billion, related to oil and gas, oil refinery, LNG, heavy civil, nuclear, environmental, chemical, power, industrial, commercial, and residential construction projects. Mr. Carter is proficient in the use of Primavera P6 and P3 software, and he has extensive experience in assessing the impact to engineering and construction works of RFIs, change orders and other events. Mr. Carter specializes in loss of productivity, cumulative impact, and quantum calculations, and had a lead role in assessing damages on more than a dozen major disputes. In addition, Mr. Carter has developed cost and schedule risk analysis models using Monte Carlo simulations to address the uncertainty of estimates and claims.

Scott M. Francis, P.E., PSP is a Vice President of Long International and has over 20 years of experience in project management, contract disputes analysis and resolution, CPM schedule preparation, execution, and analysis, productivity analysis, contract administration, design engineering, construction management, and government contracting. He provides schedule development and assurance services, cost estimating, and claims analysis services on projects for both owners and contractors. Specific responsibilities include CPM development and reviews, CPM schedule delay and acceleration analyses, change order impact analysis, issue identification, correlation of impacts to schedule activities, and productivity evaluations.

• More about Richard J. Long

• More about Rod C. Carter

• View Locations

• View Long International's Partial Client List

• More about Scott M. Francis

1/8/2025 · Construction

The Art of Construction Contract Correspondence

By: Long International

Correspondence on any construction project, irrespective of its size and value, is a crucial element of the contract administration process. To be effective, correspondence requires measured, complete, and structured management. However, project managers, contract managers, and administrators often fail to implement or even recognize simple basic guidelines

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7/17/2024 · Accident Investigation & Reconstruction

Demonstrating Entitlement For Contract Change Orders And Claims

By: Long International

The purpose of this article is to help contractors and owners better understand the hurdles that must be overcome to increase the likelihood of attaining a mutual agreement on contract changes that are experienced during any phase (engineering, procurement, or construction) of a project. To reach an agreement on the terms of a change order, it is paramount that the contractor convincingly demonstrate...

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3/11/2024 · Construction

Apportionment Of Indirect Costs To Significant Change Events

By: Long International

This article discusses the methods, concerns, and considerations for apportioning indirect costs in a dispute setting where the apportionment of indirect costs is necessary and when detailed actual indirect costs or indirect labor hour data assigned specifically to the underlying change that is being analyzed does not exist in the contemporaneous project records.

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12/4/2023 · Construction

Schedule Optimization During Front-End Planning

By: Long International

This paper summarizes the development and review steps of project plans and schedules during the front-end planning phases, including the critical phase of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). The project milestones, resources, and completion dates established during FEED set the baseline control plan during project execution.

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7/22/2023 · Construction

Design Phase Risk Mitigation Tools And Methods

By: Long International

The design phases of chemical processing plant and other industrial projects contain many potential risks. This is especially true when the project is for the first-of-a-kind deployment of new technology or when the performing organization has not previously successfully completed a similar project.

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10/14/2022 · Construction

The "No Damages For Delay" Clause

By: Long International

Construction projects involve risks. A well-structured construction contract allocates certain risks to the party that is best able to control those risks. Delay is a common risk that construction contracts allocate. A delay may increase costs for owners, contractors, and subcontractors to complete a project.

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7/5/2022 · Construction

Assessment Of Problems Associated With Poor Project Management Performance

By: Long International

The purpose of this paper is to provide an explanation of the methodology and resources that Long International uses to arrive at its opinions on allocation of the responsibility for various problems, and the impact of those opinions on the parties’ entitlement to damages or extensions of the time of performance allowed under a Contract.

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4/28/2022 · Construction

Schedule And Delay Analysis Methodologies

By: Long International

The equitable allocation of responsibility for project delays is essential to the resolution of many construction disputes. Contractors frequently assert that they have been delayed for reasons beyond their control. Owners often remain unconvinced that the Contractor is legitimately

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11/4/2021 · Construction

Preserving Your Construction Claim Through Documentation

By: Long International

Sound contract administrative practice requires keeping records in an orderly fashion and periodically reviewing those records, as needs dictate. While preparing and maintaining documentation involves effort, ready access to factual data affords management a variety of benefits. Conscientious record keeping can preclude confusion and subsequent disagreements, and, therefore, can help to prevent claims

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7/5/2021 · Construction

Implementing Time Impact Analysis On Large, Complex EPC Projects

By: Long International

Changes can occur on almost every project and they often lead to delays and other negative impacts to the schedule and cost of a project. Large and complex engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts caused by changes. Changes can cause delay and disruption to engineering, procurement, fabrication, transportation and delivery

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5/17/2021 · Construction

Analysis Of Concurrent Delay On Construction Claims

By: Long International

Concurrent delay is a vexed and complex technical and legal issue. Construction contracts often do not expressly provide direction as to the parties’ agreement when there is concurrent delay. Most simply require the contractor to provide notice and specifics when an owner-responsible delay event occurs.

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11/25/2020 · Construction

Construction Contract Notice Letters

By: Long International

Most construction contracts require written notice for changes, differing site conditions, extra work, or other events which may affect the contractor’s time and cost of performance. The process of giving “notice” is vital to triggering the contract mechanisms that allow the contractor to pursue additional time and cost and to reserve its rights to recover for any unforeseen...

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10/21/2020 · Construction

COVID-19 Claim Management on Construction Projects

By: Long International

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the internal and external project execution environments. The pandemic has caused impacts of varying degrees to nearly every aspect of projects involving the activity of people. Ordinary practices in the creation of project documentation are robust and are utilized to support the analysis of construction claims. Although project productivity losses may be demonstrable, providing compelling evidence and proof that the losses were caused by the pandemic may not be as easy to demonstrate.

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12/28/2019 · Construction

As-Built But-For Schedule Delay Analysis

By: Long International

An As-Built But-For Schedule Delay Analysis (ABBF) is a retrospective CPM schedule delay analysis technique that determines the earliest date that the required mechanical completion activity, project completion activity, or various milestone activities could have been achieved but-for the owner-caused compensable delays that occurred during the project.

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3/12/2018 · Construction

Proving the Cause-Effect Linkage

By: Long International

Contractor’s claim submittals and expert reports are often deficient in proving causation, i.e., the cause-effect linkage. These claims generally outline the owner-caused impacts and separately calculate quantum; however, the two are often not linked in any meaningful way. Most claims are settled prior to a decision by a panel, court, or board, and therefore these deficiencies are not made apparent. Yet, a well-prepared claim document which includes a persuasive and accurate causeeffect analysis can greatly improve the contractor’s chances of a successful recovery, either through negotiations or in arbitration/litigation. This analysis is difficult and often costly to prepare, and is therefore not performed in many disputes, which may be the reason why the claims fail.

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1/15/2018 · Construction

Project Team Motivators and Demotivators

By: Long International

The leader of a corporation or project is the individual who must ultimately be willing to take responsibility for results. Within the context of an organization or team made up of individuals, it is the collective performance of the individuals, as a team, that defines the results of the whole. While it can be said that the best motivation is internal motivation as opposed to external motivation, the leader is ultimately the one responsible for creating the conditions where motivation can thrive.

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11/13/2017 · Construction

Acceleration Claims on Engineering and Construction Projects

By: Long International

Time is money especially on engineering and construction projects. Because delays in the completion of the project usually result in increased owner, engineer, and contractor costs, the overall time of performance is vital to the financial success of the project. The importance of time is evidenced by the significant role played by CPM schedules, completion dates, and milestones in the bidding and awarding of engineering and construction contracts. The desire to minimize costs and the time of performance often causes the occurrence of acceleration.

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10/4/2017 · Construction

A Reasonable Method to Estimate Loss of Labor Productivity Due to Overtime

By: Long International

In the construction industry, it is largely agreed that overtime work adversely affects labor productivity. However, there is no universally accepted method for estimating the resulting loss of productivity, and many of the studies commonly used to estimate such losses have been subject to criticism by industry experts and the courts.

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8/2/2017 · Construction

The Collapsed As-Built Windows Schedule Analysis Method

By: Long International

The Collapsed As-Built Windows Schedule Analysis (AACE® International Recommended Practice 29R-03, Method Implementation Protocol 3.9) is a modeled, subtractive, multiple-base method. It is a retrospective CPM schedule analysis which is typically used to prove entitlement for compensable delay and assess concurrency of delay within a window of time. The analysis simulates the as-built conditions within a schedule window and then delays are removed from the CPM model. If the forecasted project finish date “collapses” but-for or absent compensable delays, then entitlement for compensable time-related costs can be demonstrated. This article addresses the usage of the Collapsed As-Built Windows protocol and the advantages and disadvantages of the methodology.

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9/27/2013 · Construction

Discrete Damages/Cost Variance Analysis Method for Quantifying Damages in Construction Claims

By: Long International

The "discrete damages/cost variance analysis method" for quantifying construction claim damages involves the specific distribution of all costs incurred on the project rather than quantifying only certain parts of the cost or damage analysis as may be used in the other methods.

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9/4/2013 · Construction

Developing Subcontract Pricing As Applied to Building Construction

By: Long International

ABSTRACT - This paper provides guidelines to commercial construction cost engineers for the development of a plan for obtaining and utilizing subcontractor cost information for use in bidding, procurement, scheduling, change order management, and claim management. The paper is based upon personal field experience gained in cost engineering, scheduling, bidding, planning, contracting, and claim analyses.

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8/13/2013 · Construction

Construction Claims For Variation in Quantity

By: Long International

A component of a construction claim often relates to the cost, quantity, and quality of the materials that the contractor installed on a project. The contractor frequently purchases these materials and agrees to install the quantities of materials on a unit price basis, i.e., a unit price that includes both the cost of the materials and the cost to install them.

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12/17/2012 · Construction

The Importance and Value of "Notice" Provisions in Construction Contracts

By: Long International

Most construction contracts, whether they are standard or customized forms, usually contain specific provisions related expressly to the process of giving "notice." The notice generally refers to an obligation on the part of the Contractor to notify the relevant party administering the contract, normally the architect, resident engineer, or owner's representative, of a claim or change event that gives rise to possible additional entitlement for time and/or cost.

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4/13/2012 · Construction

Construction Disputes: Schedule and Delay Analysis Methodologies

By: Long International

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Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of accident reconstruction, biomechanics, fire investigations, patent litigation analysis, premises liability, product liability, and tire failure analysis. We use the latest technology and industry proven techniques to provide thorough analysis and conclusions for the most difficult engineering questions. Our forensic engineers support clients throughout the U.S. Our locations include Tallahassee, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; and Tucson, AZ.

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E. - Dr. Pfeifer is an Engineering Expert with over 27 years of experience investigating thousands of cases involving a variety of forensic engineering issues. He is a leading expert in accident reconstruction, roadside safety, maintenance of traffic, commercial vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and the analysis of mechanical systems and product failures. Dr. Pfeifer has a strong background in the design, development, and implementation of roadside safety hardware including guardrails, bridge rails, and crash cushions. Over 30 patents have been filed worldwide on behalf of Dr. Pfeifer and associated colleagues who invented safer guardrail systems, vehicle storage systems, shipping container handling systems, and material handling and storage methods. He has also utilized his technical knowledge and understanding of patents to assist in a number of matters involving patent litigation.

Dr. Pfeifer has published numerous papers to various organizations, covering topics such as new guardrail systems, energy absorbing guardrail terminals, breakaway sign mechanisms, and material handling technology. He has shared his expertise with many organizations on topics including vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, roadway construction zones, and accident reconstruction expert witness utilization. Dr. Pfeifer is a registered Professional Engineer in nine states and he continues to refine his skills and knowledge of accident reconstruction and roadside safety by staying current with new technology and best practices. Dr. Pfeifer has extensive experience with providing deposition and trial testimony as an Engineering Expert.

See Full Bio & CV.

Expertise:

Automobile Collisions
Tractor-Trailer Collisions
Guardrails / Bridge Rails
Construction Zones
Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Occupant Kinematics

Roadside Safety
Airbag Control Module (ACM) Analysis
Tractor Trailer Electronic Control Module (ECM) Analysis
Product Failure Analysis
Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Evaluation
Restraint System Analysis
Patent Litigation Technical Analysis

Dr. Ian M. Zeller, PhD, ACTAR, is an accomplished engineer with more than 10 years of experience in Biomechanics and Computational Dynamics fields. He has investigated hundreds of cases ranging from motor vehicle accidents, recreational incidents, medical device designs, as well as injuries from product liability all across the United States.

Dr. Zeller has graduate level experience in computational dynamics and orthopedic biomechanics with a specific emphasis in dynamics, vibrations, joint contact mechanics, and muscle control during static and dynamic loading applications. Dr. Zeller’s past research includes clinical and computational analysis of the human body with respect to the design and implantation of orthopedic devices for the knee, hip, and spine. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented research at both technical and surgical conferences in North America, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Zeller also worked with surgeons across the United States in the design and assessment of knee replacement devices, including personalized and prototype devices to optimize for efficacy and safety.

Dr. Zeller is also accredited as a traffic accident reconstructionist and continues to conduct research as well as maintain a current knowledge of developing trends and best practices in the biomechanics and engineering fields. Dr. Zeller has published to various organizations on topics ranging from knee replacement design, forward solution modeling, joint mechanics, personalized joint replacements, material structures and properties as well as biological modeling of disease distributions. He also has an extensive testifying history including depositions, trials, and arbitrations.

See Full Bio & CV.

Expertise:

Biomechanical Analysis
Accident Reconstruction
Injury Consistency
Mechanism of Injury Analysis
Vehicle Occupant Kinematics
Falling Object Mechanics and Analysis
Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Amusement Park and Playground Accidents
Crash Data Retrieval and Analysis

Product Failure Analysis
Seat Belt Analysis
Restraint System
Occupant Position Determination
Sequential Events Analysis
Speed Analysis
Vehicle Damage Consistency
Collision Avoidance
Material Fracture Analysis

Michael R. Hill, PhD, PE, is a Biomechanical Engineer passionate about applying biomechanics techniques to solve diverse problems in forensics, medical research, engineering, biology, science, and mathematics. He is an expert in experimental, theoretical, and computational Tissue Biomechanics, with a focus on injury mechanisms, human tissue damage, and nonlinear soft tissue mechanics.

Dr. Hill’s core strengths are in orthopedic and cardiovascular biomechanics, vehicle accident reconstruction, injury consistency analysis, mechanical design, instrumentation,
experimental analysis, numerical methods, simulation, statistics, and image processing. Dr. Hill has lectured in the field of biomechanics and numerical methods, and his research has been published in 16 academic articles and presented at 40 international and national scientific conferences.

See Full Bio & CV.

Expertise:

Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
Occupant Kinematics
Orthopedic and Cardiovascular Biomechanics
Human Tissue Damage Mechanics
Slip, Trip, and Fall Analysis

Computational Mechanics
Experimental Biomechanics
Image Analysis
Computational Modeling
Event Date Recorder (EDR) Data Retrieval and Analysis
Automobile Restraint Analysis

View Quality Forensic Engineering Industrial Forensic Engineering Consulting Profile.

• View Dr. Brian Pfeifer's Curriculum Vitae

• View Dr. Michael Hill's Curriculum Vitae

• View Dr. Ian Zeller's Curriculum Vitae

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Quilici Engineers, Inc. draws on over 35 years of Structural and Civil Engineering experience to deliver a wide range of design and support services, tailored to meet their clients' specific needs.

Consulting Services:

Structural and Civil Engineering - Providing the very highest quality, most cost-effective solutions that take advantage of our automated engineering design capabilities, delivered on time and to the highest standards. Includes Commercial Development, Residential Development, Luxury Residential, Remodeling Restoration.

Pool and Water Services - Compu-Pools, a subsidiary of Quilici Engineering, uses the latest technology to deliver calculations and drawings for pools, spas and water features. Specialties include deep or shallow foundations, expansive soils, and hillside construction. They can help with structural repairs, construction support and design.

On-Call Engineering Services - When safety or other factors require immediate response and quick turnaround for needs such as on-site investigation and remedial repairs. Specializing in Building Evaluations, Dry Rot and Decay Repair, Insurance Evaluation, Insurance Evaluations, Fire and Earthquake Repair, Construction Support, Municipal Processing, Construction Support

Joseph A. Quilici, PE, CE, SE, CCI, is a Registered Structural and Civil Engineer in the state of California and is a Certified Construction Inspector. Mr. Quilici has over 35 years of experience in the construction industry. He has extensive knowledge of building codes and familiarity with innovative building systems.

Mr. Quilici's expertise includes consulting for pools and spas, restorations, commercial, industrial, and community developments, in addition to luxury homes and buildings. experienced with a diverse range of building materials, including tilt-up concrete, structural steel, post-tensioned concrete, concrete masonry, foam block, light gauge steel, and timber.

Qualifications:

Licensed Structural Engineer, 36 years, 1986
Licensed Civil Engineer, 40 years, 1982
University of California, Berkeley, MS Civil Engineering - Structures, 1980
US Green Building Counsel LEED, Accredited Professional, May 2009
US Build it Green, Certified Green Building Professional, September 2009
Forensic Expert Witness Association Board of Directors - Past President
Board Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant

View Joseph A. Quilici's Expert Witness Profile.

• Joseph A. Quilici's Curriculum Vitae

• More About Quilici Engineering, Inc.

• Engineering

• Experience

• Services

• Projects

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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

• Read Process Expertise Services Available

• Read Consulting Failure Analysis Blog

• View Publications by Thomas Read

• Video of Tempered Glass Failure

12/20/2023 · Failure Analysis

Soda Bottle Failure Analysis

By: Dr. Thomas Read

California materials failure laboratory, Read Consulting Failure Analysis Laboratory was engaged to determine the cause of failure of a 12 oz soda bottle. This bottle was said to have exploded and caused injury to a person. The bottle was said to have spontaneously exploded as the was being pushed into a cooler filled with ice.

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2/17/2023 · Failure Analysis

Design Defect Failure Analysis of Water Shut Off Valve

By: Dr. Thomas Read

When this type of valve is open a rubber seal around the valve stem prevents leaking. In this case, the poly acetate stem deteriorated due to the presence of hot chlorinated water This allowed water to leak out. Over time the leak rate increased.

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10/24/2022 · Failure Analysis

Titanium Surgical Screws Failure Analysis

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Read Consulting Failure Analysis Laboratory was engaged to determine the cause of failure of two titanium surgical screws used in corrective back surgery. These were both 6.5 mm diameter, 40mm long screws that were surgically implanted. in a patient, and they subsequently failed.

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4/20/2022 · Failure Analysis

Glass Coffee Pot Failure Analysis: Thermal Shock Failure Of Borosilicate Glass Coffee Carafe

By: Dr. Thomas Read

The fatigue failure initiated on the outside bottom where the carafe had been scratched with the abrasive scrub pad. As a result of cyclical thermal shock (between 195°C and 15°C), the cracks grew progressively till it reached a critical length. Glass thickness at the origins is approximately 3 mm. One failed after 12.

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4/12/2021 · Failure Analysis

Glass Failure Analysis: Glass Oven Dish Failure

By: Dr. Thomas Read

The annealed borosilicate glass pie plate failed as a result of “thermal shock”. There were multiple origins for the failure, and these all initiated at damage sites on the bottom of the Pyrex baking dish. It appears that the bottom of the pie plate was convex. Thus, setting the dish down and moving it on hard (abrasive) surfaces such as tile or granite counters created bottom “rim” damage.

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9/6/2017 · Failure Analysis

Liquid Impact Glass Failure Analysis

By: Dr. Thomas Read

As "water hammer" (i.e. liquid impact) has the potential to cause glass bottle failure, Read Consulting LLC created two such failures to study the resulting fracture surface details.

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4/23/2015 · Failure Analysis

Weld Failure Analysis: Chair Failure Due to Inadequate Weld

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Read Consulting was asked to determine why a welded chair failed and caused injury to the person sitting in it.

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2/3/2014 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis: Manufacturing Engineer Examines the Root Cause of Automobile Rear View Mirror Failures

By: Dr. Thomas Read

The root cause of the failure of customer returns of heated automobile rear view mirrors was investigated.

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8/7/2012 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis: Metal Fatigue of Automatic Machinery - Wafer Test Station

By: Dr. Thomas Read

During normal operation, the arm on an automatic wafer test station failed. Root cause failure analysis determined that the drive shaft on the right angle gear motor used to raise and lower the manipulator arm had failed first.

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5/21/2012 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis: Product Liability & Personal Injury Involving a Broken Grinding Wheel

By: Dr. Thomas Read

This grinding wheel was part of a product liability and personnel injury case. It was claimed that the subject wheel had unexpectedly failed (i.e. flown apart) and an escaping piece had hit the plaintiff in the face causing serious injuries. According to the user, the grinder with the wheel was purchased approximately one hour before the grinding wheel failure.

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3/29/2012 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis: Collapse of Plastic Chair

By: Dr. Thomas Read

A failed plastic lawn chair was examined to determine the cause of failure. This chair failed on the premises of a restaurant In this study the subject chair is examined and compared to several exemplar purchased at the same time. The objective of this study is to determine the cause of failure.

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11/8/2011 · Failure Analysis

Root Cause Failure Analysis of Tempered Glass Door

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Glass Failure Analysis Expert Witness performs a failure analysis of a several tempered glass doors that had "spontaneously" failed at a construction site. The objective of this glass failure analysis is to determine the cause of failure and make recommendations to the contractor.

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8/30/2011 · Failure Analysis

Metal Failure Analysis: Metal Food Contaminant Failure Analysis

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Materials failure analysis expert performs a failure analysis to determine the source of a metal piece found in tomato product.

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5/17/2011 · Failure Analysis

Plumbing Failure Analysis: Stress Corrosion Cracking of Yellow Brass

By: Dr. Thomas Read

A plumbing failure analysis was performed to determine why a cold water supply line to a bathroom sink had failed after only one year of service.

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4/1/2011 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis of a "Exploding" Beer Bottle: Product Defect, Product Liability

By: Dr. Thomas Read

A glass failure expert witness performs a root cause failure analysis on an exploding beer bottle. The object of this root cause failure analysis is to determine the cause of the bottle failure.

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7/7/2009 · Design

White Paper: Reverse Engineering

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Before expending the effort necessary to reverse engineer a device or object, it must be definite that the object under study is not covered by one or more patents. This avoids a dispute over patent violations. Once it has been established that no patent coverage exists, one can use multiple techniques to reverse engineer a product. These are summarized below:

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7/7/2009 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis of a Failed Ceramic Water Holding Tank on a Toilet

By: Dr. Thomas Read

The cracked tank was first inspected in the "as received" condition. In this condition it was cracked, but it was still whole. Next, the failed tank was separated by pulling it apart. This was done to expose the fracture surfaces of the main crack. This allowed for a complete failure analysis and for a determination of where the crack initiated.

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7/7/2009 · Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis of a Broken Jam Jar

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Glass fractography is the most effective method for determining why a glass object, such as a bottle, failed. This technique consists of examining the fracture surfaces of the failure for artifacts such as Wallner lines and using them to trace the crack back to its origin. Once the origin has been identified, it can be examined in detail with a microscope to determine the cause of the failure.

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1/28/2006 · Failure Analysis

Wine Bottle Failure Analysis

By: Dr. Thomas Read

Note: Glass Fractography is the most effective method for determining why a glass object, such as a bottle, failed. This technique consists of examining the fracture surfaces of the failure for artifacts such as Wallner lines and using them to trace the crack back to its origin

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William C. Stein, Jr., PE, CCM, has more than 45 years of Roadway / Heavy Highway Construction and Materials Engineering experience. He has a rich and varied work history that includes construction materials engineering for highways and bridges, industrial plants, high rise offices, and power plants. He has worked for private owners and general contractors as well as the Department of Transportation.

Litigation Support - Mr. Stein Offers consulting and expert services for attorneys on issues regarding road, street, highway, temporary traffic control, runway, and earthwork; asphalt, concrete, coatings and other construction materials; designs, plans, specifications, CPM scheduling (Primavera) and contract documents; right-of-way issues; and work zone safety. Licensed in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas, he performs contract performance forensic investigations and provides consulting, expert reports, rebuttals, and testimony if required.

Areas of Expertise:

Highway Construction
Roadway Construction
Bridge Construction
Highway Engineering
Materials Engineering
Construction Site Work

Traffic Safety

Concrete / Cement

Building Contractor Liability

Construction Damages

Scheduling Delay and Analysis

Soil Analysis

Certifications:

Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Certified Primavera Basic (CPM)
Certified Primavera Advanced (CPM)
Certified LADOTD Structural (bridge)
Inspector/Technician Certified Troxler
Humboldt Nuclear Moisture/ Density Operator
Lead Abatement
Certified Quality Compliance Surveillance in Fossil Power Plants, Organic & Inorganic Coatings Application and Inspection
Certified Traffic Control Supervisor
Certified Flagger Instructor

• William Stein's Curriculum Vitae

• Project Descriptions / Concrete Cases

• LinkedIn Profile

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Landscapes West has focused on the design, installation, and maintenance of residential and small commercial landscapes since 1973. They specialize in the Design/Build of all phases of landscape construction, including a wide range of hardscape surfaces, including brick, natural and synthetic stone, interlocking and permeable pavers, and specialty concrete finishes and colors.

Services:

Landscape Design
Landscape Construction
Landscape Art & Pottery
BBQ’s, Fireplaces & Ring
Pavers & Stone
Walls, Pillars & Gates
Age-In-Place Construction
Drought Tolerant Landscapes

Custom Concrete
Pools & Water Features
Irrigation & Rainwater Harvesting
Lighting
Wood Construction & Outdoor Rooms
Drought Tolerant Landscape
Commercial Xeriscape and Slope Retention
Slope Retention

Principal, Stephen George, has over 40 years of Landscape Design and Construction Defect experience. Mr. George has owned and operated Landscapes West since 1980, and is still providing design / build and maintenance services to his clients. His projects have included commercial, apartments, condominiums, and residential landscapes.

Mr. George is a member of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA), the Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA), the Irrigation Association (IA), the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI), and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating.

View Stephen George's Expert Witness Profile.

• Stephen George's Curriculum Vitae

• Consulting Services