Consumer Fraud Expert Witnesses: 6

Archuleta & Associates Investigative Services, a Division of Archuleta & Associates, Inc., has been providing investigative services within various industries since 1982. They are the overwhelming leaders within the CA Central Valley. The clientele of Archuleta & Associates, Inc. consists of every level of business, from both the private and public sector. Due to the wide range of services provided and their 25 years within the industry, they have worked with an extremely diverse and vast clientele base, from the largest of litigation firms to the smallest of personal clients. 

Robert A. Archuleta launched his career as a Private Investigator in 1983, after five years as an officer, investigator and sergeant for the Lodi Police Department, followed by stints as an engineering contractor and a deputy U.S. Marshal. Among his other clientele, Mr. Archuleta has been as an Expert Witness for the Department of Consumer Affairs for the State of California. 

Services Include:

EJ Janik, CPA, CFF, CFE is a Certified Public Accountant with 40 years of professional experience. He specializes in financial audits, compilations and reviews, consulting for commercial litigation, antitrust matters, engineering and construction matters, real estate, and bankruptcy / business reorganizations matters. Mr. Janik holds a Master of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Rice University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Janik has provided over 150 financial audits and consulted in over 785 business disputes. He has provided expert testimony in over 88 matters including trial testimony in 58 trials or hearings in 8 states. Mr. Janik's accounting services include Damages/Lost Profit analysis, Forensic Accounting, Fraud Investigations, Fact Finding, Financial Analysis, and Expert Witness Testimony when necessary. Litigation Experience:

Mr. Janik is also uniquely qualified to measure construction claims and damages. With over 11 years of construction experience, he has accumulated over 13,000 Engineering and Construction (E&C) auditing hours, 10,000 E&C consulting hours, and 15,000 E&C supervised hours. Construction Claims Services include:

View EJ Janik's Consulting Profile.

Laurie Hoeltzel, PhDc, a Forensic Document Examiner, has studied handwriting examination and apprenticed under some of the leading court-qualified Forensic Document Experts in the United States. She spent 11 years serving her country in the United States Air Force, including three tours of duty in Iraq, while obtaining a Bachelors degree and Document Examination Certificates. Laurie Hoeltzel has been 100% court-qualified and her testimony has always been allowed.

Litigation Support - Ms. Hoeltzel has reviewed numerous signatures and handwritings, examined case documents, and rendered an opinion on cases in AZ, AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MI, MD, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WA, Washington D.C.; Montreal & Quebec Canada; Freeport & Nassau, Bahamas. She is court-qualified and attorney-recommended. With over 20 years of experience, she is available for depositions and court testimony when necessary, Ms. Hoeltzel offers her expertise to counsel for both plaintiff and defendant NATIONWIDE!

Areas of Specific Training:

• Handwriting Identification
• Signature Comparison
• Distinguishing Forged Signatures Techniques
• Disguised Handwriting
• Altered Numbers
• Anonymous Writing
• Factors that Affect Writing

Disputed Documents or Signatures Analysis on: Wills, checks, contracts, deeds, account ledgers, mortgages, loans, notary disputes, and medical records. Investigation and Analysis for: Questioned signatures, suspect documents, forgeries, identity theft, robo-signing, anonymous letters, bond authentication, alterations, obliterations, erasures, typewritten documents, altered medical records, graffiti, handwritten numbers, suicide notes, and computerized and handwritten documents.

Mike Wakshull is a civil and criminal court-qualified document examiner who partners with legal clients to dissect the evidence presented in handwritten and computer-generated questioned documents. His valid approach often produces winning arguments during the trial. Wakshull applies his scientific training to examine questioned documents which is a court requirement. He uses generally accepted practices such as SWGDOC and ANSI/ASB standards. His laboratory is well-equipped with high powered digital microscopes, VSC80, ESDA, high quality digital scanners, and software. He has built a large forensic reference library. Wakshull is skilled at creating and explaining complex exhibits in easy-to-understand language and pictures. His courtroom approach is to teach and engage the trial participants—opposing attorney, judge and jury.

Mike Wakshull holds a graduate school certificate in Forensic Document Examination. Since 2010 Mr. Wakshull has worked and studied in the science and discipline of Document Examination and Handwriting Analysis. He is one of only a handful of forensic document examiners with graduate school training in the science of forensic document examination. His opinion is always based on sound fundamentals of evidence. Mr. Wakshull has spoken at International and local conferences and seminars and also holds professional certifications that bring unique skills to your case. As a Certified Quality Engineer, Mr. Wakshull studied the science of variability and applied this to the analysis of handwriting and documents. As a Certified Information Systems Auditor, he applies his knowledge of information systems and technology to the analysis of documents.

Q9 Consulting, Inc. Has both an extensive research library and laboratory. Q9 Consulting, Inc. serves Southern California counties of Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, and surrounding regions. Mike has worked cases from 29 states and five countries. Work is accepted from all other locations.

Areas of Expertise:

View Mike Wakshull's Consulting Profile.

Lance Foster, CPP, CSC, has over 30 years of experience in Corporate Security Management, Law Enforcement, and Security Consulting. During his law enforcement career, Mr. Foster served as a detective with investigative assignments in burglary, auto theft, and crimes against persons.

Mr. Foster later transitioned to the private sector, where he held the position of Vice President of Security for a statewide banking institution. In this role, he managed a department of 30 professionals and oversaw enterprise-wide responsibilities including risk assessments, physical security, investigations, data security, executive protection, regulatory compliance, security training, and the procurement and maintenance of security systems and equipment.

Clients Served - As a security consultant, Mr. Foster has developed, evaluated, and audited security programs for a wide range of properties and industries, including financial institutions, multi-unit residential communities, hotels and motels, retail establishments, high-rise office buildings, shopping malls, parking facilities, college campuses, lounges, jewelry stores, truck stops, and other commercial environments. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Foster is frequently retained as an expert witness by law firms representing both plaintiffs and defendants. His work focuses on foreseeability, standard of care, and the defensibility of security programs central to case evaluation, expert disclosure, and trial strategy.

Areas of Expertise:

In addition to his professional practice, Mr. Foster has served as an adjunct instructor at two colleges, teaching courses in criminology, criminalistics, criminal justice management, and computer fraud. He has delivered professional presentations to the Community Bankers of America, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, and the American Society of Industrial Security Florida West Coast Chapter.

CPA, CFE, CPEA, CFF with 35 years of experience as a financial damages, accounting, royalties, licensing, valuation expert.  Calculations in general damages, intellectual property (copyright infringement, trademark infringement, patent infringement, DMCA, trade secrets), breach of contract, reasonable royalties, wrongful termination, personal injury, consumer product liability & royalty audits.  2017 California CPA of the Year & 2012 Certified Fraud Examiner of the Year. 

Expert in unjust enrichment & lost profits. Sample Industries: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, music, film, construction, machinery, security, toys, software, hardware, media, entertainment, energy, security, personal injury, partnerships, apparel & consumer products. Real world experience as Chief Audit Officer of Beats, KPMG Partner, and at Occidental Petroleum, Unocal, and Disney. While at Ernst & Young and KPMG, led national fraud and royalty auditing. Vice Chair ('16-'17) Board of Regents of the 80,000+ member Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. More than 3,000 forensic accounting contract investigations. 

Mr. Blum has extensive experience working on economic damages in both simple and multi-billion dollar complex litigations. With over 150 matters as an expert witness, his damage calculations have consistently been accepted in court, even in cases involving settlements up to $1 billion. His reports have been recognized as best examples by judges for their thoroughness and clarity. Mr. Blum has represented a broad range of clients, including leading law firms and major corporations across various industries. 

Clients: Microsoft, Dolby, Sony, Paramount Pictures, Mattel, Warner Bros., McDonald’s, Shark Tank, WWE, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Amgen, GM, Sears, IGT, IMG, Tessera, Philips, Diageo, Harley-Davidson, DKNY, Chrysler, Ross, UMB Bank, Bank of America, Everlast, Fate Thera., Medtronic.

Areas of Expertise:

View Sidney Blum's Consulting Profile.