Animal Behavior Expert Witnesses: 5

Kirstin Whitmire, LVT, owner of SK Ranch, has over 20 years of experience in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry and Ranching.

A Licensed Veterinary Technician, Ms. Whitmire has years of experience in veterinary corporate training, multi-unit veterinary hospital management and development, college CVA education, as well as ranching and business ownership.

Ms. Whitmire is a State of Texas/Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) certified proctor to both administer state board exams and to teach Continued Education through state and nationally approved CEU credits in both large and small animal, and for DVM’s/LVT’s/CVA’s in standard medicine, animal husbandry, emergency medicine, and FEMA large animal disaster, rescue, and emergency response. She also provides remote emergency triage for small and large animal hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.

Litigation Support - Ms. Whitmire has been retained as a Consultant/Expert Witness in multiple legal cases regarding ranching, animal husbandry and fencing. Her services are available for attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include on-site inspection, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Greg Coulson is an Equestrian Expert Witness with 50 years of professional equestrian experience. Mr. Coulson is a Member of the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Eventing Association, United States Hunter Jumper Association, United States Dressage Federation, and United States Pony Clubs Inc. He is also a past District Commissioner and currently Regional Supervisor of the United States Pony Clubs Inc.

Education/Training: BS Animal Science, U.C. Davis BA Anthropology, U.C. Davis MA Educational Leadership, Cal State, Northridge CA Community College Instructor's Credential, Horsemanship

Awards/Honors: Selected to be Cross Country Fence Judge for 1984 Olympic Games; Trained and coached the 1985 United States Eventing Association's Reserve National Champion Young Rider (Fritz Cup); Trained and coached the highest scoring rider / horse in Dressage at 2014 United States Pony Club Championships

Litigation Support - Greg Coulson has over 10 years of experience with the litigation process including reports, depositions, and court testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants. He is available to analyze and explain equine industry standards, horse behavior, equestrian accidents, situations, and issues. Mr. Coulson can organize complex sets of facts to provide logical descriptions for attorneys, judges, and juries. He combines extensive education in horsemanship, science, and teaching with a wealth of practical experience.  He is impartial, unusually clear, and articulate.  

Areas of Expertise:

Rod Bergen has an extensive education and background in Horse Behavior and Horsemanship. Mr. Bergen is nationally certified as an Advanced (Level III) Horseback Riding Instructor by the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) in Dressage, Recreational Riding and Mounted Patrol. He has owned and managed horse training, breeding and boarding facilities for over 30 years. He is a Certified Equine Appraiser and member of the American Association of Equine Appraisers. 

Mr. Bergen is qualified to testify as an Equine Forensic Consultant in the California Superior Courts. He has served as a Horse Expert in over 40 legal cases (including 5 deaths) involving horses and horse facilities. Mr. Bergen is listed with the L.A. County Bar Association as an Equine Forensic Consultant / Expert Horse Witness. Specialties:

• Personal Injury & Property Damage
• Equine Accident Reconstruction
• Horse Facility Evaluations
• Riding Equipment Suitability
• Horsemanship Safety Standard of Care
• Equine Problems & Personal Liability Issues During Competitions
• Trail Riding
• Parades

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Alison Grotz, Founder of EquiAppraisal, is an Equine and Horse-related Tack and Equipment Appraisal expert. She is Senior Certified by the American Society of Equine Appraisers (ASEA) and is an Accredited Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA AM). 

Ms. Grotz has over 25 years of experience. She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Equestrian Science from William Woods University. Ms. Grotz gained international experience in the horse industry, primarily at the world-renowned breeding facility of Castle Forbes Stud in County Longford, Ireland. Her decades of involvement with horses progressed through grooming, riding, training, teaching, stable management, equipment sales, valuation, and expert consultation. 

Ms. Grotz's career summary includes operating elite competition stables both domestically and abroad, with experience training and/or managing over 200 horses, with values ranging up to several million dollars.She is currently an adjunct professor at Isothermal Community College in their foundational “Equine Science I & II” courses within Equine Studies department.

Litigation Support - Ms. Grotz is an established expert witness in the courtroom, providing testimony in both State and Federal cases. All valuations comply with nationally recognized Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) regulations. Clients have included insurance companies, attorneys, veterinarians, or horse owners/brokers involved in equine injury, theft, death, insurance settlements, contract disputes, divorce or estate settlements, etc. Ms. Grotz is available for on-site appraisals, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

EquiAppraisal Litigation Services:

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The Equine Expert is a renowned equine firm spanning dozens of disciplines and specializations in the Equine Industry by first-class horsemen and women, professional and top amateurs, with hands-on knowledge of the horse world. With a collaborative firm culture and a reputation for unparalleled professionalism and integrity, their hand- picked team of equestrian experts provide expert witness services in a variety of areas such as business, insurance, liability, equine death, sales, valuations, fraud, estates, taxes, and medical  malpractice.

Litigation Support - Bridget R. Brandon and her team at The Equine Expert support defendants and plaintiffs throughout the United States in State and Federal courts by providing expert testimony, consulting services, litigation support, formation of case strategy, quantifying of damages, settlement negotiations, and assisting the legal team to better understand the sensitivity of the issues involved. Specializing in high-stakes, complex matters, they work collaboratively to create appropriate, well-reasoned research and analysis, advice, reports and expert testimony. 

Services:

Areas of Expertise:

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