Auto Fires Expert Witnesses: 8

Thomas J. Lepper has over sixteen years of experience as a consultant, inspector and tester within the automotive industry. He has more than ten years of experience as a forensic automotive consultant for nationally known insurance companies and law firms. Mr. Lepper is qualified to testify as an Expert Witness in the Superior Court for the State of California.

Areas of Expertise:

• Tire and Brake Separations and Failures
• Theft and Forced Entry Issues
• Fire Cause and origin
• Transmissions
• SDM Interrogation with CDR Tool
• Steering and Suspension Systems
• Seat Belt and Airbag Issues
• Mechanical Defects
• Throttle / Unwanted Acceleration Issues
• Wiring and Electrical Issues
• Racetrack / Racecar Incidents

Mr. Lepper's forensic, automotive fire, brake and tire expertise has been performed for major nationwide insurance companies, nationally known rental car companies and law firms. Please contact for fee schedules.

Since 1988, Real-World Forensic Engineering, LLC ("RWFE") has provided engineering services to industries and government labs, as well as litigation support to both plaintiff and defense attorneys practicing in many areas.

RWFE Areas of Expertise Include:

Components & Machinery Metallurgy & Corrosion Dynamics of Impact & Collisions Friction Analysis / Slips, Trips and Falls Intellectual Property & Patent Review Accident Reconstruction / Animation Computer Aided Design Education & Training

Electrocution & Switch Malfunction Grounding & Lightning Protection Lightning Impulse Testing Products and Premises Liability & Safety High-Voltage & Current Power Systems Bridge Design and Safety Fire & Explosion Cause and Origin And Much More...

At RWFE, we proudly distinguish ourselves by our Four C's:

CREDENTIALS. COMPETENCE. CREDIBILITY. COMMUNICATION.

Credentials:	B.S., M.S., M.Eng., M.B.A., J.D., and Ph.D. Degrees Licensed Professional Engineers in Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering Tenured University Professors and Professionals NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators (CFEI) Licensed Master Electricians
Competence:	Over 80 Combined Years of Experience in Engineering R&D, Industry, Academia, Consulting, and Expert Witness Litigation Support Over 120 Combined Deposition and Court Testimonies
Credibility:	Internationally Recognized in Our Areas of Expertise More Than $19 Million in Peer-reviewed and Funded Research Grants Over 200 Combined Scientific Publications and Journal Articles
Communication:	Over 20 Different Undergraduate and Graduate-level University Courses Over 30 Invited Short Courses, Talks, and Lectures

Design Evaluation – Accident Investigation – Intellectual Property - Failure Analysis – Fire Cause & Origin – Component Testing - Computer Aided Drafting – Accident Animation - Expert Witness & Litigation Support

www.ExpertEngineering.com

Established in 2000, Laird are an Expert Witness services firm supporting the Legal sector across the UK. They understand the importance of providing an efficient and seamless customer journey and review their processes continually to ensure that they achieve and surpass expectation levels daily.

With constantly evolving IT systems and exceptional customer service, Laird are leading the way in the Expert Witness sector. You can instruct with the click of a button via their website and will be kept up to date at every stage of your case.

Laird have three main areas of expertise:

Automotive Experts

Vehicle Damage Reports Low Velocity Impact Diminution in Value Desktop Reports

Vehicle Valuation Disputes Accident Reconstruction Pre and Post Repair Inspections Vehicle Data Check

Photography Experts

• Locus Reports
• Personal Injury Photography Reports

Language Experts

• Interpretation
• Translation
• Witness Statements
• Document sign up service

Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr. is a well known and respected expert and consultant in the automotive industry. An IACP Certified Auto Appraiser, Expert Witness, and Field Inspector, Mr. Bent is the seated President of the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers, a National Professional Appraisal Credentialing Organization that has trained, tested, and certified over 2,400 students under his leadership in the practices of IACP Certified Auto Appraisals and Litigation assistance.

Mr. Bent holds numerous licenses and credentials as an ASE Certified Mechanic, I-Car Collision Specialist, Licensed Auto Appraiser, Insurance Adjuster, Umpire, Mediator, Arbitrator, Classic Car Judge, and Vintage Car Historian.

KPRC 2 Houston Interview with Kenneth Sanders on Diminished Value

Litigation Support - Mr. Bent is retained by counsel to provide IACP Certified Third Party Appraisals for most auto related lawsuits. He serves law firms whose clients are involved with dissolution, probate, bankruptcy, and diminution of value, and automobile accidents. Mr. Bent is a contributing author in several peer reviewed journals in auto accident expert witness related theories, case studies, and reports which are used exclusively by other expert witnesses in the field. His services include deposition, arbitration, mediation, and trial testimony when necessary.

Areas of Expertise:

Diminished Value Appraisals Total Loss Appraisals Corrosion Defective Products Lemon Laws Air Bags Repair Negligence Motor Homes Motorcycles Recalls

Seat Belts Auto Accident Reconstruction Automotive Accident Photography Automotive Odometer Tampering Used Car Dealer Fraud Tractor Trailers / Unsafe Loads Classic Cars / Custom Vehicles Commercial Vehicle Accidents Electronic Control Module (ECM) High / Low Speed Accidents

Deceptive Trade Practices Ignition Switch Failures Pedestrian / Vehicle Collisions Public Transportation Accidents Recreational Vehicles-RVs Rollover-Roof Crush Run Overs (Pedestrians) Self-Insured / Liability Claims Unibody & Frame Repair Vehicle Fire Cause & Origin (Battery)

View Houston Auto Appraisers' Consulting Profile.

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.

Steven Proto is a Nationwide Certified Auto Appraiser (IAAA Certified, USAAP compliant) with over 20 years of experience as an Auto Valuation Expert.

Mr. Proto's expertise is in Fraud Investigations, including diminished value, dealership practices, new and used auto transactions, prior accident damage detection, and vehicle valuations from a Corolla to a Ferrari. He currently serves as the GM of an Auto Auction, Auto Mediator Umpire and he establishes and maintains markets in automotive vehicles, appraising vehicles, and arbitration disputes for top tier auto franchises.

Litigation Support - Hired by Auto Manufacturer's, Top Tier Auctions, the D.O.J.  and qualified to testify in Federal/ State Court as an  Expert in Vehicle Valuation, Dealer Fraud, Dealer Business Practices, Wrongful Death, Tesla Repair process. He can assist in the discovery stage to ensure clients are able to document real damage or the bogus nature of fraudulent claims. Serves as an expert witnesses for both plaintiff and defendant. 

Steve Proto Automotive Mediator and Expert Witness

Areas of Expertise:

Dealership Business Practices Automotive Industry Standards and Practices Diminished Value Market Valuation Total Loss Vehicle Valuation Tesla Repairs Wrongful Death Fraud Investigations Auto Leasing/Auto Rental Automotive Auction Appraiser Automotive Auction Arbitration Inspector Prior Repairs and Previous Paint Work

Automotive Mediator Auto Dealer Disputes Dealer vs. Dealer Disputes Insurance Claims Consumer Disputes Lemon Law Total Loss Claims Manufacturer Warranty vs. Dealer Disputes

Nationwide Expert Witness and Case Preparation Services Provided For Litigation Involving Automobile Industry Standards & Practices, Specializing in Dealership Operation, Relating to Sales, Leasing, Finance, New & Used Cars, Service & Parts. Auto Industry Veteran Since 1978. 

Issues:

Fraud Unfair Business Practices Single Document Rule Document Disclosure Spanish Contracts Finance Reserve Payment-Packing Purchase/Lease Flip Rental Disclosure Sales, Closing and Desk Procedures 4-Squares AB-68

Deferred Down Payment Regulations M & Z Wholesale Procedures Reconditioning Safety Inspection Title History Wrongful Termination Discrimination Wrongful Death Class Actions Sales & Management Training Song-Beverly Lemon Law

Los Angeles Business & Resale Licenses
Resume & References upon Request

Experienced in Fire Cause and Origin, Arson Prosecution and Defense, Product Subrogation, Fire and Building Codes, Life Safety Codes, Fire Injuries and Fatalities, as well as Fire Department Operations and Management. 

John Michael Agosti & Associates provides assistance to insurance companies, attorneys and other agencies in the determination of cause and origin in fires and explosions. Our goal is to provide independent and articulate findings to you the client, quickly and accurately. 

With over 28 years of fire department experience and 15 years in the private sector, Mr. Agosti has completed over two thousand investigations of fires, explosions, and life safety incidents. He has testified in both federal and state courts for both plaintiff and defense clients.