Automotive Expert Witnesses

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.

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.

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.

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

Ralph Aronberg, P.E., has reconstructed over 1,500 accidents and has testified in over 150 jury trials, since founding the firm in 1983. He provides Expert Witness services in the areas of:

• Traffic accident reconstruction (cars, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians).
• Vehicle occupant kinematics (seatbelts)
• Biomechanics
• Traffic engineering design (geometrics, signing, markings, signals and lighting)
• Sight distance analysis
• Hazardous roadway conditions
• Work Zone Traffic Control evaluation
• Evaluation of roadway curvature
• Traffic signal operations
• Pedestrian safety
• Computerized accident reconstruction and simulation
• Vehicle "black box" data retrieval (certified>

Mr. Aronberg is published in the fields of pedestrian / bicycle / motorcycle accident reconstructions, and 3 Dimensional Animations and Scientific Visualizations through the Society of Automotive Engineers. Mr. Aronberg is a Fellow member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, and certified as a Diplomat in forensic Engineering.

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.

B.E.C. Consulting, LLC was established in 1982. Since that time, we have provided top-level consulting engineering services and accident reconstruction to our clients; law firms, insurance companies, state and local agencies, manufacturing companies, and clients who are seeking product design analysis and other engineering related services. Our engineers represent a broad range of engineering disciplines which enables us to work on a variety of cases using the team approach. The teams at B.E.C are comprised of Engineers, Technical Specialists, Graphics Specialists, as well as Research and Administrative Personnel, so that each case is given personal attention and is handled efficiently and effectively. Our offices are located in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Venice working in almost every state in the United States, including Alaska. 

Areas of Expertise:

• All Areas of Accident Reconstruction - Including Automobile, Tractor-Trailer, Motorcycle/Bicycle & Pedestrian
• Engineering Consulting
• FARO 3-D Scanning
• Black Box Downloads
• Construction Zone / Roadside Safety
• Industrial Equipment
• Failure Analysis
• Product Design
• Product Development
• Material Handling System
• Biomechanical Analysis
• Slip / Trip / Fall
• Computer Animation, Electronic Graphics

Every aspect of our firm is designed to serve our clients needs; conference rooms for mediations and depositions, a research and testing lab, secured evidence storage, facilities for expert inspections, and easy access to airport and hotel facilities for our out-of-town clients. We are truly a full service engineering firm. Because of this team approach and a commitment to customer service, B.E.C. has attained regional and national recognition as a leader in forensic engineering services and new product development. This excellent example and tireless dedication to serving our client’s needs has resulted in a devoted client base and reputation second to none. 

Dr. Charles Benedict, P.E., founded Benedict Engineering Company in 1982 and our name has since changed to B.E.C. Consulting, LLC. He has over 35 years experience in the fields of product and machine design and analysis, vehicular accident reconstruction of all types, and product and system failure analysis. He has designed, developed, manufactured, and tested more than sixty different products and machine systems. Dr. Benedict is well respected in the fields of forensic engineering, product and machine system design and analysis and patenting.

Expertise:

Biomechanics Occupant Kinematics Vehicle Restraint Systems Vehicle Controllability Material Handling Patent Infringement

Automobile Accidents Pedestrian Accidents General Engineering Product Design Fire and Explosion Analysis Tractor / Trailer Accidents Electrical Issues

Barry L. Bookman has approximately 28 years of experience in the Automotive Industry. Working in car dealerships, he started as an apprentice service technician and worked his way up to service Adviser, Service Manager, and Service and Parts Director. Certified as a Journey Level Technician, Mr. Bookman is an ASE Master Technician / Nissan Motors Master Technician. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Bookman currently offers services as a consultant and expert witness to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. His services include thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Automotive Mechanical Repairs / Maintenance Shop and Labor Practices Regulatory Compliance including OSHA Auto Shop Standards of Care Auto Shop Employee / Employment Issues Auto Technician Training Shop Policies & Procedures

Shop Solvents & Chemicals Automotive Electronics Automotive Failure Analysis Hazardous Materials Machine Guarding Power Tools Customer Relations

Jack G. Cohen has been involved in the Automobile Industry for over 30 years, wholesaling and retailing, and running several dealerships and franchises. Mr. Cohen has been retained as an expert witness over 50 times since 2015. His services are available to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He consults with attorneys, dealers, consumers, and insurance companies. 

Areas of Expertise:

Appraisals Industry Standards Dealer Fraud Vehicle Sales and Leasing Dealership Practices New and Used Auto Transactions

Auto Warranty Issues Finance Documentation and Analysis Lender - Dealer Relationships Wholesale and Retail Diminished Value Cases Automobile & Equipment Rentals

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years. Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore.

Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets. Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster.

Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs. They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

Aviation & Aerospace Biomechanics Construction Defects Digital Forensics Electrical Injury & Electrocutions Causation Chemical Computer / Network Equipment Failure Construction Defect Disputes over Reparability of Damage Electrical Failure Equipment Restoration Fire & Explosion Analysis Equipment Restoration

Industrial / Manufacturing Equipment Materials Failure Mechanical Accidents Mechanical Failure Medical / Laboratory Equipment Product Failure / Liability Project Management Structural Failure Subrogation Utility & Energy Valuation of Structures or Equipment Vehicle Accident Investigation Workplace / Premises Accidents

View Envista's Consulting Profile.

Christopher Gayner is the CEO of Expert Reconstruction Company and has more than 30 years of professional experience with over 1300 Traffic Accident cases involving Automobiles, Trucks, Buses, Trains, Motorcycles, Bicycles and Pedestrians. Mr. Gayner has testified over 300 times in trials, depositions, mediations and arbitrations. He is ACTAR certified and a Member of the Society of Accident Reconstructionists and the Society of Automotive Engineers. 

Areas of Specialization:

• Accident Reconstruction (Manual and Computer-Aided)
• Human Factors
• Occupant Dynamics
• Bio-Mechanics
• Restraint Systems (Seat Belts & Air Bags)
• Product Defects
• Crashworthiness
• Vehicle & Scene Inspections
• Accident Scene and Vehicle Crush Damage Assessment
• Crash Data Retrieval
• Photographic Documentation and Interpretation
• Expert Witness Testimony

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 News Interview with Roy Bent 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. 

Appraisals for Law Enforcement Agencies - Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr., IACP Certified Auto Appraiser & Expert Witness, is regulary retained by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Attorney General (AG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Office of Inspector General, and varios Police Departments resumting in criminal convictions and/or exonerations of Defendants for: White-Collar Crimes, Vehicular Homicide Crimes, & Felony Drug Crimes resulting in Federal Criminal Forfeitures, Civil Judicial Forfeitures, Administrative Forfeitures & Seizures. 

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.

The experts at Miller Engineering are Ann Arbor-based professional engineers celebrating 35 years of service to University, Government, Insurance, and Industry through research, publications, presentations, and testimony. Miller Engineering has a staff of engineers and experts in the Mechanical, Chemical, Agriculture, Industrial, and Human Factors fields of engineering with specific knowledge in the following areas: 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

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

Chemicals Safety & Labeling

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

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

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

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

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 Professor at the University of Michigan College of Engineering and a registered professional engineer and consultant with over 35 years of experience as an expert witness. He specializes in warnings, labeling and instruction manuals, consumer product design, machine guarding, process safety, fire science, vehicle visibility, tractor egress/ingress, pedestrian and worker slip and fall prevention, recreational vehicles (ATVs, boats, and personal watercraft), compliance with occupational safety and consumer safety standards (OSHA, MSDS, CPSC, ANSI, ASTM, UL, etc.).
	Mark R. Lehto, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Lehto is a Professor of Engineering at Purdue University. He 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.
	Bradley T. Cook, PE – Managing Engineer Bradley is a registered professional engineer and consultant with extensive experience in accident reconstruction. He specializes in vehicular accident reconstruction and has investigated hundreds of vehicle accidents involving cars, trucks, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, etc. Bradley also has experience in product safety and hazard analysis; occupational safety and health (OSHA) compliance; pedestrian and worker slip and fall prevention; investigation and reconstruction of industrial and consumer product accidents. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Science in Engineering with a Biomedical concentration from Purdue University.

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

Lewis Grill is a Trucking Expert with over 45 years and millions of miles of experience as a truck driver, owner operator, truck driver training instructor, truck driver training program director, safety director. Mr. Grill is currently licensed and certified as a commercial driver for tractor-trailer with endorsements for hazardous materials, tank truck, double and triple trailers, passenger carriage, and school buses. He is certified for air brake inspection and repair, operations of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs), and as a Pilot / Escort Driver.

Lew Grill has testified as a trucking expert witness in litigation matters for law firms, trucking fleets, trucking insurance companies, and truck driving schools in Federal and State courts across the nation. His litigation support services involve the Safe Operation of Commercial Motor Vehicles and the Standard of Care of truck drivers and motor carriers.

Areas of Expertise:

• Truck Accident Investigation
• Advanced Accident Reconstruction
• Human Factors Analysis
• Heavy Truck Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Dynamics

View Lewis Grill's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a technology leader with 25+ years of experience in R&D and Engineering Management in both academia and industry. He has designed and built telecom products such as DSL and Carrier Ethernet Hardware and Software, as well as a prototype fully automated electric vehicle. He has conducted applied research in adaptive control of nonlinear systems, with applications to automotive driver assistance systems (adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, vehicle collision avoidance) and active suspensions. 

Dr. Kanellakopoulos has significant experience with international telecommunication standards (ITU-T SG15/Q4), and has directed collaborative projects with several automotive/truck manufacturers and vendors (Ford, Mercedes-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner, Gentex, Visteon). His deep technical expertise in the areas of telecommunications and automotive driver assistance systems has allowed him to analyze patents and products in detail, and explain clearly (in expert reports, depositions, and court testimony) the main issues that the judge and jury need to comprehend in order to understand the essence of the case. 

Dr. Kanellakopoulos' extensive educational experience allows him to help judges and jurors understand the topic they are dealing with, instead of confusing them with unnecessary technical details. After all, it takes excellent teaching skills and a deep understanding of a complex technical concept to convey the essence of that concept to non-experts without talking down to them.

Richard L. Hall has nearly 40 years of international experience in On and Off Road Product Development and Management consulting. An expert in product planning and development, process management and reengineering, and design and development engineering, he provides consulting services in the off-road vehicle and automotive industries. Clients include off-road, construction, and agricultural equipment companies.  

Background: Mr. Hall worked with CNH Global/Case Corporation for 34 years. He served as Vice President of Product Planning and Process Improvement from 2006-2009, leading a team of (17) Global Product Managers to create and maintain the Construction Equipment Product Evolution Plan and associated schedules and documents. He acted as the main interface  between engineers and the CNH Global patent office, reviewing all applications from both internal and external sources before they were sent to the company Patent Office.

Mr. Hall also led the Products Liability Support Team (litigation engineers) for Case Construction in North America on and off for nearly 20 years. Among other duties, he was responsible for:

• Global Construction Equipment (CE) Product Portfolio Management and Planning
• Engine Strategy and Program Management
• Telematics and Diagnostics Strategy
• Process Improvement and Engineering
• Tools Development and Deployment

Litigation Support: As president of Product Development Services, LLC, founded in 2009, Mr. Hall offers Technical Expertise in On and Off Highway Mobile Equipment. Providing legal support for many years, his services are available to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant and include, examination thorough reporting, deposition, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Mobile Construction and Earthmoving products Agricultural Products

Material Handling Products Over-the-Road Trucks

Technical Competencies include:

• Powertrain Systems
• Hydraulic Systems
• Systems Integration, Controls, and Interfaces

View Richard Hall's Consulting Profile.