Bars / Nightclubs Expert Witnesses: 4

Richard M. Santoro, CPP, is an ASIS International board-certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an experienced Hospitality, Resort, Premises Liability Security Expert. He has 30 years of corporate security experience that includes responsibility for security operations, risk management, executive protection, physical security, CCTV design and operation, investigations, special events, and labor action preparation.

Litigation Support - As an independent security expert, Mr. Santoro has opined, developed, planned, and consulted on various security operations, physical security, target hardening, emergency management, event planning, nightclub security, and matters for numerous public and private organizations. He has experience with hospitality, casino gaming, nightclub, bar, cash-in-transit (CIT), healthcare, public sector, retail, convenience store, petroleum vendor, and entertainment venue security litigation consulting.

As Principal of Interbrief.Org, Rick Santoro has the necessary expertise to assist in litigated matters from the beginning of the case through trial. He offers forensic research relating to:

Credentials:

• New Jersey Security Officer Reform Act (S.O.R.A) Instructor
• UNLV/DHS Soft Target Terrorism Awareness Instructor
• Graduate of FBI Citizens Academy
• Federal Secret Clearance
• Member of Department of Homeland Security Commercial Sector Advisory Council

View Rick Santoro's Consulting Profile.

Dennis Gemberling, CHA, CFBE, FMP, FCSI, President and Founder of Perry Group International, has over 35 years of experience in the Hospitality Management industry. His experience includes managing, operating, and consulting on full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, all-suite, condo and timeshare hotels and resorts, casual, fine-dining, and quick-service restaurants, bars and nightclubs, catering and special event facilities, casinos, and mixed-use real estate. 

Mr. Gemberling has held prior positions for different owners, operators, and chains as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Director of Food & Beverage, and Restaurant Unit Manager. He has been retained on over 400 projects with typical values in the $1 million to $75 million range and revenues in the $1 million to $100 million range both nationally and internationally. His many clients have include among others Biscuits & Blues, Cantina’s, Chevy’s, Choice Hotels, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Hilton, Holiday Inns, Hooter’s Casino, Hyatt, Marriott, McDonald’s, Microtel Inn & Suites, Outback Restaurants, Radisson, Residence Inns, Signature Resort, Sizzler, Sonic Drive-Ins, Starbucks, Starwood, Sheraton, Togo’s, Wendy’s, and Willie Mays Skybox Lounge. 

Litigation Support: Dennis Gemberling is a Certified Hotel Administrator, Certified Food and Beverage Executive, Certified Foodservice Management Professional, and Certified Food Safety Manager. He offers expert witness services to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant cases on a variety of Hospitality-related claims. He is a Professional Member of Foodservice Consultants Society International and the Forensic Expert Witness Association. Mr. Gemberling also provides expertise as a Court Appointed Receiver and Interim Property Manager and is currently the Past President and a Board of Director for the California Receivers Forum – Bay Area Chapter. 

Areas of Expertise:

View Dennis Gemberling's Consulting Profile.

Dr. James F. Pastor, Ph.D, JD, CPP, is a multifaceted security expert with a rich background that spans security, policing, legal, and academia. His career began as a tactical officer in Gang Crime Enforcement with the Chicago Police Department, where he gained hands-on experience in one of the nation's most dynamic policing environments. This real-world foundation laid the groundwork for his extensive expertise in security, policing, and public safety.
 
 Transitioning from the streets to the courtroom, Dr. Pastor built a distinguished legal career representing police unions, security guard and electronic security firms, corporations, and religious institutions. His comprehensive counsel and advice to litigation attorneys, corporate counsel, and policy makers is grounded on real world experience and practical understanding.
 
With a doctorate in Public Policy Analysis, Dr. Pastor brings vision and understanding of how policies shape incentives and influence human behavior. This academic insight, combined with his extensive experience, gives him a unique perspective on risk and liability, making him a sought-after advisor for corporations and communities aiming to prevent crime or mitigate its impact.
 
Dr. Pastor’s security sense is a blend of street-level policing intuition, academic scholarship, legal expertise, and technical know-how, further enhanced by a deep understanding of geopolitical trends. His decades-long study of terrorism and extremism also informs his work, allowing him to contribute valuable insights and assessments in a variety of settings.

Areas of Expertise:

Litigation Support - Dr. Pastor is a highly regarded expert witness with experience in policing, security, public safety, and legal issues relating to these. His depth and breathe of experience is substantive, yet practical. Bringing a unique background, along with credentials and skills, including participating in over 750 prior depositions, has proven to be very effective in his expert witness role.

Dr. Pastor has over 20 years of university teaching experience in security, public safety, and policing, including Northwestern University- Center for Public Safety and the International Law Enforcement Academy. 

Author of four books on security and public safety, plus chapter on Private Policing in ASIS International's Protection of Assets Manual and created Privatization of Policing Bibliography for Oxford University Press, both being comprehensive, substantive works relating to Private Policing.

View SecureLaw LLC'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.