Clinical Laboratory (Testing / Safety) Expert Witnesses

Richard Ernest is an award winning Forensic Scientist and Consultant who has over 31 years of Experience in Analytical Criminalistics and Forensic Ballistics. During his career he has worked literally thousands of forensic cases, and testified hundreds of times. Mr. Ernest is one of a very few private forensic ballistics consultants in the United States. He also owns and operates his own independent forensic firearms laboratory. He has worked cases all across the United States. His clients include law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, civil and criminal case lawyers, private individuals, journalists, writers, educators and students. 

Mr. Ernest has performed work on such notable cases as the Atlanta Murdered and Missing Children (Georgia vs. Wayne Williams), the Branch Davidian cases from Waco, the Texas Cadets Murder (Texas vs. David Graham and Dianne Zamora), the Miami SWAT case (USA vs. Acuna, et. al. - the Richard Brown case), and the Jayson Williams case (NJ vs. Jayson Williams). 

Areas of Expertise:

• Firearm Examination and Testing
• Bullet and Cartridge Case Examinations and Comparisons
• Ammunition Evaluation and Testing
• Shooting Scene Reconstructions
• Shooting Accident Reconstructions
• Shooting Scene Re-enactments
• Distance Determinations from Gunshot Wounds and Clothing
• Gunshot Residue Analysis (GSR) and GSR Consultation
• Tool Mark Examinations and Comparisons
• Gun Safety and Design Issues
• Serial Number Restorations
• Crime Scene Examinations and Consultations
• Footwear Identification
• Tire Track Identification

EXPERTISE IN: 1. The pathobiology, clinico-pathologic correlation, and histopathologic diagnosis of: diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, anus, liver, and pancreas. 2. Human neoplasms (cancer) and preneoplastic conditions. 3. Establishing standard of care, causation and cause of death. 

BACKGROUND: 1. Anatomic Pathology Residency: Washington Univ-Barnes Hospital 1991-94. 2. Oncologic Pathology Fellowship: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 1994-95. 3. Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellowship: Harvard-Brigham & Womens Hospital 1995-96. 4. Instructor at Harvard Medical School: 1996-1998. 5. Assistant Professor and Director of Gastrointestinal Pathology Division at Univ. of Texas Health Science Center-Hermann Hospital, Houston Medical Center: 08/1998 - 12/2000. 6. Staff GI Pathologist and Quality Assurance Director at Caris/Miraca Life Sciences, Dallas TX: 01/2001 - 04/2012. 7. Staff Pathologist, Anatomic Pathology Division of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, Long Island NY: 05/2013 - 05/2015. 8. Staff Pathologist, Anatomic Pathology Division of Alliance Health Sciences, Dallas TX: 01/2016 - present. 9. Sole Proprietor of Expert Pathology Consultation Services Laboratory since 01/2001.         

Dr. Torres was instrumental in creating a rather unique model of Gastrointestinal Pathology subspecialty-focused laboratory, that during his 12 yrs tenure became one of the largest private national Anatomic Pathology laboratories-Caris/Miraca Life Sciences.

Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I³) is recognized as an industry leader for biometric examination services, including expert fingerprint identification, latent print identification comparisons, data base system administration, information technologies, Automated Biometric Information System support and biometric data enrollment services.

Litigation Support - I³ strives to provide unbiased support for any request for comparison of facial images. They offer subject matter expertise in the area of consultation services for Facial Comparisons. Their Subject Matter Experts are key members of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences, the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG), and the International Association for Identification (IAI) Facial Identification Subcommittee.

 I³ has supported requests for attorneys (both prosecution and defense), historical photograph examinations, and missing children. They also offer expert witness testimony services regarding comparisons conducted by I³ personnel.

Areas of Expertise:

Lora S. Sims, CTPE currently serves as the Director of the Facial Identification Training and a Biometrics SME. In this position, Ms. Sims coordinates all training classes as well as many other Face related activities within the company and also provides subject matter expertise on Biometrics for contracts and consulting/expert witness work. 

Ms. Sims is an IAI Certified Tenprint Examiner and is the current chair of both the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) and the Facial Identification Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Sciences. She also sits on the IAI Facial Identification Subcommittee.

Ms. Sims joined Ideal Innovations, Inc. in 2008 as a Tenprint Examiner at the DoD DFBA, which transitioned into a Sr. Biometric Examiner comparing multiple biometrics (fingerprints, faces, and irises). In this position, she co-authored a training to competency program on facial identification & comparisons and is responsible for mentoring and training new employees through the tenprint and facial training program while integrating them into an operational environment

Steven Lee Johnson joined the I³ Advisory Board after 13 years of service to the company as Senior Vice President. Mr. Johnson is the current Chair of the Forensics Science Standards Board (FSSB) of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) entity dedicated to strengthening the nation’s use of forensic science by facilitating the development of technically sound forensic science standards and by promoting the adoption of those standards by the forensic science community. 

Mr. Johnson served in the past as President and Chair of the IAI, secretary and chair of the IAI Forensic Art Certification Board, past chair of the IAI Science and Practices Committee, chair of the IAI Biometric Information Systems Committee and the chair of the IAI Facial Identification provisional sub-committee. In addition to his affiliation with the IAI, Mr. Johnson is an Associate Member of the International Association of Cranio-Facial Identifiers.

Mr. Johnson worked numerous forensic/biometric support contracts for the Department of Defense (DoD) and was actively involved in the development of DoD forensics and biometric standards. He is an International Association for Identification (IAI) Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE) and Forensic Artist. Prior to coming to I3, Steve served 20 years in the law enforcement community providing leadership and expertise in criminal investigation and forensic sciences at the municipal and state levels.

View Ideal Innovations, Inc.'s Consulting Profile.

Paul Chen is a Consumer Product (Non-Food) Safety, Regulatory and Retail Compliance, Quality Assurance and control, 3rd party lab testing / inspection / auditing, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), Federal / State / Local law compliance consultant and expert. He is on-call 24/7 and speaks Chinese fluently.

Background - Mr. Chen has over 17 years of experience in the Consumer Products Industry, most recently for the Product Safety & Compliance division at Walmart Stores, Inc. He was responsible for managing the regulatory compliance testing and auditing programs / policies / procedures / protocols / practices for general merchandise (non-food) items offered for sale in the Walmart, Walmart.com, Sam's Club, samsclub.com, and Puerto Rico formats. This included direct import, domestic, private label, supplier and national brand items in 20+ departments/categories.

In addition to being employed with the world's largest retailer (and company), Mr. Chen was also previously employed with Intertek, a global 3rd party test lab and QA/QC service provider and various consumer product companies, importers and manufacturers.

Litigation Support - Mr. Chen serves as an expert witness for attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. His services include review, inspection, consultation, thorough reporting, depositions and trial testimony, as needed. Mr. Chen has experience in the following consumer products areas in various capacities: 

View PC Squared Consultants Consulting Profile.

George Schiro is a DNA Technical Leader - Forensic Scientist. His duties include incorporating the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) standards, accountability for the technical operations of the lab, conducting DNA analysis using the 13 STR core loci and Y STR in casework, DNA research, forensic science training and crime scene investigation.

Mr. Schiro has worked over 3500 cases and has qualified as an expert over 175 times in 31 Louisiana parish courts, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Texas, West Virginia, federal court, U.S. court-martial, and two Louisiana city courts. Has also consulted on cases in 29 states.

Qualified as an Expert in the Following Areas:

• Latent Fingerprint Development
• Serology
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Forensic Science
• Trajectory Reconstruction
• Shoeprint Identification
• Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• DNA Analysis
• Fracture Match Analysis
• Hair Comparison

David G. Curry, PhD, CHFP, CSP, is part of Solution Engineering Group, which has experts representing a wide variety of engineering and scientific disciplines. Each has the ability to work as a team, matching your needs with the right Expert. Dr. Curry consults on all aspects of Human Factors, Applied Human Performance, Ergonomics, and Safety. He has over 30 years of experience working in accident investigation, product design and development, operational testing and analysis, and both laboratory and field research in the control / display, aviation, and surface vehicle arenas. 

Dr. Curry holds graduate degrees in Experimental, Human Factors, and Cognitive/ Perceptual Psychology, Industrial Engineering, and Business. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force Reserve, where he worked with the Air Force Research Laboratory in the area of display technologies, aircrew training, and pilot-vehicle interfaces. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Curry is recognized as an expert in operator-vehicle interaction and is both a Certified Human Factors Professional and Certified Safety Professional. He holds several patents and has or does serve as a member of national standards-making committees for a variety of organizations (e.g., ANSI, ASTM, and SAE.) Dr. Curry has provided expert testimony in both State and Federal courts. 

Areas of Particular Expertise:

• Human / Machine Interface Design and Evaluation
• Human Capabilities and Limitations in Applied Environments
• Industrial Ergonomics
• Instructions and Warnings
• Perception / Vision / Visibility
• Slips / Trips / Falls
• Evaluation of Equipment / Facilities / Structures from a Human Use Standpoint
• Safety-related Issues in General

View Solution Engineering Group's Consulting Profile.