Construction Safety Expert Witnesses

1 Source Safety and Health, Inc. is a Safety and Health Management and Consulting firm for educational, insurance, commercial, residential, research, healthcare, and manufacturing facilities. 1Source’s team of professionals includes certified industrial hygienists, certified safety professionals, certified professional environmental auditors, and a certified professional ergonomist who can address every safety and health issue. One key measure of their success is that 1Source is the largest safety and health consulting firm with the most certified staff on the east coast. For more than 20 years, the professionals at 1Source have been committed to developing long-term, mutually beneficial professional relationships with our clients and business partners. Indoor Air Quality Management and Consultation:

• Mold, Bacteria and other Microbiological Assessments:
• Odor Surveys and Assessments
• Investigative Indoor Air Quality Surveys
• Proactive Indoor Air Quality Surveys
• Planned Indoor Air Quality Management Programs
• Environmental-Related Disease Investigations
• Legionella and Legionnaires Disease
• Safety Program Management

Safety Management Systems:

• Ergonomics Programs
• Safety Program Development
• Occupational Health / Industrial Hygiene
• Construction Safety Services
• Managed Outsourcing
• Training Program Services
• OSHA VPP (Voluntary Protection Program)
• Safety and Health Audits
• Noise Exposure Evaluation and Control

Asbestos and Lead Management and Consultation:

• Asbestos Surveys and Investigations
• Asbestos Abatement Project Design
• Environmental Quality Assurance Monitoring
• Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Programs

Kenneth J. Shorter, MS, CSP, ARM, TCDS has over 30 years of experience planning and managing Construction and Demolition Safety for local, national, and international companies, including an extensive range of projects from rapid transit systems, airports, highways, hospitals, and landfills to tunnels, bridges, marine projects, and underground utility systems. He recently directed safety for the $1.3 billion expansion of the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Throughout his career, Mr. Shorter has been responsible for investigating and explaining why a wide range of complex accidents happened and how they could have been prevented. 

Mr. Shorter has his Masters Degree in Safety and Professional Certifications in Safety, Risk Management, and Traffic Control Design. He is a member of the ANSI A10 Committee for the Safety of Construction and Demolition Operations which produces the national consensus safety standards for the industry. His expertise extends beyond OSHA to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, ANSI, NFPA, and a wide range of other consensus standards. A highly qualified Expert, Kenneth Shorter provides litigation support services for both Plaintiff and Defense. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Construction, Demolition, and Temporary Traffic Control
• Tunnels, Rapid Transit Systems, Highway, Bridge, Building, Marine, and Underground Utility Construction and Demolition
• Falls, Confined Spaces, Electrical
• Cranes, Forklifts, Earthmoving, Paving, Trenching, Shoring, Scaffolding, Aerial Lift, Pile Driving, Marine

View Kenneth Shorter's Consulting Profile.

Julian M. Toneatto, PhD, PE, PP, has over 40 years of experience in Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering Consulting. Dr. Toneatto has a Doctorate in Structures and Dynamics and MBA in Finance. His former employers include the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, States, Municipalities, DOT, private and public firms, and the EXXON Corporation. 

Dr. Toneatto served as a Professor of Civil Engineering and Course Director at the Department of Civil Engineering, U.S. Military Academy. He structured, revised, and taught courses in Advanced Structural Analysis, the Honors Course in Structural Analysis and Steel Design, and authored and taught Soil Mechanics. Dr. Toneatto has also served on the faculty at USMA (West Point): Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Philadelphia University and The US Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Toneatto has been offering his expert witness services to the legal industry for decades. A Forensic Engineer, he provides expert reports, depositions, and court testimony in support of litigation. 

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Engineering Civil Engineering Structural Engineering Environmental Engineering Materials Engineering Safety Engineering Failure Analysis

Geotechnical Engineering Construction Damages Petroleum Engineering Corrosion Land Use and Zoning Occupational Health / Environmental Health Product Liability - Consumer Safety

View Dr. Toneatto's Consulting Profile.

Clinton J. Ford, MS, ACA, CGC, CIAQM, CIE, CMR, CRMI, has over 30 years of Construction experience and has obtained both field experience and education in the following four distinct but often related disciplines of Construction, Environmental, Real Estate, and Insurance.

Mr. Ford served 25 years as a State Certified General Contractor working on projects ranging from $5,000 to $50,000,000 and has spent over 20 years providing construction consulting and expert witness services.

Mr. Ford holds many titles with decades of experience in the construction/environmental industries and was a former continuing Educations Sponsor for the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.

Over the years, Mr. Ford has combined his extensive construction knowledge with cause and origin of water intrusion and environmental issues offering an exceptional understanding of Building Science and its relationship to contamination from biological agents such as Toxic Mold, Mycotoxins, Bacteria, and Endotoxin’s.

Litigation Support - Mr. Ford offers attorneys consulting and litigation support assistance in Building Construction and Environmental Claims that have resulted in property damage, personal injury, and/or wrongful death. He offers pre-litigation counseling, damage and loss estimating, forensic building construction investigation and analysis, pre-trial and trail consulting services and trial testimony. He individually tailors preparation for each case in order to provide the greatest benefit and impact in either a defensive of offensive posture.

Areas of Expertise:

Building Codes / Building Permits Building Construction Construction Accidents Construction Safety Construction Claims Building Contractor Termination Licensure Issues

Construction Cost Estimates / Analysis Water Leaks / Moisture Intrusion Contamination Environmental Damage Indoor Air Quality Mold & Fungal Causation Property Damage Assessment

View Clinton Ford's Consulting Profile.

Peter Petrovsky, PE, CE, ME , has provided services as a consultant and an expert witness in applied Civil and Mechanical Engineering Science, Building, Infrastructure, and Earthwork Contracting. His strength and experience is to successfully combine engineering and applied mechanics with the field experience and contracting skills. He packages civil, mechanical engineering, as well as, general, engineering, earthwork and paving and hazardous waste contracting into one package for the use of his clients. His services also include construction job site safety in fire prevention and personnel protection. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Petrovsky's shirtsleeve approach to problem solving gives him the ability to distill complex technical issues to a palatable presentation in the appropriate forum. Serving the legal industry for 25 years, he has been retained in over 600 plaintiff and defense cases, been deposed over 200 times, and given testimony approximately 100 times. Mr. Petrovsky's services include testing and analysis, trial preparation case analysis, deposition review and expert summary, evidence presentation, consulting, report writing, court exhibits, static and computer depictions, construction and engineering contract analysis, accident reconstruction, and interpretation of administrative regulations. He has assisted counsel on cases in California, New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Nevada. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Design: Machine safety and guarding, Strength of materials, wood, metals, plastics
• Materials Issues and Failure Analysis: Mechanisms, components and machinery; Pressure testing, fatigue analysis
• Accident Investigations: Heavy equipment accidents, bulldozers, backhoes, excavators; Cranes, lifts, manipulators
• Air conditioning and Refrigeration: Thermography services and analysis
• Civil Engineering: Design of Buildings; Residential, industrial, commercial site plans; Land development, site preparation and paving, drilling and boring; Public and private roadways, sidewalks, ramps, parking lots, lighting; Septic systems, sewers, public sewer blockage and stoppage; Scaffolds & scaffolding erection and accidents; Retaining walls and retaining wall failure; Foundation failure / structural damage; Plumbing leaks, water intrusion, explosions; Earthquake Damage Assessment and Remediation; Construction Disputes / Insurance claims; Stucco defects and failures; Job site fire prevention industry standards

Atlantic Environmental Inc. has provided expert services on Environmental, Health and Safety issues for the past 40 years. We translate highly technical, scientific information into real and practical terms to assist attorneys in providing the best legal advice and direction in litigation issues involving chemical and environmental issues. We have substantial experience in appearing for deposition and trial as an expert witness 

Areas of Expertise:

Chemical Pollution Occupational Disease Mold Testing & Remediation Indoor Air Quality Chemical Toxicity

Industrial Hygiene Toxic Torts Asbestos & Lead Sampling Environmental Claims Property Assessments & Testing

Robert E. Sheriff, MS, CIH, CSP is the CEO and President of Atlantic Environmental Inc which he founded in 1978.. He earned his MS in Preventative Medicine and Environmental Health and his BS in Zoology. Mr. Sheriff was a former Manager of Health Safety & Environmental for Sun Chemical Corporation and an Industrial Hygienist and Loss Control Rep. for Continental Insurance Co. He served in the US Army - Vietnam Era. He is a Past-President of the American Industrial Hygiene Association(AIHA) He has acted as Expert Witness in Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation(Defense), Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Disease, and Indoor Air Quality/Mold over the last 25 years.

Henry P. Shotwell, Ph.D., CIH is the Senior Consultant of Atlantic Environmental Inc. He earned a Ph.D. in Systems Safety Engineering, an MS in Biomedical Sciences and a BS in Biology & Chemistry. Dr. Shotwell is a former Director, IH & Safety for Environmental Waste Management Associates and a former Manager of Health & Environmental Safety for Sun Chemical. He has acted as Expert Witness in a variety of Industrial Hygiene, Mold, and Toxic Tort cases as both plaintiff and defense expert. 

Thomas Barth has a foundation of 47 years as a Crane Operator, Crane Inspector, and Crane Operator Trainer, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.

As a crane operator and crane inspector, Mr. Barth has proven his professionalism as an expert witness in crane accident investigations across the country. His career-long commitment to crane safety has led him to carefully study the industry's practices, procedures and equipment.


Experience:

• Water - Mr. Barth has 13 years of experience working cranes on the water, including off loading barges, jack-up platforms, general cargo and construction materials, pile driving, clamming and hook work


• Land - His operator experience on land includes working in Prudhoe Bay oilfield, setting steel, tilt ups, building trades, heavy picks, drag lining, and using multiple cranes to make various heavy picks

Litigation Support - Mr. Barth has over 15 years of experience as a crane accident investigator and expert witness. He has investigated more than 55 high-profile crane accidents.

Piers Morgan interview with Thomas Barth on CNN News

Mr. Barth's experience with a wide variety of cranes in diverse industries and locations has been invaluable to attorneys and legal teams in need of a professional evaluation. He has a keen understanding of the underlying principles and potential causes in accident scenarios. Mr. Barth also knows how to evaluate accident reports from government agencies, witness depositions, inspection reports, lift plans, and other evidence. He is an excellent communicator with the ability to clearly express his answers, and the reasons for them, during video or written depositions, or in the courtroom.

Types Of Cranes:

• Cranes - Crawlers, Trucks, Hydraulics, Pedestals, Overheads, Hoists, Lifts
• Construction & Farm Machinery
• Industrial Equipment & Machinery

View Thomas Barth's Consulting Profile.

Gregory J. Cahanin, CP works in the Fire Protection Engineering field. Over 40 years of experience in the application of sound engineering principles work to produce results in litigation cases. He is nationally recognized as a Life Safety and Fire Protection expert. He performs fire origin and cause, fire alarm, fire sprinkler, kitchen suppression, fire wall and compartmentation failures, and slip and fall forensic investigations. Gregory J. Cahanin Fire & Code Consulting has been based in St. Petersburg, FL for over 25 years.

Background - Mr. Cahanin served as a Senior Life Safety Engineer with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the organization that writes Fire Protection Codes and Standards. He was staff liaison for building construction standards and the Fire Prevention Code. Special project work included support of the International Division of NFPA in a survey of fire protection for all oil production facilities of LaGoven SA in Venezuela; an evaluation of the existing airport terminal in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and a code comparison study for the National Institute of Building Sciences. Mr. Cahanin investigated multiple fatality fires for NFPA and his reports are nationally published and peer reviewed. Mr. Cahanin holds Professional Grade Membership in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Mr. Cahanin has earned three undergraduate degrees in Fire Science and Fire Protection and a Master in Public Administration.

Litigation Support - Mr. Cahanin regularly testifies in fire cases offering opinions on the origin and cause of fires in addition to component failures in construction, fire sprinkler systems, kitchen suppression systems and product failures. He is nationally published on fire protection requirements in the building code as a contributing editor on the 2006 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) Commentary where he edited the sections on fire-resistance rated construction. He currently serves on code committees with both the NFPA and ICC. Mr. Cahanin holds a NALA paralegal certification and is well versed in Civil Procedure, interrogatory, expert report writing, and trial procedures.

Mr. Cahanin meets the professional qualifications of NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator as documented in a Florida Declaratory Statement held by no other fire expert in the state of Florida.

Investigations of note include the Warwick. R.I. Station Nightclub Fire in 2003 with 100 fatalities. In Wyatt v. Security Alarms Co., Inc. key testimony on the failure of a Viking automatic fire sprinkler established a product liability that resulted in a $1.4M dollar jury award for Wyatt in Oklahoma.

Mr. Cahanin's services are available to plaintiff and defendant attorneys. Case work can include site investigation, materials testing, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Fire Origin and Cause Determination Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems Fire Hazard Analysis Fire Sprinklers Fire-based Construction Defects CPVC Sprinkler Pipe Failure

Fire Walls and Compartmentation Life Safety Egress & Compliance Fire & Building Code Compliance Explosion Analysis and Cause Fire Alarm Failures Walking Surface Slip Trip & Fall

View Cahanin Fire & Code's Consulting Profile.

Jay R. Carow, AIA is a licensed Architect and has been a design principal in architectural and planning firms for nearly 40 years. For 12 years he taught Architectural Design and Construction, the majority at the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture and Design and at universities overseas. He achieved the rank of full professor of architecture and founding dean of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in architecture, planning and building technology. Mr. Carow has licensing as an architect in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Jay Carow has provided expert witness services for over 20 years on more than sixty cases dealing with Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents and problems related to Design and Construction. His support efforts include extensive research, preparation of expert witness opinions, depositions and court appearances for both plaintiffs and defendants. His years of practice and teaching bring credibility to his testimony and the ability to present technical issues clearly and convincingly. He is supported by technical staff for assistance in research and preparation of exhibits.

Areas of Expertise:

Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents Architectural Errors and Omissions Technical and Material Defects Building Code and ADA Compliance

Construction Defects and Workman Safety Code Violations and Compliance Design, Planning and Functional Oversights Public Safety Violations

Midwest Regional Office 819 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 700 Chicago, IL 60605 Telephone: 312-814-9000

New York City and New England Office 712 South Britain Road Southbury, CT 06488 Telephone: 203-313-6581

View Jay R. Carow's Consulting Profile.

Since 2010, Craig Moskowitz, MBA, MS, PE, the President and Managing Member of CLM Engineering Associates, LLC (CLM), has been concentrating the comapny's focus on forensic engineering/expert witness work for the insurance industry and legal community. In addition, they offer construction management, civil engineering and building inspection services. 

CLM has extensive construction management experience on both commercial and residential projects. Projects have included:

•  Safety inspections on both civilian and military projects through application of OSHA regulations. Designed drainage systems for the government while an officer with the United States military. Cost estimating for various projects exceeding $500 million<li>
• Designed document creation and management of high-rise construction in Manhattan
• Management of telecommunications projects for Verizon in Manhattan including CPM schedule creation and updating
• Directed and managed all water distribution system and sewer system work while working as a contractor to the New York City Department of Design and Construction. 
• Marketplace Services

Litigation Support - Forensic work related to evaluation of structural steel systems with commercial building construction and insurance-related claims due to storm damage on commercial and residential structures. Craig Moskowitz has been deposed several times in litigation matters. Mr. Moskowitz has testified 17 times in the past four years. 

View Craig Moskowitz's Consulting Profile.

John G. Minor, President of Complete General Contractors, is a third-generation Contractor and licensed instructor certified by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. He is a recognized expert on the costs and applications necessary to repair buildings damaged by manufacturer, builder liability, water damage or intrusion, mold, or asbestos.

Mr. Minor has worked in construction and contracting dispute resolution throughout the Southeast for over 17 years. He has been involved in the successful discharge of 150+ million dollars as an expert witness in property claim lawsuits and disputes. He is retained by both the plaintiff and defense for a fair appraisal of the issues at hand.

Mr. Minor works with attorneys to generate a plan based on damages to property and in compliance with the provisions and spirit of the insurance policies in effect at the time of the loss. For personal injury cases, he works to establish the code requirements in place at times of the injury to find how they relate to the cause of action.

Areas of Expertise:

Loss Appraisals Construction Claims Construction Disputes Construction Safety Construction Damages

Fire Damage HVAC Issues Insurance - Property, Casualty Mold Asbestos

View John Minor's Consulting Profile.

Randall S. Stout, Founder of Construction Services and Investigations, Inc (aka CSI Inc.) provides Expert Witness services for Construction Defect, Personal Injury, and Reconstruction Litigation Projects.

Over the past 35 years, Mr. Stout has mastered his construction knowledge holding such positions as director of purchasing, director of special projects, and director of construction while working for several large construction development companies. He holds both a "General Engineering" "A" License and a General Contracting 'B" License with the California State Licensing Board. Mr. Stout is certified with the ICC as a "Combo Building Inspector" for building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. He is also interested in Green Building Concepts and is LEED GA Certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with the United States Green Building Council. Mr. Stout has been trained to perform ASTM Concrete Slab Moisture Testing to identify interior flooring failures installed on concrete slabs.

Litigation Support - Mr. Stout assists small to medium-sized law firms, insurance, and property management companies in need of construction expertise in all phases of complex construction defect litigation, both residential and commercial. His "hands-on" construction experience allows him to bring a unique set of problem-solving skills during tough negotiations. Mr. Stout has testified and opined at joint expert meetings, expert presentations, mediations, arbitrations, criminal court, superior / civil court, bankruptcy court, and at Contractors State License Board Hearing (CSLB).

Cases and Projects:

• Construction Defect
• Personal Injury
• ADA Site Evaluations
• Tenant Landlord Disputes
• Real Estate Disclosure Disputes
• Concrete Moisture Suppression Systems / ASTM F 2170 Testing

Northern California Office CSI, Inc 101 Parkshore Drive Suite 100 Folsom, CA 95630 Office: 916-932-7146 Fax: 916-932-2001

Southern California Office CSI, Inc 17901 Von Karman Ave Suite 600 Irvine, CA 92614 Office: 949-556-8743 Fax: 949-556-8701

View Randall Stout's Consulting Profile.

John (Jack) P. Diehl, AIA NCARB LEED AP, has over 40 years of experience as an Architect. Mr. Diehl currently specializes in Forensic Architecture and Construction Defects. He is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

Mr. Diehl is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the International Code Council (ICC). He is also a LEED AP Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, Construction Document Technician, and General Contractor California, "B" License.

As President of The Diehl Group Architects, Inc., Mr. Diehl is:

• Responsible for field investigations, failure analysis, building code research, and development of repair solutions
• Performs technical investigations and research of suspected design and construction problems
• Verifies and compares as-built conditions, design parameters, building jurisdiction requirements and applicable industry standards of care
• Provides construction administration and quality control review for Type I and Type V building types
• Provides quality assurance, evaluation, and supervision of in-progress construction for major commercial and high rise structures for conformance to design, material, and workmanship standards

Litigation Support: Jack Diehl has provided trial preparation services and expert witness testimony in over two hundred (200) cases, residential or commercial, in support of construction defect litigation. He offers his expertise to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. His services include arbitration and mediation.

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Architect Architectural Professional Liability Building Envelope Water Intrusion and Damage ADA Consulting Slip and Fall Building Code

Construction Defects Waterproofing Roofs Fenestration Construction Administration EIFS Consulting Construction Standards

View Jack Diehl's Consulting Profile.

Dennis W. Eckstine is an expert on cranes, aerial work platforms, various types of lifting equipment, heavy duty trucks, carriers, and other similiar construction, industrial and agricultural equipment. He has held senior positions in engineering, quality, product safety and reliability for major manufacturers including representing the company at trial. 

Through his active involvement in current standards committees, his education, and his engineering and product safety experience at Grove Worldwide, Mr. Eckstine brings a solid scientific and practical background to his clients. He was previously Vice President, Senior Director of Product Safety & Reliability, and Director of Engineering Administration for different major manufacturers. He possesses a BSME and MBA. 

Mr. Eckstine started as a full time employee in the construction equipment industry in 1971 for Grove. He is currently a member of numerous committees within the organizations of ANSI (American National Standards Institute), SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering), ISO, and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. Mr. Eckstine was the founding International Chairman of ISO TC 214 for Elevating Work Platforms. He is currently International Chairman of ISO TC 96 SC 6 for Mobile Cranes, and a Commissioner of CCO. 

Services Offered

• Expert on construction, industrial and agricultural equipment
• Evaluate Product to Promote Safe Design and Safe Use of Equipment
• Hazard Analysis, Design Review, Warnings Development, Safety and Operational Training
• Offer Guidance on Human Factors
• CIE - Certified Industrial Ergonomist
• Develop Standards for Design and Safe Use of Products
• Develop Training Materials and Perfrom Training for Operators of Lifting Equipment Including Cranes and Aerial Work Platforms
• Conduct Presentations at Seminars and Work Shops

Gene Farmer, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP, is president of Gene Farmer and Associates, Architects and Planners an award winning architecture firm. He has over thirty years of experience in the Design of numerous Residential and Commercial Projects in Florida, Texas, Illinois and Minnesota. His work has been published both locally and nationally and he has received numerous awards including two F.A.M.E. awards and the prestigious Price Waterhouse South Florida Business Journal "Up and Comer Award for 1990."

Mr. Farmer holds a license to practice architecture in the State of Florida, an N.C.A.R.B. Certification, and a Dade County Sub-Builder Certificate. He is also a certified Florida Building Inspector, a certified Florida Building Plans Examiner, a certified International Code Council ICC Commercial Building Inspector and a certified International Code Council ICC Building Plans Examiner. Mr. Farmer currently holds an OSHA 30 hour certification and has been a certified OSHA 500 instructor.

Mr. Farmer has served as an Expert Witness in numerous cases ranging from Construction Defects to Construction Claims Analysis.

Gene Farmer is a Professor Emeritus in the Moss School of Construction, in the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University. His teaching specialties include Principles of Construction Management, Building Construction Materials, Sustainable Construction, Building Codes, Quality Control in Construction, and Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Systems in Buildings.

In addition to his book entitled Architectural Detailing for Commercial Construction, published by McGraw Hill in 1991, he has a book entitled “A Contractor’s Guide to LEED Certified Construction” which was published in 2013 by Delmar-Cengage.