Control Systems Engineering Expert Witnesses: 23

Ralph V. Wilhelm, PhD, has over forty-nine years of industry experience in the Automotive Electronics Industry. Dr. Wilhelm is familiar with automotive electronic component technology and the supply-line management required not only producing suitable automotive components, but supervising the R&D, advanced engineering, forward technology development, sales, and product line management process from OEM to customer. 

Dr. Wilhelm has worked in various technical and leadership roles to develop new products and complex systems from invention to production using both internal invention/development and external partnerships to achieve world-class automotive systems worldwide. In 2001, Dr. Wilhelm founded and established an automotive electronics consultancy focused both on automotive electronics suppliers doing business in North America and also support for expert witness litigation. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Wilhelm works with both plaintiffs & defendants and their law firms in supporting claim construction, assisting with various expert reports and IPR documents, and providing appropriate depositions and court testimony. 

Automotive Areas of Expertise:

• Instrument Clusters
• Automotive Primary and Secondary Displays
• Center Stack Displays and Subassemblies
• Human Factor Design & Guidelines
• Automotive User Interfaces
• Automotive Sensors & Transducers
• Telematics Systems
• Infotainment Systems
• On-board & Off-board Diagnostics and Prognostics
• Complex Safety Systems
• Automotive Cameras & Multi Camera Vision Systems

View Dr. Wilhelm's Consulting Profile.

Jamie Chapman, PhD, provides more than 35 years of broad technical, engineering, operational and economic expertise in the areas of Wind Turbines and Power Conversion Systems.  Service as Expert Witness and Consulting Expert to law firms and agencies.  From 2004-2010, Dr. Chapman served as Associate Director of the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University.  As part of the Senior Research Faculty, he was a principal in achieving $10 million in external funding to implement a wind energy research and education program.  Dr. Chapman delivered graduate-level courses on wind turbine design, control, grid interface and economics. He initiated Texas Tech's program on the integration of wind turbines with desalination systems.  Dr. Chapman provides national and international Expert Witness services in Patent, System Performance, Design and Manufacturing Defects.  In addition to his broad technical background, Dr. Chapman is an excellent communicator, orally and in writing, of sophisticated and complex technological concepts.  Currently the principal at Time-Variable Systems LLC, Texas and Hawaii, Dr. Chapman's focus and areas of expertise include:  

• Variable-Speed Wind Turbines Employing Power Electronics
• Marine Hydrokinetic Power Conversion Systems
• Energy Storage Systems
• Megawatt-scale Power Processing and Control via Power Electronics 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Q3UAuB4AAAAJ&hl=en 

View Dr. Chapman's Consulting Profile.

Rod Bergen is an Expert Witness and Consultant in the Design & Installation of Audio / Video Systems (home theater, boardrooms, etc) & related System Control Applications. He has managed the design & installation of residential & commercial electrical & related applications since 1975. Mr. Bergen is an experienced Expert witness, familiar with depositions & trial testimony. Degrees & Licenses: BSEE, Reg. Prof. Engr. (Control Syst.), Lic. Calif Contractor (Gen'I, Elect, HVAC & Plumb). Areas of Expertise:

• Evaluation of Electrical System Performance
• Installation Defects
• Wiring Problems
• Design Deficiencies
• Incident Reconstruction

View Equine Behavior Expert Witness Profile View Solar Energy Expert Witness Profile.

Christopher M. Daft, PhD, is an award winning, Oxford Educated Materials Scientist whose areas of expertise include medical imaging, electronics, semiconductors, medical devices, sensors, MEMS, signal processing, and image processing. A serial inventor who holds 23 United States Patents with several pending, Dr. Daft has diverse industry experience including multi-nationals such as GE, Medtronic, Fujifilm, Samsung, and Siemens as well as several start-ups. He is a well-published winner of grants from the National Institute of Health. Dr. Daft has been an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE ) Senior Member since 2004. He has three years of experience teaching electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois. Dr. Daft holds a BA and MA in Physics from Oxford University as well as Doctorate from Oxford in Materials Science.

Litigation Support - Dr. Daft provides litigation support in the areas of Intellectual Property and Medical Devices including Imaging, particularly Medical, Patents, Minimally Invasive Surgical Guidance, and more. His experience includes a variety of cases in the areas of wearable electronics, imaging systems, and surgical technology. Dr. Daft has extensive deposition and trial testimony experience.

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Christopher Daft's Consulting Profile.

POWERPLANT Specialists, LLC., (PPC) is a technical services company providing highly specialized support services for Industrial Power Generation Systems, Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants. PPC specializes in Design, Performance, Forensics, Construction, Design Defects, Cost Analysis for Lost Operations, Maintenance, and Repair. PPC has extensive international experience and is OSHA Lockout / Tagout Certified. Areas of Expertise

• Power Generation
• Marine Propulsion - Conventional / Alternative Fueled Systems
• Microturbines
• Boilers
• Industrial Gas Turbines
• Diesel Engines
• Cogeneration
• Geothermal
• Landfill
• Digester Gas
• Wind and Solar Powered Generation Systems

Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a technology leader with 25+ years of experience in R&D and engineering management in both academia and industry, and a seasoned expert witness with a perfect success record.

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. He 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).

He has significant experience as an expert witness in patent infringement and product liability cases in the automotive and telecommunication areas; 100% of his cases resulted in a win or a very favorable settlement for his clients. In 2017, he was the lead expert witness in a case that resulted in a $25M jury award for his clients; this decision was later upheld on appeal. His deep technical expertise allows 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 internalize in order to comprehend the essence of the case.  His 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.

View Dr. Kanellakopoulos's Consulting Profile.

Kristopher Linstrom, PE, is an Electrical Engineer who has spent his career working in Control System Design, and additionally had an early background in residential and commercial electrical systems. Mr. Linstrom is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Nebraska and, since 2005, has served as Founder and Chief Engineer, with partner and fellow Professional Engineer, John Boye PhD.

Mr. Linstrom has pursued his interests in systems engineering, focusing primarily on the use of Data Mining Techniques to model, predict and understand the world around us. In particular, applying neural networks, signal processing and control to dynamic systems. Industries served include Transportation, Robotics, Medical, Environmental, Forensic Engineering, and Insurance.

Litigation Support - Among other research and development projects and consulting, Mr. Linstrom provides electrical engineering services, technical expertise, investigative services, and intellectual property evaluation. His services include thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Forensic Areas of Expertise:

Select Expert Witness Projects:

• Semi-tractor-trailer truck battery fire causing vehicle destruction;
• Gravel pit accident involving a worker being electrocuted from a sand sifting machine;
• Residential house fire when a worker used an arc welder to thaw water pipes in the neighborhood;
• Cherry picker lift malfunction accident involving injury of a maintenance worker;
• Employee injury from electrocution while operating a milkshake machine at a fast food establishment. 

Matthew J. Hartley is a noted expert in Lighting, Lighting Design, Product Development, AGI32, and Photometry He has been in the Lighting Industry since 1995. In that time, he has held positions in design, product management, customer service, and design engineering. Mr. Hartley has been employed by manufacturers, lighting software companies, and lighting agencies. He has immersed himself in different facets of the industry including indoor and outdoor lighting, safety and security, lighting and human health, and lighting standards. 

Mr. Hartley has been involved with several standard writing committees within the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, producing over six standard documents. Since 1999, he has taught Lighting and Lighting Design to diverse groups, from students to seasoned lighting professionals. 

Litigation Support - With such diverse experience, Matthew Hartley brings a unique perspective to the legal industry. His has field experience with commissioning, field survey and verification, and troubleshooting of field designs and equipment issues. Mr. Hartley's services are available nationwide to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include site reviews, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

View Matthew Hartley's Consulting Profile.

John Hatcher is an industry leader in Building Systems Engineering including, Security, Building Automation Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Intelligent Building Concepts and Commissioining. He has worked on some of the most prestigious facilities in the world including the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Russia, India and Southeast Asia. 

Security Expertise:

• Access Control
• CCTV Surveillance
• Emergency Communications
• Operations
• Risk Assessments

Building Automation Expertise:

• Energy Management
• HVAC Controls
• Operations
• MEP Commissioning

Other Systems Expertise:

• Fire Alarm
• Telecommunication
• Intelligent Buildings

Prof. Makarand (Mark) Hastak, PhD, PE, CCP, CRIS, is the Professor and the Dernlan Family Head of Construction Engineering and Management as well as Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Dr. Hastak has been involved with the construction industry for the past 33 years providing his expertise through consulting, research, teaching, and service to the industry.  Dr. Hastak is a world renowned expert in the area of construction engineering and management including process improvement, disaster risk reduction, resilience and capacity building, infrastructure management, intelligent planning for the built environment, cost control, project management decision-making, risk management, and strategic planning.  Dr. Hastak is a Professional Engineer (PE), a Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS), and a Certified Cost Professional (CCP). He  has worked on numerous projects sponsored by the Construction Industry Institute (CII), NSF, State DOTs, and City Agencies.

Dr. Hastak  has authored over 200 publications on process improvement, project controls, capital rehabilitation planning, strategic planning, and decision-making. He has co-authored a widely used book on Infrastructure Planning, Engineering, and Economics (McGraw-Hill 2006 and 2015). Dr. Hastak served on the Education Board of the Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering (2004-2016). He was Editor for two AACE books, the Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering (6th Ed. 2015) and the CCP Certification Study Guide (2nd Ed. 2016). He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering (2009-2016). 

Dr. Hastak has given over 40 keynotes and invited lectures around the world. As a prominent educator and consultant, he also engages in developing training material and workshops as well as regularly teaching professional courses for the A/E/C industry. His services include consultation, on-site investigation, data collection, assessment, and reporting. He has completed the 30-Hour OSHA Hazard Recognition Training for the Construction Industry 

Dr. Hastak Lectures at the 2015 International Conference on Building Resilience

Litigation Support - Dr. Hastak offers expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He has served as an Expert Witness on six cases since 2017 and was deposed on two plus one evidence deposition. His services include case reviews, written reports, depositions, arbitrations, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Hastak's Consulting Profile.

Evidence Solutions, Inc. (ESI) is a premier Data and Information Forensics company established in 1982 to help clients obtain, understand, and utilize all the data and information available to them.  We can analyze cell phones, computers, hard drives, EDRs, reconstruct accidents, provide trucking standard of care consulting, recover digital data, and provide expert witness testimony in our many areas of expertise. Our experts can help you understand what needs to be done, what should have been done, and what to do next.  Call us today so we can help you!

Litigation Support - Evidence Solutions' team of expert witnesses provide litigation services in digital forensics, auto and truck accidents, accident reconstruction, EDR forensics, sports injury, police standards and policies, CMV standards, Greek fraternity issues, product failure analysis, and medical record recovery and analysis.  No matter how complex the case, they can help you discover what happened and present it in a way that everyone can understand.

Areas of Expertise:

 Featured ESI Experts:

John Ross - Commercial Motor Vehicle - Heavy Vehicle - Truck Driving Standard of Care Expert Witness

John Ross has been driving commercial vehicles professionally since 1993 and boasts a blemish-free, no violations record. His experience includes owner/operator, safety director, and compliance director. He has significant experience in safely transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) including oil field operations and transportation. John also has significant experience in loading, unloading, and load securement. 

Expertise: Commercial Vehicles (18 Wheeler), Commercial Vehicle Safety Facilitator, Tractor-Trailer Inspection, CMV Operations, HAZMAT Handling, HAZMAT Driving, Tractor Maintenance, Trailer Maintenance, Professional Driving, Standard of Care Expert, Trailer Loading and Unloading Safety, Truck Driver Actions, Truck Driver Responsibilities, Driver Qualifications, Driver Training, Federal Trucking Regulations (FMCSRs), State Trucking Regulations, Driver Training Instructor, Double & Triple Trailer Driving, Trucking Industry Safety Standards, Loading and Unloading of Hazardous Liquid Safety, Oil Field Heavy Trucking Expertise, Electronic Logs / Electronic Logging

Expertise: General Aviation Repair, FAA UAS Pilot (Unmanned Aerial Systems), Commercial Single Engine/Instrument Rating, Commercial Multi-Engine / Instrument Rating, Land Instrument Training, International Aircraft Acquisition, Airplane Paint and Interior Refitting, Photo and Video Marketing of Aircraft, Aviation Maintenance and Services, Aircraft Sales, General Aviation Pilot Standard of Care, Ultralight Instructor, Maintenance Record Keeping Requirements, Person-Machine-Environment Interface

Daniel J. Brown - Law Enforcement Standard of Care Expert Witness

Daniel J. Brown served in the Law Enforcement profession for nearly 22 years, with close to 28 years of combined policing and military service. He is a seasoned professional with proven leadership skills. He helped establish a municipal police department from inception and used this knowledge to re-build two different fledgling police departments as a police chief. Mr. Brown is a decorated military veteran of two branches of service, holds a graduate-level education, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. His experience in law enforcement ranges from municipal, county, tribal, and military. He is also a graduate of the 267th Session of the FBI National Academy.

Expertise: Community Policing, Preventing Violence through Community Policing, Major Crimes Investigation, Police Policy and Procedure, Increasing Department Productivity, Municipal, County, Tribal and Military Law Enforcement, Threat Assessment and Management, Enhancing Community Trust, Intelligence Led Policing, School Resource Officers Management, Arizona Peace Officers, Advanced Accident Investigations, Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country, Firearms Instruction

View Evidence Solutions, Inc,'s Consulting Profile.

James Parker has over 35 years of relevant industry experience specializing in Electronic Security Systems & Sensors, Electronics R&D, and New Product Development. He has in-depth knowledge of electronic product design in both Wired and Wireless Technologies and outstanding knowledge of Environmental and False Alarm Immunity. Products, such as alarm systems, that Mr. Parker led the design of, have an installed base in the millions. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Parker provides Patent Litigation support to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense and is experienced with civil liability, criminal and patent litigation, including Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs). He has the ability to explain complex technical material in a straight forward manner. Mr. Parker's past clients include Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Fish & Richardson PC, Alarm.com, 2GIG Technologies, and Nest Labs. His services are available nationally and internationally. 

Areas of Expertise:

Background - Mr. Parker is the Past Vice President of Engineering for Digital Security Controls Ltd. (DSC), a leading global manufacturer of electronic security systems and components with sales exceeding $400 million annually. He is currently the President at EE-Systems Group Inc. Canada (R&D) where he is responsible for overseeing new product and business development. A prolific inventor, Mr. Parker has been granted over 25 unique patents with approximately 100 patent documents published worldwide. 

View James Parker's Consulting Profile.

Mark McFarland, PE, is a licensed Electrical Engineer and Statistician with over 20 years of extensive education and experience in electrical engineering, telecommunications, wireless, and applied research. He is currently the CEO of Discovery Engineering, as well as a communications researcher at the US Department of Commerce in Boulder, CO.  His practice areas include:

  Electrical Engineering - Telecommunications - Wireless - Electronics - Failure Analysis

Mr. McFarland is published in several national and international peer-reviewed journals and is a recognized expert by city, state and federal governments. He has been a speaker at a number of national and international technical conferences. He has performed investigations into electrical, electronic, and communications systems involving design, use, defects, equipment breakdown, and malfunctions for government, commercial, research, and liability matters.

Litigation Support - Mr. McFarland consults on cases that require the evaluation and analysis of electrical, telecommunications, wireless, and electronic systems, and other technologies.  His expert witness and analytic services are available to legal, insurance, business, industry, and government clients. Mr. McFarland provides thorough reporting, depositions, and testimony services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Design, Analysis, and Testing Expertise: 

View Discovery Engineering's Consulting Profile.

Harry Direen, PhD, PE has over 30 years of experience as an engineer Designing and Developing Systems in the Electronics and Software Industry. He has taught engineering courses at the US Air Force Academy and at the University of Colorado. Dr. Direen currently works with a research group at the US Air Force Academy developing control systems and image processing using GPGPUs for UAVs. An inventor, he holds 3 United States patents.

Litigation Support - Dr. Direen has significant experience as an expert witness supporting counsel and testifying in complex patent infringement cases. He has a broad base of knowledge in electronic and software systems gained from a long career developing a wide range of products and systems. His litigation experience also includes encryption / decryption methods associated with databases and signal processing. Dr. Direen has reverse engineered a variety of complex systems over the years, including: media players, modems, modem compression algorithms, coriolis mass flow meters, database systems, and a range of other products to support patent infringement cases generating detailed claim charts and writing expert reports to demonstrate infringement. He has successfully discovered and analyzed complex digital signal processing algorithms and pertinent operations within these products. Dr. Direen's expertise is available to counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant. He is highly proficient in explaining complex systems to laymen.

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Direen's Consulting Profile.