Design Engineering Expert Witnesses: 25

Karl L. Linck, PE, is an expert in Food Industry Production and Packaging with over 45 years of experience. A Professional Engineer in WI, IL, AZ, CA, FL, and ID, his main area of experience is with Sanitary Systems and their Design in Hygienic Food Processing. 

Litigation Support -  Along with design of many food processing / packaging systems and engineering department development and leadership, Mr. Linck has provided expert witness testimony for cases involving IP and Contract issues. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include site inspection, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Sanitary Food Systems Food Processing Systems Food Processing Equipment Facility Sanitary / Hygienic Design Facility Automation Site Selection

Equipment and Engineering Contracting Packaging Material Engineering Packaging / Production Line Efficiency MAP - Modified Atmosphere Packaging Food Packaging Systems / Equipment Food Production Operations

 Background Experience - Much of Mr. Linck's career has focused around dry, oils, refrigerated and frozen products in the pasta, natural cheese, processed cheese, appetizer, and entrée areas. He has led strategic growth of engineering functions, including procurement and customization of production equipment, production line layouts and facilities design, automation, packaging material engineering, site selection, and support engineering functions for all production operations and distribution/office needs.  

From 1992 to 2019, Mr. Linck served as Vice President of Engineering for Sargento Foods, Inc., where he provided key technical direction and management critical to growth and assembled the engineering department to support innovation, improvements, and production support with proper engineering/technician skill sets, among other duties.

Mr. Linck is currently the sole proprietor and engineer for Karl Linck, Technical Consulting, where he specializes in engineering educational material development, manufacturing consulting, expert witness work, and expert advice for the food industry.

Mayotte Design & Engineering, PC (MD&E) is a Civil and Environmental Engineering Design Firm based in East Lansing, Michigan.  Since 2003, MD&E has proved itself a highly responsive design, advocate and risk management partner for clients in the energy, automotive, commercial printing, textile, pharmaceutical, chemical, real estate, and legal industries.  MD&E offers a variety of services, specializing in the design and engineering of treatment solutions for wastewater, groundwater, stormwater and contaminated soil, sediment, and air.

MD&E personnel assist clientele across the US and have completed projects in: Alabama; Arizona; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas, Massachusetts; Michigan; Missouri, Mississippi; Nevada; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Oregon; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Washington, Wisconsin; Wyoming; British Columbia; Ontario; Quebec; Brazil; China; Czech Republic; Italy; and Mexico.

Timothy J. Mayotte, PhD, CPG, PE, President at MD&E, is an Environmental Engineer with over 35 years of experience in his field. He has provided litigation support and served as an expert witness on over a dozen cases dating back to the mid-1980s. Dr. Mayotte's experience includes providing testimony during numerous depositions and in open court. He has offered expertise in the following areas:

• Hydrodynamics of natural and engineered systems.
• Contaminant fate and transport in the environment.
• Biological and physicochemical process design for the treatment/remediation of water, wastewater, soil, and sludge.
• Industrial wastewater treatment.
• Management and inspection of commercial and residential construction and demolition projects, including due diligence services for property transactions.

Mechanical Solutions, Inc. (MSI) performs litigation support through its extensive engineering capabilities, and when required, through expert testimony. MSI uses advanced finite element analysis (FEA), rotor dynamics, and torsional analysis tools, and uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze 3-D steady or unsteady fluid flows and heat transfer, enabled by its 230 high speed processor supercomputers.

MSI also uses top-of-the-line testing equipment, including multichannel FFT analyzers (up to 200 simultaneous channels) to accurately read the outputs of various vibration, stress/strain, and pressure sensors, as a function of both time and frequency. As a unique additional test capability, MSI uses motion magnification video cameras to amplify and display scene vibration by 1000x. MSI uses calibrated exciters while equipment remains running, to locate structural, rotor, and acoustic natural frequency resonances as they exist at any particular operating point, without interfering with machinery operation. In addition, MSI performs stress, acoustic, dynamic pressure pulsation, electric current spectrum, and aero/hydraulic performance testing.

Areas of Expertise:

New Equipment Design Computer-aided Analysis Installed Equipment Field Testing and Problem Solution Broken Component (e.g. blades, disks, seals, bearings)  Forensic Analysis Pumps Compressors Fans Turbines

Motors Centrifugal and Positive Displacement (e.g. reciprocating) Configurations Hydraulic Turbine Generators Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines Land-based Gas or Steam Turbine Power Generation Systems Green Energy Power Industry Petrochemical Industry Paper Industry Water Resource Industry

Solving Challenges with Rotating Machinery Vibrations

William D. Marscher, PE, performs expert witnessing and engineering work in the field of Fluid Systems and their Rotating and Reciprocating Machinery, particularly large turbines, generators, compressors, and pumps. His typical work responsibilities include design, analysis, and testing of all types of plant machinery, as well as other types of fluid and mechanical systems. Mr. Marscher has background in various types of turbines (including hydraulic, steam, and gas), as well as various types of pumps, including centrifugal as well as positive displacement (e.g. reciprocating, gear, rotary, and screw).

Mr. Marscher's expert witnessing experience includes 27 cases over the course of his 50+ year career, for which he provided detailed engineering reports in support of the case. This legal support experience includes witnessing in front of tribunals four times, and testifying in Federal Court in four cases. He also has performed depositions 11 times. 

For the past 45 years, Mr. Marscher has been a voting member of the ASTM Fatigue Standards Committee E9, as well as the ASTM Wear & Erosion Standards Committee G2. He is also the past Board of Directors Chairman for the Machinery Failure Prevention Technology Society (MFPT), and has been active in the Vibration Institute. Mr. Marscher is a 23-year member of the Texas A&M Turbine-Pump Users Symposium Advisory Committee (essentially the Board of Directors for the Symposium). For ASME, he was Chair of the Predictive Maintenance committee and was Organizing and Presiding Chair of the 1993 RoCon Rotating Machinery Conference and the 1995 Tribology Conference.

Dr. Edward Bennett is MSI’s VP of Fluids Engineering.  Dr. Bennett graduated from the Naval Academy, following which he was a navy test pilot.  Later he received his PhD in Fluid Dynamics from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bennett has been a well-known leader in Fluid Dynamics and the Aero/hydrodynamic Design of Turbomachinery for the past thirty plus years.  

In 1995, Dr. Bennett founded ASC Turbo, a design house that combined the CFD software from Advanced Scientific Computing and specialized turbomachinery design software.  During this time, he worked on the development of BladeGen, a 3-dimensional turbomachinery blade geometry kernel, and also performed a key role design work that included the starter turbine and vapor cycle compressor for the F-22 Raptor fighter, several biomechanical cardiac pumps, a LOX rocket turbopump, as well as numerous more “conventional” turbomachinery designs. After this, he served as Director of Turbopumps for Gencorp Aerojet, and authored the hydraulic design methodology that is still in use by that organization.

At MSI, Dr. Bennett oversees fluid dynamic design and analysis of pumps, compressors, and turbines, including various sizes of hydroturbine generators.  This work includes detailed computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis, as well as test rig design, and flow loop/ wind tunnel validation testing.  Recently, he has supported major law firms with expert report writing and detailed two-phase flow unsteady CFD analysis of 100MW and 400 MW hydroturbines in the US and Canada.

Paul A. Boyadjis is Director of Rotating Machinery Analysis for MSI.  Mr. Boyadjis has a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University where he graduated summa cum laude.  He has over 35 years of diverse experience in the analysis and Design of Centrifugal Pumps and Pumping Systems, as well as Centrifugal Compressors. His specialty includes complex 3D solids modeling for stress and vibration analysis using advanced finite element techniques, and he has worked as a lead analytical engineer for major manufacturers. 

Mr. Boyadjis is also an expert at rotordynamics, and field testing. He has enjoyed participating as a Hydraulic Institute Standards Partner for over a decade, and became vice chair of its Vibration Committee, and was named Standards Partner of the Year in 2021.  Paul played a key role in various standards. 

Years ago, Mr. Mr. Boyadjis developed the solids modeling and advanced finite element analysis capabilities at the Government Marine Business unit of Ingersoll-Rand, and wrote many of the structural and vibration analysis procedures for that division. As mergers took place, he then transferred these analytical capabilities to the Research and Development group of Ingersoll-Dresser Pump and later Flowserve.

While with MSI, Mr. Boyadjis has conducted detailed 3D finite element analysis of failed casings and impellers, performing forensic investigations, and when necessary, providing successful design enhancements for industrial and municipal customers. He has directed or participated in many testing and troubleshooting projects, particularly for water and wastewater pumping systems.

View MSI's Consulting Profile.

Mari S. Truman, PE, has more than 40 years of experience in Orthopedic Product Design and Development. As Principal Engineer with her company, Orthobiomech, LLC, she acts as an R&D design and development consultant to the orthopaedic industry and an injury biomechanics and medical device forensic expert. Ms. Truman's design experience includes implants and instrumentation systems used to repair fractured bones, torn ligaments and/or to reconstruct spine, knee, wrist, hip, ankle, elbow, thumb based cmc, and other finger and toe joints for many of the USA based orthopaedic conglomerates and a few Asian, Australian and European firms. Having designed and developed implants and instruments used for both human joint reconstruction and skeletal trauma repair, Ms. Truman is named on 12 Orthopaedic Patents and frequently gives talks on implant design and injury biomechanics on topics such as: knee and thumb-based joint surfaces and kinematics, joint design, rapid prototyping, medical device design control, and injury biomechanics.

Litigation Support - Ms. Truman has been providing Forensic Impact and Injury Biomechanics and Orthopedic Biomechanics to the legal industry for over 15 years. She draws on her strong knowledge of FDA and ISO EN13485 compliant design control processes, failure modes and effects analysis, clinically relevant tissue loading, and design safety assurance, including device performance requirements and warnings, during her medical device litigation reviews. Ms. Truman has a strong knowledge of the production and quality assurance processes used in the manufacture, cleaning, and sterilization of medical devices and the effects of such processes on product performance.

Analysis of Traumatic Injuries Related To:

Falls and Fall Recovery Vehicular Collisions Assaults and Fights Projectile Impacts Occupation or Workplace

Failed Medical Implants Assistive Devices Orthotics Consumer Products Sports and Recreation, Occupational Overuse / Injury

View OrthoBioMech LLC's Consulting Profile.

R. Kevin Smith P.E., D.F.E. has been a specialist in Engineering Forensic Safety and Design for 44 years. He has consulted on over 1,000 matters nationwide. Mr. Smith is a registered professional engineer and holds a BSME and MMAE from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He is board certified forensic engineer through NAFE. He specialties include  Material Handling Equipment Safety, including lift trucks, dock safety, truck loading, conveyors, aerial work platforms, Construction Equipment Safety, Trucking Industry Safety including safe loading procedures and interactions at loading/unloading facilities, and Accident Reconstruction.

He is an active member of the committee that writes the Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks (ASME/ANSI B56.1) for over 40 years. He also serves on the B56.6 committee (rough terrain lift trucks) and the ANSI A92.5 and A92.6 subcommittees (self-propelled elevating work platforms), as well as the A92.20, A92.22, A92.22 series of ANSI standards for MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms).

 Litigation Support - Mr. Smith formerly worked for Triodyne, Inc. for over 15 years as a forensic engineer/principal engineer. As President of R. K. Smith Engineering Inc., for 28 years, he currently has a laboratory for examination and testing, and owns or has access to varied testing equipment and tools.He has testified at depositions and trials on several hundred matters. Mr. Smith has performed hundreds of investigations into product failures involving injury and property damage, and has reconstructed numerous accidents. His expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. Mr. Smith also was previously on the Adjunct Math faculty at Prairie State College for 13 years. 

Areas of Expertise:

Forklift Trucks Aerial Work Platform Lifts Product Testing Material Handling / Lifting / Rigging Equipment Accident Reconstruction Machine Guarding Safeguarding Warnings

Agricultural and Construction Equipment Skid Steer Loaders Stability Testing Loading Dock Safety Consumer Products / Testing OSHA Citations Codes & Standards Standard of Care in Design

View R. Kevin Smith's Consulting Profile.

Robert O. Peruzzi, PhD, PE, DFE is a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with a focus on electronic and electro-mechanical systems and mixed-signal integrated circuits (silicon chips). He provides expert witness services to both plaintiff and defense counsel in matters regarding intellectual property, patents, failure analysis, product liability, injuries, and product specifications. Areas of expertise include:

Electronic Design Behavioral Modeling and Verification Electro-Mechanical Systems Analog and Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits Systems-on-Chip Electrical Engineering Communications and Control Systems such as: Internet of Things (IOT) systems Audio amplifiers and recording systems Telephones, mobile phones, cell phones Voltage regulators, battery chargers, and Lithium-ion battery management systems Data transmitting/receiving systems such as serializer/de-serializers (SERDES) Power-management devices  Video systems  Radio transmitters/receivers and components such as amplifiers, filters, oscillators, frequency synthesizers and phase-locked loops HVAC controllers Traffic light control and emergency preemption systems Remote control systems for hobbyist aircraft and vehicles Pressure sensors for reading depth of fluid column Electrical equipment power and grounding

View Consulting Profile.

Christopher M. Daft, PhD, is an award winning, Oxford Educated scientist whose areas of expertise include medical imaging, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, medical devices, sensors, MEMS, signal processing, and image processing. He holds 23 United States Patents with 20 applications 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 has testified at trial 5 times and been deposed 15 times.

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, 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:

Design Engineering Electrical Engineering Electromagnetic Engineering Microelectronics Medical Imaging Electronics Semiconductors

Medical Devices Sensors Software Engineering MEMS Signal Processing Image Processing Physics

View Dr. Christopher Daft's Consulting Profile.

Mechanical Engineer - Turbomachinery Expert. Gas turbine engines, steam turbines, jet engines, compressors, pumps, expanders, generators, cogeneration, combustion equipment, diesel engines, and reciprocating compressors. 

Failure analysis, stress analysis, mechanical design, design analysis, troubleshooting, performance analysis, durability assessment. Access to metallurgical laboratory. Experienced Expert witness. 

Please see our Service List at https://sbkushnick.com/servicelist.pdf for a concise description.

Gregory L. Kelly is a Structural Expert with over 25 years of experience in the design, preservation, restoration, and construction of buildings and industrial structures. Mr. Kelly has teamed with major architectural and engineering institutions, including Columbia University and NYU, to teach classes and lead research teams studying novel building systems.

Litigation Support - Mr. Kelly specializes in areas such as forensic engineering, coastal design, historic preservation, and blast engineering. He provides an invaluable perspective on construction defects, disputes, and structural failures. His experience includes Structural Engineering for over 20 million square feet of new construction and building renovations and work with the New York City Green Codes Task Force to modernize the building code. 

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Engineering Construction Defect Claims Construction Disputes Professional Practice Claims (Errors & Omissions) Coastal and High Wind Design Protective Design Historic Preservation Sustainable Design Solar Energy

Green Tech Ventures Building Renovations Steel Structures Government Contracts Timber and Masonry Design-Build Fast-Track Power Generation and Industry Concrete Design and Construction Campus Scale Projects

Mr. Kelly actively engages with the community through teaching, speaking engagements, and collaboration with government agencies such as Mayor Bloomberg's Green Codes Task Force to shape policy and effect change. His work has been showcased in National Geographic, Scientific American, and various architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) industry publications. Mr. Kelly's portfolio includes structural engineering projects totaling 8 billion dollars in construction costs and over 20 million sq. ft. of floor area.

Thomas W. Caldwell, PE, has over 40 years of experience in Materials Research and Development, Process and Product Development, and Manufacturing Operations in the Precision Cast and Machined Products industry.

Mr. Caldwell has designed and manufactured components for consumer and industrial products, including safety-critical applications such as aircraft landing gear brakes, seat belt lockup devices, windshield wiper, and window lift motor systems. He has experience creating and guiding technology development and manufacturing partnerships in Europe and Asia, licensing and selling intellectual property and creating supply chains in China.

Mr. Caldwell has lectured in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, and India on manufacturing premium quality metal products and manufacturing processes, and was a technical paper peer reviewer for 20 years for the Society of Automotive Engineers. A United States patent holder, he has published peer reviewed research in electrochemistry and materials processing, and has written and spoken numerous times on the subject of Materials Selection.

Litigation Support - Thomas W. Caldwell, PE, is a testifying and consulting expert for both plaintiff and defense counsel. His cases involve product failure for ferrous and non-ferrous alloy products such as hand tools, recreational and exercise equipment, fire fighting apparatus, rotating industrial machinery, construction hardware, piping, and lighting fixtures. Mr. Caldwell utilizes destructive and non-destructive methods for insuring product integrity.

Areas of Expertise:

Design Engineering Materials Failure Analysis Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Metallurgy Power Tools Products Liability Design Defects

Manufacturing Defects Fitness for Use Equipment Operation and Maintenance Accident Reconstruction Material Selection Manufacturing Process Design and Scale Up Safety Component Product Quality Control Safety Component Quality Systems Management

View Thomas A. Caldwell's Consulting Profile.