Documents / Handwriting / Recordings Examination & Analysis Expert Witnesses: 18

Richard T. Picciochi is a Forensic Handwriting and  Document Examiner with over thirty five years of experience in the New York City Police Department Crime Laboratory and in private practice. He is retired from the NYPD Forensic Investigation Division where he was a Detective, Document Examiner and the Technical Supervisor of the Questioned Document Unit. In the course of his career he has examined thousands of disputed signature, handwriting and document cases, participated in numerous high profile investigations and testified in trials including the New York City  "Zodiac" homicides and the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Mr. Picciochi possesses a background that integrates the natural sciences, forensic sciences and law enforcement investigations. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science and has received extensive specialized training in handwriting and document analysis by the NYPD, the FBI and the United States Secret Service.

Mr. Picciochi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE) and was awarded certification upon completion of comprehensive written, practical and oral examinations. He is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Association for Identification.

Mr. Picciochi specializes in the examination of signatures and has testified in state, federal and international courts. He will accept civil, criminal and administrative cases and offers his services to both Plaintiff and Defense attorneys.

Handwriting Identification and Discrimination

Signature Comparison

Techniques for Distinguishing Forged Signatures

Disguised Handwriting

Altered Numbers

Anonymous Writing

Factors that Affect Writing

AMFS is the nation's leading provider of medical expert witnesses. We maintain a network of thousands of actively practicing, board-certified physician medical experts as well as expert witnesses in all other health care related fields. Since 1990 we have provided medical expert witnesses to thousands of attorneys in thousands of cases, including medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, criminal and other matters. Contact AMFS now for a free case analysis with our team of U.S. based Medical Directors.

• 6,000 Medical Experts in 250 Specialties
• Active Practice Physicians with Legal Experience
• Free Attorney Consultations
• Flat fee Initial Case Reviews
• Medical Record Review & Testimony
• Independent Medical Examinations (IME) & Autopsies
• Essential Affidavits & Reporting 
• Medical Record Indexing and Chronology Service
• Investigative Tools for Expert Witness Analysis

For attorney inquiries, please contact us at inquiries@amfs.com

SERVICES: Audio and video recording authentication, enhancement, transcription, and analysis, including body worn camera and security video recordings. Acoustic forensic analysis, including audibility of warning signals, speech - voice comparison, and gunshot - weapon recording analysis (e.g., Taser, ShotSpotter).  Audio technology and patent expert witness/consultant. Forensic musicology analysis. Forensic field recording and analysis per ANSI and recognized standards.

EXPERTISE: Consultation in over 800 audio-video and acoustic forensic cases since 1987. Expert testimony over eighty times, in U.S. Federal and State courts including the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), and courts in Canada and International arbitration panels (World Bank-ICSID).

DEGREES/MEMBERSHIPS: Ph.D. UC San Diego (Computer Audio) 1987; Fellow, Audio Engineering Society (AES); Member, Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists (SFES), Acoustical Society of America (ASA).

CSTI Acoustics offers professional consulting services in acoustics and noise and vibration control to engineering firms, industrial companies, developers, architects, churches, private owners, attorneys, and government entities. Both graduates of MIT, Arno Bommer and Bob Bruce have been working together since the early 1980s. Projects have been performed throughout the US including Alaska and Hawaii, and in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Trinidad, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico, England, Scotland, Germany, and Qatar.

Michael T. Motley, Ph.D. has over thirty-five years of experience in the fields of Communication & Psycholinguistics. Dr. Motley serves as an expert witness for opinions on the  clarity, lack of clarity, and most likely interpretation of common messages such as  warning labels, instructions, advertising, contracts, waivers, and so forth. He has served on over 30 cases; about 2/3 for plaintiff and 1/3 for defense. Dr. Motley is a Professor Emeritus of Communication at the University of California at Davis. He has authored almost 200 books, articles, and research papers in communication and psycholinguistics. He has won eighteen excellence awards for his research and was recognized as among the "Top 1%" of communication scholars of the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. Areas of Expertise:

• Communication Messages: Meaning, Ambiguity, Likely and Alternate Interpretations, Communicative Intention
• Adequacy/Inadequacy of Messages: Product Warnings, Instructions, Waivers, Advertisements
• Male / Female Misunderstandings: Sexual Consent/Resistance, Date Rape

Services Offered:

• Expert testimony & Consultation
• Opinion on Adequacy of Communication Messages
• Opinion on Likely Consumer Interpretation of Warnings, Instructions, Advertising
• Opinion on Likely Intrepretation of Sexual Resistance/Consent Messages and Behaviors
• Social-scientific testing of expert opinion (his and others')

View Consulting Profile.

Dr. Ron Martinelli, PhD, CMI-V, is a nationally renowned Forensic Criminologist and a federal/state courts qualified law enforcement and premises liability expert who is also a Certified Medical Investigator (physician's level). He is also a Certified Suicide Investigator. 

Dr. Martinelli directs the nation's only Forensic Death Investigations & Independent Review Team of 26 law enforcement, forensic and medical experts and specializes in officer-involved death cases, civilian self-defense shooting cases and premises liability/security cases. He is a forensic/law enforcement expert to the U.S. Department of Justice, several State Attorney Generals' Offices, numerous major municipalities and nationally prominent private law firms specializing in wrongful death, civil rights and premises liability. 

Dr. Martinelli is the prevailing expert in over 90% of his retained cases. He has saved defendants over $300M and earned plaintiffs over $160 million in jury verdicts and settlements since 2004. He is the media's go-to forensic expert for FOX News, One America News Network, CNN, HLN, Sky News, BBC, NPR, and the History & Discovery Channels. Dr. Martinelli is skilled in crime scene reconstruction, forensics, applied sciences, human factors, psycho-medical emergencies and premises liability and security cases. His unique and extensive field experience, combined his academic and scientific credentials, excellent written reports and persuasive testimony, make him a very appealing expert to attorneys and juries alike.

Areas of Expertise:

• Arrests
• Search & Seizure
• Use of Force / Excessive Force - All Levels and Weaponry
• Officer Involved Shootings(OIS)
• In-Custody Deaths
• Criminal Investigations
• Law Enforcement & Corrections Practices, Training & Supervision
• Adult & Juvenile Corrections
• Law Enforcement Negligence
• Civilian Self-Defense, Premises Liability, Security, Foreseeable Harm
• Insurance Cases
• COVID Detentions & Arrests

Focal Forensics is an award-winning Media Forensic service trusted by private organizations, lawyers, school districts, and law enforcement personnel. Focal Forensics specializes in Audio, Video, and Image Authentication, Enhancement, and Redaction services.

With over 700+ satisfied clients and more than 5800+ videos processed, Focal Forensics is a leader in media forensic services and has a strong reputation as a secure, trustworthy, and reliable company. Based out of Denver Colorado, the employees at Focal Forensics have extensive training and hold multiple certifications in forensic video analysis and graduate degrees in media forensics. Digital media evidence can be extremely complex work. We believe it's important to hire trained experts who understand how to properly handle and present sensitive digital evidence.

Services:

Professional Experience: Certified forensic video evidence technician specializing in audio and video forensic requests. Honors graduate from The National Center for Media Forensics. Over 10 years experience in comparison and evaluation of digital media evidence in legal matters. Certified Body-worn camera administrator, instructor, and part 107 drone pilot for a Colorado police department.

Licenses:

• Certified Forensic Video Technician
• Body Worn Camera Hardware Certification
• Digital Evidence Management Certification
• Video Redaction Certification
• Multimedia evidence processing

Affiliations:

• LEVA - Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association International, Inc. - Member
• AES - (Audio Engineering Society) - Associate Member
• IAI - (International Association for Identification) - MemberAAFS - (American Academy of Forensic Science's) - Member

More Information

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Forensic Audio Services
Forensic Video Services
Forensic Image Services
About Us

Katherine Mainolfi Koppenhaver, a Board Certified Document Examiner, has been a document examiner for the past 40 years and has testified in court and deposition over 550 times. She has an international clientele. Her book, "Attorney's Guide to Document Examination," was published by Greenwood Press in 2002. Humana Press has recently released her latest book, Forensic Document Examination, Principles and Practice. She has a  support staff enabling her to handle cases in a timely manner.

Contact Forensic Document Examiners for:

• Examination of Questioned Documents
• List of 101 Places to Look for Handwriting Specimens
• Request Writing Forms and Instructions
• List of Publications
• Fee Agreement Contract
• Fee Schedule
• References

We have offices throughout the US and have worked on more than 3,000 cases in 41 states and multiple countries. There is a reason Garrett Discovery is hired by the top trial attorneys in the nation. 

Garrett Discovery has a team of expert witnesses providing Litigation Services in Digital Forensics, Auto and Truck Accidents, Intellectual Property Theft, Mobile Forensics, EDR Forensics, Cell Tower, Call Detail Records, Electronic Medical Record Analysis, and Medical Malpractice Forensics. No matter how complex the case, they can help you discover what happened and present it in a way that everyone can understand. 

Our clients range from the largest law firms to private firms, large corporations, the Department of Defense, government agencies, advocacy groups, the DOJ to the innocence projects. 

Garrett Discovery is a large firm that has experts in the following concentrations: 

Global Forensic Services, LLC (GFS) is a Forensic Consulting, Laboratory and Investigative Firm offering over 44 years of experience and training in a wide range of forensic science and private investigation disciplines.

Larry Stewart has personally examined tens of thousands of individual items of evidence from sources such as state, local, and federal agencies (e.g. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Central Intelligence Agency, and others), and foreign governments. On several occasions he has examined cases involving international disputes between governments. 

Mr. Stewart has testified as an Expert Witness in state, federal and military courts of law, as well as in foreign court systems to include; Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He has also testified at The Hague in the Netherlands and three times as an expert before the U.S. Congress. 

Areas of Expertise Include:

Laurie Hoeltzel, PhDc, a Forensic Document Examiner, has studied handwriting examination and apprenticed under some of the leading court-qualified Forensic Document Experts in the United States. She spent 11 years serving her country in the United States Air Force, including three tours of duty in Iraq, while obtaining a Bachelors degree and Document Examination Certificates. Laurie Hoeltzel has been 100% court-qualified and her testimony has always been allowed.

Litigation Support - Ms. Hoeltzel has reviewed numerous signatures and handwritings, examined case documents, and rendered an opinion on cases in AZ, AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MI, MD, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WA, Washington D.C.; Montreal & Quebec Canada; Freeport & Nassau, Bahamas. She is court-qualified and attorney-recommended. With over 20 years of experience, she is available for depositions and court testimony when necessary, Ms. Hoeltzel offers her expertise to counsel for both plaintiff and defendant NATIONWIDE!

Areas of Specific Training:

• Handwriting Identification
• Signature Comparison
• Distinguishing Forged Signatures Techniques
• Disguised Handwriting
• Altered Numbers
• Anonymous Writing
• Factors that Affect Writing

Disputed Documents or Signatures Analysis on: Wills, checks, contracts, deeds, account ledgers, mortgages, loans, notary disputes, and medical records. Investigation and Analysis for: Questioned signatures, suspect documents, forgeries, identity theft, robo-signing, anonymous letters, bond authentication, alterations, obliterations, erasures, typewritten documents, altered medical records, graffiti, handwritten numbers, suicide notes, and computerized and handwritten documents.

• Examination of Handwriting, Signatures, Fraudulent Additions and Alterations
• Approximate Age of Documents
• Photo Static and Scanned Transplantations of Signatures
• Traced, Freehand and Impersonation Forgeries
• Denial of Normal or Disguised (Changed) Signatures
• Anonymous Letters
• Body Writings on Account Opening Forms
• Denial of Withdrawal of Money
• Development of Latent Finger or Palm Prints from the Cheques
• Bank Documents by Ninhydrin (Chemical) Method Used for Impression Sweat on Paper
• Opinions on Folds
• Sequence of Strokes and Distinction Between Inks
• Insertion of Typed or Printed Matter
• Fake Currency Notes
• Credit Card Forgeries
• Identification of Computer Typed Documents
• Fake Seals and Rubber Stamps

Principle Forensics is a national Media Forensics Laboratory. They Recover, Authenticate, Enhance, and Analyze all types of recorded evidence, including Video, Audio, and Digital Images. Principle Forensics backs all their work with experienced, highly trained, expert testimony.

Nick Barreiro, BAC, AVFA, DIVRT, Chief Forensic Analyst, is a Certified Audio Video Forensic Analyst and an FBI-trained member of the Digital Imaging and Video Recovery Team. During his 15-year law enforcement career, he was a patrol sergeant, technology project manager, media forensics expert, detective, digital evidence specialist, and patrol officer. Prior to his career in law enforcement, Mr. Barreiro was an audio engineer and producer in California. He also worked for KBMB radio in Sacramento and has extensive experience and training in audio enhancement and analysis.

Litigation Support - Mr. Barreiro works with attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil or criminal matters in which Audio, Video, or Image Evidence plays a key role. He has tremendous technical knowledge and training, but also extensive experience on the witness stand.

Mr. Barreiro has enhanced and analyzed digital media from simple slip-and-fall cases and minor traffic accidents to complex investigations such as homicides and officer-involved shootings. He has testified 100s of times in criminal cases, civil cases, arbitration, and depositions. A highly trained and experienced forensic analyst, he provides technically detailed and precise results with expedited turnaround times.

Video, Audio, and Image Forensics

Mike Wakshull is a civil and criminal court-qualified document examiner who partners with legal clients to dissect the evidence presented in handwritten and computer-generated questioned documents. His valid approach often produces winning arguments during the trial. Wakshull applies his scientific training to examine questioned documents which is a court requirement. He uses generally accepted practices such as SWGDOC and ANSI/ASB standards. His laboratory is well-equipped with high powered digital microscopes, VSC80, ESDA, high quality digital scanners, and software. He has built a large forensic reference library. Wakshull is skilled at creating and explaining complex exhibits in easy-to-understand language and pictures. His courtroom approach is to teach and engage the trial participants—opposing attorney, judge and jury.

Mike Wakshull holds a graduate school certificate in Forensic Document Examination. Since 2010 Mr. Wakshull has worked and studied in the science and discipline of Document Examination and Handwriting Analysis. He is one of only a handful of forensic document examiners with graduate school training in the science of forensic document examination. His opinion is always based on sound fundamentals of evidence. Mr. Wakshull has spoken at International and local conferences and seminars and also holds professional certifications that bring unique skills to your case. As a Certified Quality Engineer, Mr. Wakshull studied the science of variability and applied this to the analysis of handwriting and documents. As a Certified Information Systems Auditor, he applies his knowledge of information systems and technology to the analysis of documents.

Q9 Consulting, Inc. Has both an extensive research library and laboratory. Q9 Consulting, Inc. serves Southern California counties of Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, and surrounding regions. Mike has worked cases from 29 states and five countries. Work is accepted from all other locations.

Areas of Expertise:

View Mike Wakshull's Consulting Profile.