Electro-Mechanical Engineering Expert Witnesses

Ole E. Haaland, PE, has thirty four years experience in Power Production, Design, Construction, and Commissioning, with 30+ years managing people and projects. Mr. Haaland's experience is in conventional, nuclear, and alternate fuel power plant mechanical and electrical systems. He has performed as Project Manager, Construction Manager, and Commissioning Manager for several Greenfield power projects.

Mr. Haaland held a senior reactor power operator's license and a number of senior engineering positions at the New York Power Authority prior to joining ANNA. Mr. Haaland received his BSME from the New York Institute of Technology and is a registered professional engineer in many states. He was recently elected to the EGSA Board of Directors for 2015-2017.

Litigation Support - Ole Haaland conducts root cause analysis investigations for counsel representing Plaintiff and Defense. When needed, he provides expert witness testimony for power plant design, construction, and operational failure issues and for parties involved in contract disputes.

Areas of Expertise:

Switchgear Voltage Regulators Turbine Generators Control Systems Hydro Generators Diesel Generators

Condensate Polishers Feed Water Heaters Main Condensers Moisture Separators Electrical Breaker Failures Operational Failures

View Ole Haaland's Consulting Profile.

B.E.C. Consulting, LLC was established in 1982. Since that time, we have provided top-level consulting engineering services and accident reconstruction to our clients; law firms, insurance companies, state and local agencies, manufacturing companies, and clients who are seeking product design analysis and other engineering related services. Our engineers represent a broad range of engineering disciplines which enables us to work on a variety of cases using the team approach. The teams at B.E.C are comprised of Engineers, Technical Specialists, Graphics Specialists, as well as Research and Administrative Personnel, so that each case is given personal attention and is handled efficiently and effectively. Our offices are located in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Venice working in almost every state in the United States, including Alaska. 

Areas of Expertise:

• All Areas of Accident Reconstruction - Including Automobile, Tractor-Trailer, Motorcycle/Bicycle & Pedestrian
• Engineering Consulting
• FARO 3-D Scanning
• Black Box Downloads
• Construction Zone / Roadside Safety
• Industrial Equipment
• Failure Analysis
• Product Design
• Product Development
• Material Handling System
• Biomechanical Analysis
• Slip / Trip / Fall
• Computer Animation, Electronic Graphics

Every aspect of our firm is designed to serve our clients needs; conference rooms for mediations and depositions, a research and testing lab, secured evidence storage, facilities for expert inspections, and easy access to airport and hotel facilities for our out-of-town clients. We are truly a full service engineering firm. Because of this team approach and a commitment to customer service, B.E.C. has attained regional and national recognition as a leader in forensic engineering services and new product development. This excellent example and tireless dedication to serving our client’s needs has resulted in a devoted client base and reputation second to none. 

Dr. Charles Benedict, P.E., founded Benedict Engineering Company in 1982 and our name has since changed to B.E.C. Consulting, LLC. He has over 35 years experience in the fields of product and machine design and analysis, vehicular accident reconstruction of all types, and product and system failure analysis. He has designed, developed, manufactured, and tested more than sixty different products and machine systems. Dr. Benedict is well respected in the fields of forensic engineering, product and machine system design and analysis and patenting.

Expertise:

Biomechanics Occupant Kinematics Vehicle Restraint Systems Vehicle Controllability Material Handling Patent Infringement

Automobile Accidents Pedestrian Accidents General Engineering Product Design Fire and Explosion Analysis Tractor / Trailer Accidents Electrical Issues

Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell is a Chartered Engineer who practices as an Arbitrator, Adjudicator and Expert for Determination. Geoffrey is the former Senior Partner of Consulting Mechanical and Electrical Engineers BHA Cromwell House.

A one time Chairman of the Expert Witness Society, Geoffrey Hartwell has experience giving evidence in court (in both civil and criminal matters) and in International Arbitration. He sometimes is retained as a Single Joint Expert or as a Tribunal Expert. His services are offered to both Plaintiff and Defense. Even when retained on behalf of a Client he, like all Experts, has an overriding responsibility to the Court or Tribunal.

After his early career in aerospace and nuclear energy, Geoffrey entered private practice in association with the late Leslie Heap and Gerald Lewis of Heap and Digby, Consulting Engineers, in 1969. While with them he designed water and sewage equipment and also the bascule moving machinery for the Lowestoft Bridge, in Suffolk. He practiced also as Beresford Hartwell and Associates and, in 1971 established a separate office in Wallington, South London.

In parallel with his design career, Geoffrey was first appointed as arbitrator in 1972 and his first foreign arbitration, an ICC appointment in Switzerland, took place later that year. He studied Law to Intermediate level and then transferred to the examinations of the Institute of Arbitrators (now Chartered) of which he became Chairman in 1996-1997 and for whom he taught in various countries on several courses, including the prestigious Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.

Technical Expertise:

Electrical Engineering and Design Mechanical Engineering and Design Instrumentation Automation and Computer Control Systems Maritime and Infrastructure Engineering Process Engineering Solid Waste Handling

Communications Manufacturing Computer Cartography Moving Bridges and Lock Gates Construction Project Management Nuclear Energy Water and Waste Water Treatment

Arbitration: Geoffrey Hartwell also acts as an arbitrator and adjudicator, as an expert mediator and conciliator, as an expert investigator and assessor for arbitral tribunals, and also as a Special Referee in the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man. His services have been required in the UK and internationally.

Dispute Boards: Geoffrey Hartwell has experience both as Member and as Chairman of Dispute Boards?. He has been a member of Dispute Boards, retained from the beginning of a project or, alternatively, appointed on an ad hoc basis when a problem arises, Dispute Adjudication Boards to determine a binding decision, and on Dispute Review Boards to make decisions that are advisory but not binding.

Adjudication: Similar to arbitration, Mr. Hartwell adjudicates domestic and international disputes which are only temporarily binding unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.

View Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell's Consulting Profile.

Brosz & Associates are Electrical Experts headed by President and C.E.O., Professor Helmut G. Brosz, B.A.Sc., D.B.A., F.A.A.F.S., P. ENG., Adjunct Professor at Ryerson University, Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Toronto. They provide a wide range of highly specialized Forensic Science and Engineering, Accident Reconstruction, Testing, Commissioning, and Technical and Scientific Services. 

Brosz & Associates staff of specialists and experts have completed over 5,200 assignments since 1970 ranging from electrical accidents and electrocutions to electrical power system investigation and testing of equipment failures including circuit breakers, motors, switchgear, generators, transformers and appliances. Their engineering facilities allow them to perform in-depth research, electrical testing, forensic laboratory testing, microscopy, macro photography and photographic documentation, X-Ray testing, infrared testing, high voltage testing, high current testing and more. Most of their testing equipment is portable and they are also capable of producing professional collages and scale models for reports, mediations, depositions and trial. Clients include insurance companies, legal firms, adjusters, risk managers, manufacturers, contractors, utilities, governments and individuals. 

Services Include:

• Cause and Origin Investigations
• Failure Analysis
• Loss Prevention and Mitigation
• Subrogation Support for the Insurance Industry
• Electrical Safety and Accident Prevention

Thomas H. Burtness, PE, is an Electrical Engineer specializing in both Electrical and Building Construction - equipment selection, specification, and installation (actually “working with the tools”), as well as cost control techniques.

Background - Mr. Burtness has 40+ years of experience in the design, specification, construction contract administration, installation, startup, and troubleshooting of electrical power, on-site generation, distribution, control, and instrumentation systems and equipment for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal occupancies. His experience also includes water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment plants, and military facilities.

Additional expertise includes Illumination Engineering for street, roadway, and area lighting including photometric footcandle requirements, calculations, field verification, equipment specifications, installation, and analysis of failure, glare, overlighting and underlighting.

Litigation Support - Since, 1981, Mr. Burtness has been providing forensic electrical engineering services to insurance companies and attorneys including accident and failure investigations, determination of cause and origin, litigation support, expert opinions, reports, and testimony. His services are available nationwide, with PE registration by comity available in most states.

Cases Involve:

Industrial Accidents Electrocution Personal Injury Fire Equipment and Machinery Failure

Failure of Safety Circuitry Grounding Lightning Damage and Fire Construction Defects / Contract Claims Design and Specification Disputes

View Thomas Burtness' Consulting Profile.

Chet L. Sandberg received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford. He is a professional engineer in the state of California and an IEEE Fellow.

Background Experience - Mr. Sandberg joined the Chemelex Division of Raychem Corporation where he managed technology projects for 30 years. He held various positions at Raychem including Engineer, Product Manager, Consumer Products Division Manager, and Chief Engineer. For the next 6 years, Mr. Sandberg managed the development of a downhole, self-regulating electrical heater technology for Shell Oil. In 2009, he founded C L Sandberg & Associates, a consultancy specializing in Energy Projects.

Mr. Sandberg is now associated with Electrical Energy Storage EPRI, ESA, Sandia, and PNNL, as well as providing due diligence expertise for venture capital and private equity companies on their technical prospective investments. He has been granted 30 United States Patents and has authored over 70 technical papers on energy usage, electric heat tracing, ground fault technology, fiber optics, sensor technology, and personal computers as design tools.

Litigation Support - Mr. Sandberg is a Heat Transfer Expert with successful litigation in Steam and Electrical Heat Tracing. He has written papers on thermal insulation, LNG tank protection, heavy oil production, and appliance heat transfer. He has court room experience, including testifying before the ITC in Washington DC. Mr. Sandberg is available to attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Novel Battery Technology Energy Storage Electrical Ground Fault Protection Powerline Carrier Technology Heat Transfer Backup Power Supply Oil Field Heating and Instrumentation Engineering Safety Requirements in Nuclear Power Generation

Hazardous Safety of Explosive Gases Process Control Software Instrumentation Hardware Fiber Optic Data Transmission Fiber Optic Sensors Nitinol Heat Tracing Economic Analysis of Energy Usage

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:

Electronic Security Security Systems Burglar Alarm Systems Intrusion Detection Motion Detection Wireless Alarm Systems Wired Alarm Systems Occupancy Detection Systems Premises Security Residential and Commercial Security Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs)

Research and Development Engineering Management New Product Development Electronic Engineering Embedded Systems Alarm Control Panels PIR (Passive Infra-Red) Motion Detection uW (Microwave) Doppler Motion Detection Solar LED Flood Lights (Patio to Street Level) Patent Litigation Intellectual Property

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.

A Registered Professional Engineer, Mr. Terpstra has more than 35 years of experience in engineering designs and solutions. Mr. Terpstra has extensive experience in automated equipment. As president of Klover Products, he oversees the development of products for the broadcast industry and beyond. As president of Innalytical Solutions, he focuses on consulting service relating to industrial equipment. Mr. Terpstra has been awarded 11 U.S. patents for industrial equipment, manufacturing processes, and broadcast equipment. His designs have been used by many major manufacturers, including GM, GE, Ford, Rolls Royce and Caterpillar. These designs have been featured in Machine Design, Design News, Automotive News, Production and HD Pro Guide magazines. Mr. Terpstra has served as an expert witness on multiple cases as well as provided forensic engineering services. He is an experienced report writer, a certified SolidWorks Professional, and certified in fire investigation.

Areas of Expertise:

Industrial Machinery Industrial Equipment

Assembly Automation Finite Element Analysis

View Paul Terpstra's Consulting Profile.

LECS (UK) Limited  is an International Engineering Firm specializing in Lifts, Escalators, Facade Access and Funiculars (cable cars). With over 20 years of trading history, their specialized engineers are qualified, experienced and carry full professional insurances. Members of the engineering team have all worked for major contractors and have held positions including Senior Engineer, Project Manager and Commissioning / Test Engineers. As a result, LECS has over 150 years of accumulated experience within the key staff of the engineering team and currently employs 10% of the world’s graduates of the MSc in Lift Engineering from the University of Northampton.

LECS (UK) Limited is a member of independent bodies such as ACE, BSI and ConstructionLine. They have an accredited Quality Assurance scheme to ISO 9001 (2008) and are regularly audited. They provide services for many market sectors including overseas projects, hotels, retail, commercial health, local authority and heritage. The engineers at LECS (UK) have extensive experience as Expert Witnesses and Consultants in litigation involving lifts and escalators. Their services include preparing expert reports in accordance with Regulation 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules and also in Criminal cases. They are also available for adjudication and arbitration cases. LECS (UK) expert witness services have been called on in overseas situations including Gran Canaria, Dubai, Hong Kong, Spain and Turkey.

Services Include:

• Expert Witness - Litigation Support
• Statutory Inspections
• Maintenance Audits
• Acquisition & Condition Surveys
• Project Management
• Traffic Analysis
• Risk Assessments
• New Installations & Modernization Specifications
• Maintenance Specifications
• Training
• Portfolio Management

Steven Pietropaolo, PE, CFEI, CFII, President & CEO, is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York, amongst others. He is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and a Certified Fire Investigator Instructor.

Mr. Pietropaolo has over 25 years of hands on engineering experience including electrical, mechanical, materials, safety, fire protection, and construction. He has knowledge of codes and standards used in construction and industry including building codes, safety codes, and industrial codes. He also has extensive experience in Utility Company procedures / equipment and investigating major incidents involving electrical, gas, steam system failures, and construction accidents.

Litigation Support - Mr. Pietropaolo has testified as an expert witness many times in cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Federal Courts. He has been retained on numerous large multimillion-dollar property damage cases as well as fatal accidents and fires / explosions including those that resulted in injury.

Areas of Expertise:

Fires / Explosions Fire Protection Systems Construction Defects / Failures Construction Accidents Equipment Failures

Product Liability / Warning Property Loss Subrogation Personal Injury - Slips / Fall Electro / Mechanical System Sports / Recreational Accidents

View Steven Pietropaolo's Consulting Profile.

Design and Forensic Engineering for Conveyors and Bulk Materials Handling Systems, We specialize in the design of materials handling systems and conveyors of various types including: belt, roller, slider, overland, pipe, steep angle, screw, drag, bucket elevators and pneumatic. We also design the specialty mobile machines, (track, rail, and wheel mounted) such as: stackers, reclaimers, snow loaders, mobile screening plants, self-unloading trains, self-unloading ships, ship unloaders and shiploaders. Our clients are both Plaintiffs and Defendants.

Some of the standards considered are: Belt Conveyor Manufacturers Association – CEMA, Safety Standard for Conveyors ASME B20.1,OSHA & MSHA

Areas of Expertise:

• Conveyor Fires and Explosions
• Conveyor Guarding
• Conveyor Injuries
• Conveyor Product Liability
• Restraint of Trade
• Patent Infringement
• Real Estate Asset Appraisal Conveyor Systems
• Antitrust

Robert A. (Bob) McNeese is a Professional Conveyor S.M.E. Subject Matter Expert with close to 40 years of conveyor system experience in most every aspect of conveying systems. Mr. McNeese offers his services to the conveying industry to enhance operations, maintenance, and overall safety performance as well as providing 3rd party factually based non- partial overviews and opinions to legal counsel as an expert witness for the purpose of fair litigation.

Consulting - Bob McNeese has worked to improve efficiency and safety with companies such as Chevron, Southern Company, International paper, DuPont, and various shipping bulk terminals. He offers his unique services to alert customers to the ever changing OSHA, MSHA, ASME, regulations surrounding industrial conveying equipment. Several delivery methods are available to insure the new information and changes are introduced to the jobsite at the core of the workforce (site safety audits, safety topics, banners, labels, safety seminars)

Litigation Support - Mr. McNeese is an expert in all industrial areas of Conveyors and Bulk Handling Systems. He provides expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. Mr. McNeese provides expertise on issues concerning industrial conveyor system accidents and safety concerns as a result of manufacturing, installation, operation, or maintenance.

Specific Areas of Expertise:

Refineries Port Facilities Storage Transfer Facilities Power Plants Mines Chemical Plants Grain Elevators Fertilizer Plants Paper Mills Food Processing Coal Handling Cement Pet Coke

Wood Chips Iron Ore Lignite Steel Aluminum Salt Plastics Grain Fertilizer Aggregate Tire Shredding Waste Various Dry Chemicals

Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a technology leader with 25+ years of experience in R&D and Engineering Management in both academia and industry. 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. 

Dr. Kanellakopoulos 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). His deep technical expertise in the areas of telecommunications and automotive driver assistance systems has allowed 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 comprehend in order to understand the essence of the case. 

Dr. Kanellakopoulos' 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.

Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering and accident reconstruction firm, specializing in  reconstruction of accidents involving passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.  Each senior engineer at Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC has over 20 years of experience in the industry.  Our engineers provide expert analysis for roadside safety concerns, construction zones, industrial  equipment, occupant kinematics, premises liability, code violations, product design, and vehicle controllability. Industrial accidents, workplace safety, and slip / trip / and fall accidents are also our specialties.

We utilize the latest technology for documenting evidence and retrieving data including FARO 3D scanning, aerial drone imaging, and black box downloads.  Our forensic experts are mobile, supporting clients all over the U.S., and our headquarters is located in Tallahassee, Florida with a satellite office in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E.,

With over 20 years of experience investigating and testifying in cases involving a variety of forensic engineering issues, Dr. Pfeifer is a leading expert in accident reconstruction, roadside safety, maintenance of traffic, and analysis of mechanical systems, and product failures. Dr. Pfeifer has a strong background in the design, development, and implementation of roadside safety hardware including guardrails, bridge rails, and crash cushions. Over 33 patents have been filed worldwide on behalf of Dr. Pfeifer and associated colleagues who invented safer guardrail systems and terminals, vehicle storage systems, shipping container handling systems, and material handling and storage methods.  Dr. Pfeifer has published numerous papers to various organizations including the Transportation Research Board and Port Technology International, covering topics ranging from new guardrail systems, energy absorbing guardrail terminals, and breakaway mechanisms incorporated in traffic signs to material handling technology.  Dr. Pfeifer’s expertise has been shared with many organizations such as the Florida Justice Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Alabama Defense Lawyers Association with presentations he’s made on topics including vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, roadway constructions zones, and accident reconstruction expert witness utilization. Dr. Pfeifer is a registered Professional Engineer in three states and stays current with learning new technology in the field of forensic engineering.  He has refined his skills and knowledge of accident reconstruction and roadside safety by taking dozens of continuing education courses over the span of his career.

Expertise:

Vehicle Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Occupant Kinematics Roadside Safety/Guardrails

Construction Zones Black Box Analysis Product Failure Analysis Premises Liability Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) evaluation  Restraint System Analysis

Ms. Traci Campbell, P.E., CXLT,

Ms. Campbell, is an Industrial engineer with specialties in industrial accident reconstruction, including slip, trip, and fall analysis, human and environment interaction, forklifts, applicable standards and guidelines, and workplace-safety issues.  Her expertise also includes vehicular accident reconstruction involving automobiles, trucks, tractor-trailers, and recreational vehicles, as well as, product failure analysis.

Expertise:

Industrial Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall Retail Facility Safety Human and Environment Interaction OSHA Regulations >ADA Regulations ANSI / ASTM / Building Codes Workplace Safety Guarding & Warnings Forklifts and Construction Equipment Theme Parks / Recreation Safety and Facilities

Automobile Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Occupant Kinematics Airbag and Black Box Analysis Product Design / Failure Analysis General Engineering

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E.,

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E., is a Mechanical Engineer with specialties in accident reconstruction, including electronic module downloads for both automobile airbag modules and tractor-trailer electronic control modules.  His expertise includes auto accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other roadway accidents.  His expertise also includes seat belts, occupant kinematics, product failure analysis and other general engineering issues.

Expertise:

Automobile Accidents Tractor / Trailer Accidents Bicycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Airbag and Automobile Black Box Analysis

ECM and Tractor-trailer Black Box Analysis Occupant Kinematics Roadway Safety Product Design / Failure Analysis >General Engineering

Robert O. Peruzzi, PhD, PE is a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with particular expertise in Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits (MSICs). His subspecialty within this broad category is with Integrated Circuits (silicon chips) used for signal-processing.

Dr. Peruzzi has a Wide ranging experience within the electronics industry, beginning with assembling, then repairing, and designing test equipment. He then moved on to integrated circuits, first testing, then designing subcircuits, and finally modeling and verifying large mixed-signal "systems on a chip".

Dr. Peruzzi has been court qualified as an Electrical Engineering Expert. Areas of practice: Electronic and Electro-Mechanical Systems and Mixed Signal IC Patent Litigation . His services are available to attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

Design Behavioral Modeling and Verification Expertise Radio Frequency (RF) Analog and Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits Systems-on-Chip

Circuit Analysis Patent Analysis ICs Modules Electro-Mechanical Systems

View Consulting Profile.