Electronic Engineering Expert Witnesses: 13

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.

Dr. Lavian holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in computer science, specializing in networking and communications. He is a consummate expert in network communications, telecommunications, Internet Protocols (TCP/IP), LAN/WAN, Streaming media, VoIP, mobile wireless, and Internet/Web technologies. He has over 30 years of experience, has invented over 120 patents, and has co-authored over 25 scientific publications. For 20 years, Dr. Lavian has researched, studied, and lectured at UC Berkeley Engineering. He has served as an industry fellow and lecturer with UC Berkeley’s Industrial Engineering IEOR, Berkeley Engineering’s SCET, UC Berkeley’s start-up accelerator, SkyDeck, as principal investigator for CRadar.Ai and CTO for Aybell.

Areas of Expertise:

Network communications, telecommunications, Internet protocols (TCP/IP), VoIP, Streaming Media, and mobile wireless:

• Communication Networks: Internet protocols; TCP/IP suite, TCP, UDP, IP, Ethernet, 802.3, network protocols, network software applications, data link, network, and transport layers (L2, L3, L4), packet switching, data center network architecture.
• Mobile Wireless: Wi-Fi, 802.11, Bluetooth, MAC, PHY, Wireless LAN (WLAN). Cellular systems, SMS, instant messaging (chat), mobile devices, smartphones.
• Internet/Cloud: Internet Technologies, Web applications, HTTP, e-mail, SMTP, POP, IMAP, Java, C/C++, file transfer FTP, client-server, cloud computing, distributed computing.
• Routing/Switching: LAN, WAN, VPN, routing protocols, RIP, BGP, MPLS, OSPF, multicast, DNS, QoS, network infrastructure, network communication architectures.
• VoIP/Streaming Media: PSTN, voice, data, circuit switching, IP telephony, VoIP, SIP, RTP, video/audio conferencing, streaming media.

Dr. Lavian brings both hands-on and academic experience to his work in Network communications, Internet Protocols, design, and architecture. 

Litigation Support

He offers expert witness services and provides courtroom presence, clear testimony, and an ability to effectively distill complex concepts into understandable basics and commonsense. 

• He has extensive experience rendering reports and testifying in Federal, IPR, and ITC cases, in over 140 patent-related cases. 
• Past cases have involved leading companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, LinkedIn, Avaya, T-Mobile, AT&T, Ericsson, Sprint, Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Polycom, Motorola, LG, WhatsApp, Instagram, ZTE, Huawei, Facebook, and Apple.

•  View Dr. Lavian's Consulting Profile.

Audio Expert David Smith of Sound Testimony^® specializes in Audio Forensic Analysis, Improving Recorded Speech Intelligibility, & Recording Authentication. Our proprietary hardware/software system recovers intelligible speech and other sounds from noise-intensive backgrounds & poorly recorded media. David A. Smith, IEEE, AES, has more than three decades of professional experience with audio enhancement. Experienced in criminal and civil cases including murder, corporate fraud, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, labor, and family law. Mr. Smith consults with counsel offering audio forensic evidence examination, analysis, litigation support, expert advice, expert testimony, and related expert witness services including preparation of cross-examinations and courtroom presentations. Clients include Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, Family Law & General Practice Attorneys, other Legal & Investigative Professionals, HR Depts., Corporations, Private Detectives, & Individuals. Services Offered:

• Recording Authentication
• Tampering & Edit Detection
• Intelligibility Improvement
• Transcript Review & Correction
• Litigation Support
• Voice Recognition and/or Elimination
• Expert Testimony

Intelligibility Improvement of:

• 911 calls
• Voice Mail Systems
• Accidental Recordings
• Surveillance Recordings
• Portable Audio Recorders
• Interviews
• Depositions
• Meetings
• Cell Phone Recordings, etc.

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:

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.

Expert Background: Dr. Thomas L. Read is the Principal and CEO at A. Read Consulting, LLC. He received his PhD. from Stanford University in 1972 and has over 25 years of manufacturing experience in electronics, metallurgy, factory safety, failure analysis, glass fracture, glass failure and bottle failure. As a member of the electronics industry, he has earned process patents and has an extensive background in manufacturing techniques.

In parallel, Dr. Read has spent over twenty five years as a consultant to attorneys and engineers. He has given more than 100 depositions and has appeared in court numerous times.

Company Profile: Read Consulting, LLC is a full service laboratory providing services in the following areas:

Failure Analysis; Factory Safety and Personal Injury (including machine guards and manufacturing safety)

Glass Failure Analysis - Glass Fracture, Glass Failures and Bottle Failure

Metal and Ceramic Failure

Grinding Wheel Failures

Intellectual Property and Patent Disputes

Product Liability and Product Quality

Manufacturing Disagreements (such as Intellectual Property, Failed equipment and Contract Disputes)

Reverse 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.

Quality Forensic Engineering, LLC is a full-service forensic engineering firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of accident reconstruction, premises liability, and product liability.  With over 20 years of experience for each of our senior engineers, we utilize the latest technology for documenting evidence and retrieving data including FARO 3D scanning, aerial drone imaging, and black box downloads.  Our forensic engineers are mobile, supporting clients throughout the U.S. We are headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida with remote locations in Jacksonville, Florida and Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Brian Pfeifer, P.E. - Dr. Pfeifer has over 25 years of experience investigating and testifying in cases involving a variety of forensic engineering issues. He is a leading expert in accident reconstruction, roadside safety, maintenance of traffic, commercial vehicle accidents, and the 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, vehicle storage systems, shipping container handling systems, and material handling and storage methods. He has utilized his technical knowledge and understanding of patents to assist in a number of matters involving patent litigation.

Dr. Pfeifer has published numerous papers to various organizations, covering topics such as new guardrail systems, energy absorbing guardrail terminals, breakaway sign mechanisms, and material handling technology. He has shared his expertise with many organizations on topics including vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, roadway construction zones, and accident reconstruction expert witness utilization. Dr. Pfeifer is a registered Professional Engineer in three states and he continues to refine his skills and knowledge of accident reconstruction and roadside safety by staying current with new technology and best practices.

Expertise:

Automobile Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Guardrails / Bridge Rails Construction Zones Bicycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents

Roadside Safety Occupant Kinematics Industrial Accidents Airbag Control Module (ACM) Analysis Tractor Trailer Electronic Control Module (ECM) Analysis Product Failure Analysis Patent Litigation Technical Analysis

Ms. Traci Campbell, P.E., CXLT - Ms. Campbell has over 20 years of experience investigating, analyzing, and testifying in matters involving a variety of forensic engineering issues. She is a leading expert in industrial accident reconstruction and human factors; slip, trip, stumble and fall analysis; application of standards, codes, and guidelines including OSHA, ANSI, ASTM, Life Safety, ADA and Building Codes; workplace safety related issues; forklift and material handling devices; construction machinery and workplaces; manufacturing equipment; and the analysis of workplace systems and product failures. Ms. Campbell has a strong background working in manufacturing and industrial workplaces including the design, development, and implementation of solutions to ensure safe work environments. She has also been credited as part of a team holding a patent related to safeguarding power hand tools with rotating discs. Her special interests include amusement park and theme park accidents and safety related issues. Ms. Campbell is also a CXLT - Certified XL Tribometrist (slip index evaluation) and a certified counter balance forklift operator.

Ms. Campbell has served as a presenter with the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) regarding slip, trip, stumble, and fall incidents. She has shared her engineering expertise with many organizations on topics including slip, trip, stumble, and fall incidents; electronic data in the realm of accident reconstruction; safety engineering and the engineering hierarchy; photogrammetry and other accident reconstruction techniques; OSHA compliance; and Industrial Engineering. Ms. Campbell is a registered and licensed Professional Engineer in five states and she continues to refine her skills and knowledge.

Expertise:

Industrial Accidents Slip / Trip / Fall Human Factors and Environment Interaction Pedestrian Kinematics Workplace Safety Retail and Restaurant Facility Safety OSHA & ADA Regulations Multi- Employer Workplaces ANSI / ASTM / Building Codes Elevators/Escalators

Industrial Equipment Forklifts and Material Handling Devices Parking Lot Safety Safety Engineering Guarding and Warnings Theme Parks / Recreation Safety & Facilities Product Failure Analysis Pedestrian Accidents Automobile Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents

Mr. Chris Yates, P.E. - Mr. Yates has over 20 years of experience investigating cases related to a variety of forensic engineering issues. He is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in accident reconstruction involving autos, tractor-trailers, bicycles, pedestrians, and other roadway related incidents. His expertise also includes seat belts, occupant kinematics, product failure analysis, and electronic module downloads for both automobile airbag modules and tractor-trailer electronic control modules.

In addition to providing documentation, analysis, reports and testimony in forensics matters, Mr. Yates has been involved in the design of various products including safety guards for grinders and band saws, port container handling systems, vehicle and boat storage systems, warehouse material handling systems, and material handling systems for shipboard use.

Expertise:

Automobile Collisions Tractor / Trailer Collisions Bicycle Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Pedestrian Accidents

Occupant Kinematics Black Box Analysis Tractor Trailer Electronic Control Modules (ECM) Product Failure Analysis

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:

Data Mining and Analysis Signal Processing Modeling Control Systems Design Circuit Design and Analysis Electrical Accidents Electrical Fires and Explosions

Machinery and Equipment Failures Failure Analysis Manufacturing and Design Defects Electrocution Injury Battery Explosions Intellectual Property / Patent Litigation  Trade Secrets / Copyright

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. 

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years.

Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore. Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets.

Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster. Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs.

They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

Aviation & Aerospace Biomechanics Construction Defects Digital Forensics Electrical Injury & Electrocutions Causation Chemical Computer / Network Equipment Failure Construction Defect Disputes over Reparability of Damage Electrical Failure Equipment Restoration Fire & Explosion Analysis Equipment Restoration

Industrial / Manufacturing Equipment Materials Failure Mechanical Accidents Mechanical Failure Medical / Laboratory Equipment Product Failure / Liability Project Management Structural Failure Subrogation Utility & Energy Valuation of Structures or Equipment Vehicle Accident Investigation Workplace / Premises Accidents

View Envista'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:

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.

Mark McFarland, PE, is a licensed Electrical Engineer and Expert Witness with over 25 years of experience in electrical engineering, telecommunications, wireless, cellular, applied research, and the quality sciences. He is currently the CEO of Discovery Engineering, as well as a researcher at the US Department of Commerce in Boulder, CO.

He has helped clients resolve cases involving emergency & public safety communications, automotive wireless, securities fraud, electrocution/shock, cellular evidence, SMS texting & social media, and other electrical phenomena.

Electrical Engineering - Telecommunications - Wireless - Electronics - Cellular

Mr. McFarland is published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and has been a speaker at national and international technical conferences. He has performed investigations into electrical, electronic, and communications systems involving design, use, defects, breakdown, and malfunctions for legal, government, commercial, and research matters.

Litigation Support - Mr. McFarland consults on cases requiring the inspection, evaluation or analysis of electrical, telecom, cellular, wireless, and electronic systems, as well as 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. He has been retained by plaintiff and defense lawyers for civil and criminal litigation.

Design, Analysis, and Testing Expertise:

Satellites Cellular Mapping & Analysiss LTE Internet Technology Wireless Wi-Fi RF E-911 Communications Systems

Networks  RADAR Communication Protocols Communication Standards Public Safety Communications Systems,  GPS Instrumentation Control Systems

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:

Electronic Systems Control Systems Embedded Systems Design and Development Databases Control of UAVs / Drones

Robotics Software Signal Processing Product Reverse Engineering Intellectual Property

View Dr. Direen's Consulting Profile.

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.