High Voltage Electrical Expert Witnesses: 7

Peter R. Walsh, PE, is a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer with over 35 years of experience. He is an NFPA 70E Certified “Electrical Safety Compliance Professional” and OSHA “Authorized Trainer” for General Industry Training. 

Background - Mr. Walsh joined General Electric Company early in his career as a Field Engineer. Since then, he has seen many electrical incidents in a variety of roles and companies. He began his forensic career with GE supplying analyses to their legal team. He has forensically investigated incidents in the proximity of electrical equipment, such as fuses, and provided application assistance for a total of 20 years with the largest fuse companies. 

Mr. Walsh has applied electrical products in accordance with National Electrical Code, OSHA regulations, IEEE Standards, and good practices. He has provided technical leadership to electrical industry codes and standards organizations. Presently he is a member of Code Making Panel 10 of the National Electrical Code, which is responsible for Overcurrent and Service Protection. His first appointment to the National Electrical Code was for the 2008 code cycle. 

Mr. Walsh served on other NFPA technical committees such as 110 and 111 and participated in meetings with NFPA 70E committees. NFPA recognizes him as a Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional. Within IEEE, he has served this Standards Organization enough to obtain Lifetime Membership. He has written numerous articles about arc flash, arc flash calculations, surge arrestors, and general electrical industry equipment. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Walsh provides expert witness services for cases involving Electrical Safety. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include site review, thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony when needed. OSHA recognizes Mr. Walsh as an “Authorized Trainer” for General Industry. He trains electrical maintenance people in latest Safety Standards- NFPA 70E, OSHA General Industry, and the National Electrical Code. 

Areas of Expertise:

Workplace Electrical Safety NFPA 70E OSHA General Industry-Electrical National Electrical Code Electrical Overcurrent Protection Arc Flash

Arc Flash Requirements Electrocution Electrical Maintenance Electrical Fuses & Applications Fuse Forensics Investigation of Electrical Shock & Surge

Since 1988, Real-World Forensic Engineering, LLC ("RWFE") has provided engineering services to industries and government labs, as well as litigation support to both plaintiff and defense attorneys practicing in many areas.

RWFE Expertise Includes:

Components & Machinery Metallurgy & Corrosion Dynamics of Impact & Collisions Friction Analysis / Slips, Trips and Falls Intellectual Property & Patent Review Accident Reconstruction / Animation Computer Aided Design Education & Training

Electrocution & Switch Malfunction Grounding & Lightning Protection Lightning Impulse Testing Products and Premises Liability & Safety High-Voltage & Current Power Systems Bridge Design and Safety Fire & Explosion Cause and Origin And Much More...

At RWFE, we proudly distinguish ourselves by our Four C's:

CREDENTIALS. COMPETENCE. CREDIBILITY. COMMUNICATION.

Credentials:	B.S., M.S., M.Eng., M.B.A., J.D., and Ph.D. Degreed Licensed Professional Engineers in Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering Tenured University Professors and Professionals NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators (CFEI) Licensed Master Electricians
Competence:	Over 80 Combined Years of Experience in Engineering R&D, Industry, Academia, Consulting, and Expert Witness Litigation Support Over 120 Combined Deposition and Court Testimonies
Credibility:	Internationally Recognized in Our Areas of Expertise More Than $19 Million in Peer-reviewed and Funded Research Grants Over 200 Combined Scientific Publications and Journal Articles
Communication:	Over 20 Different Undergraduate and Graduate-level University Courses Over 30 Invited Short Courses, Talks, and Lectures

Design Evaluation – Accident Investigation – Intellectual Property
Failure Analysis – Fire Cause & Origin – Component Testing
Computer Aided Drafting – Accident Animation
Expert Witness & Litigation Support

www.ExpertEngineering.com

A Licensed Professional Engineer in 11 states, John Averrett specializes in electrical shock/electrocution, utilities, lightning strikes, and grounding cases involving death, personal injury, industrial equipment failure, vehicular accidents, fire cause/origin, contract, and construction disputes. 

Areas of practice include: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas; other states by comity. 

John Averrett is Executive Vice President of Goodwyn Mills & Cawood headquartered in Montgomery, AL. He has more than 25 years' experience in plan development for governmental, municipal, industrial and commercial clients and is currently coordinating a group of twelve other electrical engineers and designers. In addition to his design efforts, Mr. Averrett's experience includes work with electric utilities that includes transmission, sub-stations, and distribution; work with investigating lightning strikes; work with investigating grounding insufficiencies; and work analyzing and providing solutions for arc flash hazards.

Litigation Support - Mr. Averrett offers expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. He provides site review, thorough reporting, deposition, and trial testimony as needed nationwide.

Electrical Engineering Electrocution Lightning Lightning Protection Arc Flash Electrical Safety

Building Analysis Grounding Shock Electric Shock Drowning Breaker Coordination Electrical Utility Districution

H. Landis “Lanny” Floyd II, PE, CSP, CMRP, CRL, CESCP, Life Fellow IEEE, has over 45 years of experience in Electrical Safety in the Workplace. His work has advanced the application of Human Factors Engineering, Electrical Technology, and Safety Management Systems in preventing occupational electrical injuries. Mr. Floyd retired from DuPont in 2014, holding the positions of Principal Consultant - Electrical Safety & Technology, and Global Electrical Safety Competency Leader. 

Background Experience - For the past 35 years, Mr. Floyd focused on electrical safety in the construction, operation, and maintenance of industrial and commercial facilities worldwide for DuPont. This included safety management systems, competency renewal, work practices, and the application of technologies critical to electrical safety performance. From 1992 to 2014, he led the team that designed and facilitated implementation of a strategy for continuous and sustainable improvement in occupational electrical safety for DuPont Global Operations. This work enabled breakthrough performance in prevention of serious injuries and fatalities from electrical energy in DuPont facilities worldwide. In 2013, Mr. Floyd was invited to join the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he teaches in the Advanced Safety Engineering and Management Master of Engineering degree program. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Floyd has been providing expert witness services and litigation support for over 10 years. His expertise is available to counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant. Mr. Floyd's services include consulting, site inspections, testing, reports, depositions, and trial testimony when necessary. 

Areas of Expertise:

Workplace Electrical Safety Electrical Shock Arc Flash Electrical Safety Management Systems Electrical Codes and Standards NFPA70E & National Electrical Safety Code National Electrical Code Electrical Testing Instruments

Electrical Injury Electrocution Electrical Reliability Electrical Maintenance Electrical Construction Occupational Electrical Safety Electric Power Systems Overhead Power Lines

View Lanny Floyd's Consulting Profile.

Dennis W. Eckstine is an expert on cranes, aerial work platforms, various types of lifting equipment, heavy duty trucks, carriers, and other similiar construction, industrial and agricultural equipment. He has held senior positions in engineering, quality, product safety and reliability for major manufacturers including representing the company at trial. 

Through his active involvement in current standards committees, his education, and his engineering and product safety experience at Grove Worldwide, Mr. Eckstine brings a solid scientific and practical background to his clients. He was previously Vice President, Senior Director of Product Safety & Reliability, and Director of Engineering Administration for different major manufacturers. He possesses a BSME and MBA. 

Mr. Eckstine started as a full time employee in the construction equipment industry in 1971 for Grove. He is currently a member of numerous committees within the organizations of ANSI (American National Standards Institute), SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering), ISO, and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. Mr. Eckstine was the founding International Chairman of ISO TC 214 for Elevating Work Platforms. He is currently International Chairman of ISO TC 96 SC 6 for Mobile Cranes, and a Commissioner of CCO. 

Services Offered

• Expert on construction, industrial and agricultural equipment
• Evaluate Product to Promote Safe Design and Safe Use of Equipment
• Hazard Analysis, Design Review, Warnings Development, Safety and Operational Training
• Offer Guidance on Human Factors
• CIE - Certified Industrial Ergonomist
• Develop Standards for Design and Safe Use of Products
• Develop Training Materials and Perfrom Training for Operators of Lifting Equipment Including Cranes and Aerial Work Platforms
• Conduct Presentations at Seminars and Work Shops

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.

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