Plastics Materials Expert Witnesses

Joseph H. Guth, PhD, CIH, has in-depth expertise in many fields of Toxic and Hazard Assessment, as well as a very broad background in both academia and industry. A Chemist and Biochemist, he is the President and Principal expert of Scientific and Forensic Services, Inc.

Background Experience - Having a broad range of in-depth experience in numerous fields of science, Dr. Guth has owned and operated several testing and R&D laboratories over a 50 year period, including nationally-known Interscience Research Inc. In basic and applied research, university teaching and finally as Laboratory Director, his scientific expertise was developed first-hand in the many specialties that his laboratories were called upon to perform.

Litigation Support - Dr. Guth has offered his independent expertise in 100s of civil and criminal cases since 1979. He has also been a consultant and peer reviewer for EPA and NIOSH. He currently specializes in Toxic Torts and related matters both inside and outside of the workplace. He has numerous regular nationwide clients in the legal profession and the insurance industry.

Attorneys throughout the U.S. have found Dr. Guth's ability to examine, test and evaluate their cases and the evidence to be invaluable. If desired he can provide multifaceted support for many kinds of cases. Examples of his broad expertise also involve such issues as Standards of Industry, state-of-the-art, duty-to-warn, warning labeling and applicable governmental regulations.

Services - Consulting, retrospective hazardous exposure assessments, site inspections and sampling, some testing and examination services, reports, research & development, and court testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

• CHEMISTRY - Analytical, Environmental, Inorganic, Metallurgical, Organic, Polymer, Biochemistry, Forensic, Atmospheric and Compressed Gases, Nuclear Chemistry, Food and Pharmaceutical Analysis; Water Testing, Industrial Process Troubleshooting
• INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE - Comprehensive Practice, OSHA Compliance, Toxicology, Carcinogen Exposure, Hazardous Exposure Risk Assessment, Exposure Modeling, Asbestos Issues, Lead Poisoning Issues, Pesticide Poisoning, Solvent Exposure, Indoor Air Quality Evaluation, Microbiology, Mold, Physical Stressors, Radiation Exposures, Safety Assessment, Material Safety Data Sheet Development
• MATERIAL SCIENCE - Properties and Strength of Various Materials, such as Metals, Plastics and Other Polymers, Glass, Textiles, Masonry, Construction Materials; Failure Mechanisms of Materials, Product Designs and Safety
• OTHER FIELDS - Labeling and Duty to Warn Issues, Quality Assurance Program Evaluations, Environmental Impact, Industry Standards, State-of-the-Art Issues, Governmental Regulatory Issues, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Requirements, U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission Issues, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Issues

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 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

Joseph Quinn, MS, PE, is a Forensic Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering consultant. Mr. Quinn is a Registered Professional Engineer in 5 states and has provided over 1,000 Failure Analysis investigations on metallic and non-metallic (glass, plastic, rubber, and composite) materials or products. Mr. Quinn provides metallurgical and materials consultation, expert witness testimony, and forensic failure analysis for civil litigation (with retentions by defendants and plaintiffs) insurance claims, and industrial failures. He has received awards in the International Metallographic Contest and has conducted several presentations on metallurgical engineering and failure analysis subjects at universities, ASM meetings, and industry events; and is active in technical societies and committees.  

Technical Expertise:

Root Cause Failure Analysis Fracture Surface Characterization Failure Mechanisms Corrosion / Environmental Degradation Materials Manufacturing/Processing

Mechanical Behavior of Materials Metallurgical / Materials Properties Physical Metallurgy Metallurgical / Materials Science Engineering Analytical Testing Characterization

Product Area Failure Expertise:

Automobile & Transportation Components Fire Sprinkler Pipe and Fittings Fasteners (bolts, rivets, threaded components) Aircraft / Aerospace Components Pipelines and Process Piping Electrical Connectors & Devices Mechanical Components

Construction Materials Switch Failures (power steering, ignition, sensors) Plumbing Pipes / Valve Leaks Handheld Tools / Devices Consumer Products Household Appliances Heavy Machinery / Equipment Failures

Meyer R. Rosen FRSC, FAIC, CPC, CChE is a leading creative consultant for the Legal Profession, Specialty Chemical / Personal Care Industries. He is Founder & President of Interactive Consulting, Inc. (www.chemicalconsult.com). Meyer is a Forensic Litigation expert for both plaintiff and defense in hazardous chemicals, products liability, personal injury, fires and explosions, intellectual property and trade secret cases. He also provides Technical Marketing, New Business Development, Technical Consulting and Professional Editing services internationally to the Specialty Chemical, Personal Care, Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Allied Industries.

Meyer also has 15 years experience as a Professor of Fire Technology at Westchester Community College.

Mr. Rosen is Editor- in- Chief of Harry’s Cosmeticology, 9th Ed. A 2,600 page trilogy on all aspects of the cosmetic industry (www.harryscosmeticology.com)’ as well as being Editor-in-Chief for EuroCosmetics magazine (Germany).

Technology Expertise (Intellectual Property/Chemical Industry): Mr. Rosen provides consultation and litigation support in patent infringement, trade secret issues and licensing matters. His scientific areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:

• Organosilicones: Surfactants, Emulsions, Foams, Antifoams, Silane Coupling Agents
• Water Soluble Polymers, Poly(ethylene oxide), Polyethylene Glycol, and Poly (acrylamide)
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry: Stability of Dispersions, Wetting & Spreading Phenomena, Suspensions & Emulsions, Clays, Paint & Coatings, Personal Care, Cosmetics
• Flocculating and Coagulating Agents
• Applied Rheology, Rheology Modification of Aqueous & Non-Aqueous Media

Certifications:

• Chartered Chemist and Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry – London
• Nationally Certified Professional Chemist and Professional Chemical Engineer
• Certified Fire and Explosion Expert (Advanced Training)
• Fellow: American College of Forensic Examiners
• Fellow: American Institute of Chemists
• Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Examiners
• Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology

View Meyer Rosen's Consulting Profile.

Dr. David W. Riley is an Extrusion Analysis & Plastics Rheological Consultant. Dr. Riley has spent over nineteen years as a consultant in the field of Plastic Processing. He has over forty years of experience in developing Polymer Defect Technology and fifteen years in developing the field of Plastic and Polymer coefficient of friction related to the feed section of the extruder.

Areas of Expertise:

• Expert Witness
• Analytical Instrumentation Adaptation to Processing Equipment
• Friction Analysis
• Melt Rheology
• Extrusion Equipment: Design & Analysis of Production
• Telecommunication Cables and Insulation
• Power Cables and Testing XLDPE
• All phases of PVC Compounding & Extrusion
• Thermal Stability of Polymers
• Surface Chemistry, Metals & Polymers

John A. Williams, PhD, MBA, PE, has led EPS, a full-service Engineering firm, for over 23 years, delivering engineering, procurement, and construction management services (EPCM).

Background - Dr. Williams' operations experience began in 1977 as a USW union equipment operator and his engineering experience has ranged from manufacturing operations, detailed design, failure analysis, cost estimating and finance, and construction. He has instructed project management, cost estimating, financial evaluation methods for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1996. He has authored and presented across technical topics and has received awards for his distinguished engineering work.

Litigation Support - Dr. Williams provides expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. Recent Expert and Litigation Support services have included technology investigations, assessments, licensing and dispute resolution; forensic investigation of explosions, fires, and equipment failures; valuation and appraisals in ad valorem taxation, depreciation, obsolescence, and determination of fair market value, liquidated, and business interruption damages.

Dr. Williams performs forensic investigations, technology assessments, and financial valuation services on the following:

Explosions Fires Industrial Accidents Oil & Gas Production Equipment Oil Refining Failures Chemicals Plastics Steel Making

Biofuels Cellulose / Cellulosics Gasification / Wind Glass Making Power Generation (boilers, steam, turbines, etc. Energy Systems (gas, oil, coal, renewables) Biotechnology (citric acid, succinic acid, enzymes, etc. Renewable Energy Facilities

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.

Engel Metallurgical LTD engineers and metallurgists offer laboratory testing services to determine Material Performance and Material Performance Expectation. All tests are performed according to government and/or applicable industrial standards, including ASTM, military, and other specifications.

Engel Metallurgical clients include attorneys, insurance company representatives and members of a broad range of industries, including chemical, agricultural, aviation, power generation, construction, transportation and manufacturing.

Litigation Support - Attorneys requiring reliable information rely on Engel Metallurgical. Les Engel and his team of specialists sort through intricate details of structural and material failures, accidents, manufacturing defects and other unexpected incidents that lead to lawsuits, with involvement from initial discovery through court appearances, if necessary.

In 2003, Engel Metallurgical earned ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). This accreditation officially recognizes Engel Metallurgical proficiency in quality and details, and helps ensure that its findings will carry more weight in clients’ litigation cases.

Engel Metallurgical Ltd. is listed with the Minnesota Association For Justice (formerly Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association) as an expert in the field of metallurgy. Their engineers have extensive experience with deposition and trial. Their high ethical and scientific standards complement our expertise in providing sound, unbiased opinions on technical issues, including:

Inspection: Equipment and Components Inspected on Site

Failure Analysis:

Root Cause Failure Mode

Photographic Documentation Fracture Evaluations

Product Evaluation:

Quality Control Efforts Reverse Engineering Materials Certification Product Claims, Product Recalls Corrosion Resistance Coatings Selection

Product Replacement Non-destructive Testing Procedures Literature Searches US / Foreign Specifications Equivalents Material Property Design Limits

Principal, Lester P. Engel, Jr., PE, is a Metallurgical Engineer with over 40 years of experience leading the company's detailed, quality-focused testing and services. He oversees the company's lab, continually adding new equipment and techniques.

Mr. Engel also has experience as the chief metallurgist for Brown Boveri Turbomachinery and as a metallurgical engineer for the Aircraft Engine Group of General Electric, where he focused on material selections for hot aircraft and marine gas turbine components. His GE career began in Nuclear Systems Programs, where his work included serving as the principal investigator on three NASA programs.

Les Engel specializes in materials application, failure analysis, R & D program management, materials and process specifications, engineering standards and procedures, laboratory design and operation, data analysis and personnel, and budget management. He continues to personally perform failure analysis on aircraft and land turbines, generators, boilers, steel products, metals, cermets, plastics, and other materials.

With high ethical and scientific standards, Les Engel offers sound, unbiased expert analysis and testimony on technical issues. He provides expertise to insurance companies and counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant.

James A. Brusso, PhD, PE, has more than 20 years of experience in processing/properties of materials, materials characterization and behavior, materials specifications, mechanical testing, failure analysis, machining of materials, and laboratory design and operation. He is also Engel Metallurgical's Technical Manager and Quality Manager.

Dr. Brusso brings keen expertise to Engel Metallurgical and its clients, performing failure analysis; rendering expert opinions, giving depositions and testimony for litigation support; providing technical support for materials and process development and improvement; and developing and reviewing various product designs, materials, and process details.

Dr. Brusso has worked with Engel Metallurgical since 2000. Prior to that, he held several positions with The Timken Company in Ohio, where his responsibilities included establishing the company’s machinability testing laboratory, team leader for product development projects, managing the company's application metallurgical laboratory, and providing technical review of internal processing and testing standards to satisfy ISO 9000 / QS 9000 registration.

View Engel Metallurgical's Consulting Profile.

Arun Kumar, Ph.D. has 34 years of experience in Metallurgy, Materials Science and Failure Analysis of Metallic and Non-Metallic Materials at Rockwell International, Hughes Aircraft Company and EAG Laboratories. He manages and supervises approximately 17 engineers and technicians performing a variety of analytical services and failure analysis.

Dr. Kumar provides metallurgical consultation, performs failure analysis and serves as an expert witness in product liability trials involving materials failures. He has extensive experience in metallurgical failure analysis of aircraft, helicopter, automobile and motorcycle components, machineries, medical implants, machine tools and household appliances.

Edward S. George PE, has over 30 years of experience in the field of Product Liability and Failure Analysis.

Mr. George earned his BS and MS degrees from the University of Florida Department of Materials Science and Engineering, graduating with a specialty in metallurgy. He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Florida. Mr. George is a member of The National Society of Professional Engineers, The American Welding Society, The National Association of Forensic Engineers, The Florida Engineering Society, American Water Works Association, and The International Society for Fall Protection.

Mr. George has experience in a variety of material failures including Metals, Polymers, Plastics, Composites, Ceramics, Glass, and Porcelain.

Litigation Support - A court-qualified expert, Mr. George has over 13 years of experience and has testified in depositions and trials. His forensic training is complemented by his industrial experience including:

• Heat Treating of Metals
• Welding and Joining of Materials
• Materials Testing and Evaluation
• Quality Control and Assurance
• Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopic Techniques
• Destructive and Non-destructive Physical Testing
• Laboratory Equipment and Procedures

View Edward George's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Charles R. Anderson has long specialized in the Characterization of Surfaces, Interfaces, Thin Films and Coatings. Since 1972 he has applied surface and near-surface analysis techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) and Auger microprobe to the solution of surface chemistry and coating problems. He worked for the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Laboratories prior to starting his own laboratory in 1995. Dr. Anderson served as an officer of the ASTM Committee E-42 on Surface Analysis and as U.S. Expert on several sub-committees of the ISO Technical Committee 201 on Surface Chemical Analysis. He especially enjoys integrating the results of multiple analytic techniques (surface analysis, thermal analysis, FTIR, SEM/EDX, optical microscopy)to solve tough materials problems. Dr. Anderson has extensive experience in materials science as a result of solving the materials problems of many industries with the aid many analytical techniques. He is available to provide Expert Witness Services for legal matters involving Materials Failure, Intellectual Property Theft, Misrepresentation, Failure to Meet Contract Specifications, Materials Identifications and Characteristics, or Quality Issues. To ensure the accuracy and integrity of his testimony, Dr. Anderson and his staff independently analyze the relevant materials in most cases. View Consulting Profile.