Plumbing Engineering Expert Witnesses

William R. Acorn is founder of Acorn Consulting Services, LLC, an engineering firm. As a consulting mechanical engineer, Bill provides project analysis, forensic reconstructions and litigation support services relating to the design, delivery, and functioning of high-tech manufacturing facilities, semiconductor fabrication facilities, institutional laboratories, data centers, health care facilities and a variety of commercial buildings. He is a recognized expert in the evaluation of deficiencies in HVAC systems, cleanrooms, piping systems, refrigeration systems, construction defects, building and fire code compliance, and patent and trade secret disputes. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants.

Bill has more than 40 years of experience as a professional engineer and is a recognized expert in assessing, evaluating, remediating and providing testimony on complex project design, construction and operational matters. His consulting expertise has been influential in shaping approaches to code compliance and life safety in semiconductor and similar advanced technology facilities.

• Registered as a Professional Mechanical Engineer in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
• Registered with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying NCEES (Certificate No. 6999)
• Fellow in the HVAC industry leading organization ASHRAE
• Visiting lecturer at the Arizona State University Del E. Webb School of Construction in Tempe, AZ
• Advisor to CREATE, ACE – Alliance for Construction Excellence and the IAB – Industry Advisory Board, all affiliated with ASU

Building Systems Analysis:

• HVAC and Refrigeration
• Process and Power Piping
• Plumbing Systems
• Standard of Care in Design and Construction
• Chemical Exposures in the Workplace
• Cleanroom Design and Performance
• Codes and Standards
• Patent and Trade Secret Disputes

Bill’s pragmatic approach to both forensic and litigation consulting as well as project consulting is based on more than 40 years of real-world experience as a design professional, mentor and forensic analyst, as well as many years as an instructor in professional and academic settings.

Litigation Support:

• Forensic Analysis
• Strategic Litigation Consulting
• Trial Demonstratives
• Expert Testimony

Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of jurisdictions throughout the US and Asia. Bill’s ability to explain complex issues to non-technical audiences, including juries, mediators and judges, is a key to successfully solving your litigation challenges.

Acorn Consulting Services

Consulting Services: Services range from peer review to conceptual design to development of strategies and programs for expedited project delivery.

Bill frequently acts as an owner’s agent and mentor, functioning as an extension of the owner’s project team. On other projects, Bill serves as a subject matter expert assisting project delivery firms in their development of viable solutions and review of construction documents.

As a project consultant, Bill assures the project gets off to the right start and provides his expertise through completion and operation to maximize return on investment.

Consulting Expertise Includes:

• Project Design and Management Consulting
• Forensic Analysis and Litigation Consulting
• Mentoring & Advanced Education

Bonneau Dickson, P.E. is a sanitary engineer with forty years of experience in all aspects of potable water, wastewater and stormwater design and construction management.  He has provided forensic sanitary engineering expertise and served as an expert witness for 25 years.  He has been deposed approximately 100 times and has testified in trials, arbitrations or mediations more than a dozen times.  He has worked both in the U.S, and abroad.

Mr. Dickson has designed approximately 300 water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. Has been resident engineer or otherwise participated in the construction phase of approximately 20 water and wastewater projects. Mr. Dickson has both project management and general management experience as project manager on approximately 175 projects. Mr. Dickson served as forensic technical consultant or expert witness on more than 100 cases. With his decades of experience, he understands not only the engineering aspects, but also the financial, managerial, political, and personal aspects of legal issues. Mr. Dickson's expert services include succinct reports with explanations of complex engineering matters in layman’s language. 

Areas of Expertise:

Sewage Overflows Wastewater Facilities Design Wastewater Facilities Planning Septic Systems Water Facilities Design

Water Facilities Planning Standard of Care Stormwater Facilities Design Stormwater Facilities Planning PCE Contamination

Education - BS Civil Engineering, GA Tech; MS Sanitary Engineering, GA Tech; MA Sanitary Engineering, Harvard University; Master Of Business Administration, Harvard University View Bonneau Dickson's Consulting Profile.

Carl E. Peters, PE, PLS, PP, CO, has a broad range of expertise in the areas of Land Use, Municipal Engineering, and Code Enforcement in the State of New Jersey. His rare combination of professional credentials enables him to analyze the development process from concept design through issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. He is one of fewer than ten people in New Jersey who holds licenses as a:

Professional Engineer Professional Land Surveyor Professional Planner

Construction Official Building Official Plumbing Official

Litigation Support - Mr. Peters' expertise is beneficial in the resolution of disputes between project owners, design professionals, contractors, and insurance carriers. He has testified before the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Historic Preservation Review Committee, and Site Plan Review Advisory Board, and NJ Civil Courts. He is also a mediator on the roster of the NJ Civil Courts. Mr. Peters provides litigation support for counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense. His cases have involved:

Engineering Matters Property Line Disagreements Drainage Problems Streets and Sidewalks Sewers Construction Disputes Land Use

Land Surveying Construction Codes Construction Permits ADA Compliance Local Government Matters Engineering Malpractice

View Carl Peters' Consulting Profile.

Roger W. Griffith, P.E. has over 36 years of experience as a registered professional Mechanical Engineer in design, maintenance, and operation of mechanical systems. He specializes in the areas of Plumbing, HVAC, and Fire Sprinkler Systems Design. As the principal of Griffith Engineering & Consulting for 20 years, his design experience with commercial and industrial projects includes convention centers, schools, office buildings, condominiums, apartment buildings, hotels, churches, manufacturing facilities, medical buildings, restaurants, historic buildings, dormitories, fire halls, and maintenance facilities. Litigation Support - Since 2002, Mr. Griffith has been providing forensic engineering, consulting, and expert witness services that are thorough, credible, and timely. He also assists clients through the mediation and arbitration process. Mr. Griffith's expertise is available to plaintiffs and defendants on the issues of plumbing, mechanical, and fire sprinkler system defects and failures. His expert testimony is based upon independent and impartial investigation, research, analysis, and testing. His services include written reports and the preparation of exhibits. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Areas of Expertise:

HVAC Design Plumbing Design Pipe Failures Plumbing Component Failures Sprinkler System Failures

Hot Water Systems / Scalding Water Water Heater Failures Gas Venting / Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fuel Gas Fires and Explosions Legionella

View Roger W. Griffith's Consulting Profile.

Scott Friesen, PE, is a licensed Professional Engineer in California, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Mississippi and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and Manitoba), and is LEED Accredited (CaGBC) and certified as an Energy Manager. Scott has more than 14 years of experience in Design and Construction of HVAC, Plumbing and Building Energy Conservation, System Design, Construction and Forensic Analysis. He has also performed commissioning, energy audits and was involved in marketing and business development.

Scott's responsibilities at Ivey include design and forensic analysis of HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and energy management systems. He performs site inspections, testing, research, product analysis, cost estimating and is responsible for writing reports and testifying in depositions, hearings and trials.

Scott is a member of Association of Professional Engineers, Geologist, Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).

Experience (partial listing):

• Approximately 75 HVAC, fire protection and plumbing design projects
• Approximately six design error and omission expert engagements
• Approximately 20 residential construction defect expert engagements
• Approximately 16 commercial construction defect expert engagements
• 10 LEED design projects
• 8 HVAC and plumbing commissioning projects