Product Safety Expert Witnesses

Dr. C.J. Abraham, P.E. is a Certified Professional Chemical Engineer with over thirty five years of international experience consulting to insurance companies, municipalities, government agencies, and the legal profession. He provides consultation to International corporations in the areas of New Product Development, Manufacturing, Packaging, Warnings and Instructions. 

Dr Abraham's services include Expert Witness Testimony for both Plaintiff and Defense in matters involving Personal Injury and Product Liability. 

Areas of Expertise:

Construction Accidents OSHA ADA Labor Law Human Factors Household / Industrial Products Safety Engineering

Retail Store Safety Industrial Hygiene Textiles Fires / Explosions / Flammable Fabrics Slips / Falls Recreational / Sports Accidents Toxic Exposures

Peter J. Sullivan is a World Class Certified ASE Technician and ASE Certified Master Technician in Heavy Duty Truck, Passenger Car / Light Truck, Collision Repair, and Machinist, (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence). He has over 35 years of technical, academic, operational, and managerial experience in the private and commercial transportation, heavy equipment, marine, and recreational vehicle industries.

Mr. Sullivan has extensive experience performing vehicle inspections and downloads of event data recorders and electronically stored information (ESI), including analysis, validation, testing, and preservation on almost all makes and models of vehicles and equipment.

Litigation Support - Mr. Sullivan utilizes his comprehensive legal, technical, and FMCSA / DOT knowledge to specialize in:

Product Defect Cases Driver or Motor Carrier Compliance Electronic Engine Control (ECM) Electronic Throttle Control Electronic Power Steering

Anti-Lock Brake Supplemental Restraint Computerized Systems Closed-loop Systems Hydraulics

He and his team perform accident site and vehicle inspections, perform data downloads, including analysis, on most all makes and models of vehicles and equipment, reconstruct accidents, perform exemplar and product testing, metallurgical testing, fluid analysis, and CMV driver and motor carrier compliance analysis. His primary areas of expertise include medium duty / heavy duty truck, hy-rail, light duty car / truck, motorcycle, ATV, marine, heavy equipment, machinery, tire, bicycle, commercial motor carrier safety and DOT compliance, and commercial motor vehicle driver / operator qualification and compliance, and job site safety.

Mr. Sullivan's services are available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense. His litigation support services also include expert reports, depositions, and testimony for trial, OSHA, and governmental hearings.

View Peter Sullivan's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Adam K. Aleksander, PhD, PE, CSP, has over 40 years of experience in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, Human Factors, and Safety Engineering. He combines both academic credentials and active work in industry to provide a grounded perspective in Product Liability, Industrial Incidents, Warnings, and OSHA related issues. He is also a VP of an Energy Services firm, with over 35 overseas assignments related to forensic services, power utility issues, and equipment failures.

Dr. Aleksander has been a practicing engineer since 1972, focusing his Manufacturing, Consulting and Forensic investigations on Problem Definition and Root Cause Analysis of complex problems in confidential issues. His firm has experience encompassing an enormous variety of claims, from large $45 million dollar dam claims, to environmental clean-up claims, to small road construction claims. His litigation services often involve reconstruction, perception reaction studies, warnings, equipment operation, mechanical failures, industrial accidents, skiing, and bicycling injuries.

As an Expert Witness, Dr. Aleksander has worked with many clients, including plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys, both civil and criminal, attorneys representing corporations, corporations in the power utility area, and corporations that produce products. His services are also available to insurance executives with complex claims issues that involve industrial or utility related losses. Dr. Aleksander has been retained over 125 times in a wide range of technical investigations.

Litigation Expertise:

• Product Liability - Design, Manufacturing and Marketing Defects, Involving Damage, Injury or Fatality
• Equipment Failures - Proximal Cause of Failure with Contributing Factors
• Human Factors, Visibility, Ergonomics, and General Research Issues - Product Usability, Warnings, Instructions, Perception, Reaction Time, Visibility and Conspicuity Issues
• Construction, OSHA, and Safety Engineering - Regulatory and Safety Issues
• Industrial Projects
• Power Utility - Service and Equipment Failures

View Dr. Aleksander's Consulting Profile.

Analytic Engineering combines Professional Engineering with Effective Communication. We offer Technical Analysis and Services in the Engineering field and provide experienced Expert Testimony to communicate the conclusions reached.

Engineering Services:

Mechanical Engineering Safety Engineering Vehicular Accident Reconstruction Failure Analysis Computer Animation

Premises Liability Patent Claim Analysis Product Design & Liabilty Product & Equipment Design Engineering Services

Steven R. Thomas, PE, the Principal Engineer at Analytic Engineering, earned his Bachelor of Science - Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical) at Widener University, Chester, PA in 1979 and a Master of Science in Engineering Science (Safety Engineering and Human Factors) at The New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1997.

Professional Experience: Steven R. Thomas, P.E. has worked for such organizations as General Motors, Thomas & Betts, General Cable and Breed Automotive Corporation. He has worked in the engineering fields of Research and Development, Product Design, Machine Design, Manufacturing, Industrial, Tooling, Safety, Facility Design, Failure Analysis and Accident Reconstruction. Since 1991 Mr. Thomas has worked as an Engineering Consultant in the Forensic field and has testified in numerous jurisdictions.

New Jersey Office: PMB 4066 55 Madison Avenue - Ste 400 Morristown, NJ 07960 T: (973) 401-0010 F: (973) 401-0056

New Hampshire Office: Analytic Engineering 105 Juniper Ridge Road Gilford, NH 03249 T: (603) 293-4477 F: (603) 293-4142

Karl R. Leinsing, MSME, PE, President of ATech Designs, Inc., is a Professional Mechanical Engineer who specializes in Medical Device Product Development from concept to production. Mr. Leinsing has been granted over 32 patents (needle free IV valves, laparoscopic devices, needlescopic devices, suture lockers, catheters, mitral valve repair devices, knitting machines) and excels in solving the most complicated problems and design challenges. His company has a fully equipped medical lab with calibrated measurement and test equipment and all is fully documented with high quality reports with pictures and video to provide credible results and easy to understand compelling data. The winner of five design awards, Mr. Leinsing is recognized as one of the top 100 medical device professionals in the nation by MD&DI. For dedication to his industry, he was made the 2014 Chairman of the Medical Device and Manufacturing Conference in Anaheim, CA. Mr. Leinsing has also been acknowledged for his work in a publication by Life Magazine. Mr. Leinsing offers litigation support services to the legal community. He has extensive experience with Patent and Product Liability cases including report writing, depositions, and testimony. Areas of Expertise:

Intravenous (IV) Systems & Disposables Hernia Repair Endometrial Ablation Laparoscopic Instruments Injection Ports Catheters Heart Valve Repair / Replacement Subcutaneous Ports

Bed Rails Cervical Screws Syringes, pen injectors, auto-injectors IV / Insulin Pumps Glucose Monitors Peritoneal Dialysis Pumps Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair Sleep Apnea Devices (CPAP)

View Karl Leinsing's Consulting Profile.

Michael Nranian, JD, MBA, MS has over 30 years experience focusing in Product Development, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Legal and Technical Compliance, and Product Liability Litigation. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan, Texas, & the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nranian is a Six Sigma Black Belt, Professional Engineer, & Certified Project Management Professional. He has an in-depth background and education in Law, IP, Electrical, Chemical & Computer Engineering, & Business. He has testified extensively as an expert witness in depositions, hearings, and trials in state & federal courts.

Mr. Nranian conducts Product and Technology Analysis, Patentability & Prior Art Research,and provides Technology & Litigation Support for Intellectual Property. His litigation background includes patent infringement / non-infringement under literal infringement and the doctrine of equivalents, patent validity / invalidity, prior art, & file-wrapper estoppel, for both ITC and Federal cases, including Inter Partes reviews. He conducts analysis of patents and products, prepares claim charts, & expert witness reports. This includes testimony and document preparation for cases before state, and federal court jurisdictions, and the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Mr. Nranian is thoroughly familiar with all 101, 102, 103, 112, and other enablement and prior art arguments. His experience includes Technology Standards Boards and Licensing Authorities, Antitrust / DOJ, Technology Development and Transfer, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights, Licensing, Unfair Competition/Trade, False/Deceptive Advertising, & Lanham Act Actions, & Class Actions.

His Product Liability Expert Witness litigation background includes all types of Safety Systems, Electrical Systems, Fires, Accident Reconstruction, and Evaluation of Alternative Designs for Automotive, Medical and other industries. He has over 29 years of experience in Automotive Safety Systems, Sensors, Seatbelts, Airbags / Curtains, Seats, Diagnostic Systems, Crash Recorders, Crash Pulse Analysis, System Diagnostic, Fault Codes, Structure (including roof-crush and door) and front, side & roll-over systems (including sensing and algorithm development) for domestic and international corporations. He is thoroughly familiar with all regulatory (including FMVSS), and corporate due-care requirements, & preemption arguments, occupant kinematics, & injury causation.

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

Peter A. Crosby has over 35 years experience in the Medical Devices Industry. He has been the CEO of six medical device companies (public and private) in four countries, and has been a member of the board (including chairman of the board) of over 10 companies.

Mr. Crosby is an accomplished entrepreneur and company builder, and has brought many medical device products to the world market. In 2017, he retired as CEO from Mainstay Medical, after spending over 8 years as the founding CEO, doing several rounds of financing, taking the company public in Europe, and bringing Mainstay’s ReActiv8 to market in Europe. Although he continues to work with the company on a consulting basis, he has shifted his focus to helping other companies grow, as a board member, advisor, and in interim management.

With a university education in Biomedical Engineering, Mr. Crosby is the inventor on over 30 US patents and applications pending. He has managed the intellectual property portfolio of several companies. His clinical domain experience includes ophthalmology, otolaryngology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, pain management, anesthesia, and intensive care.

Litigation Support - Mr. Crosby has served as an expert witness in many cases including product liability, intellectual property (patent disputes), and commercial contracts disputes. He has testified in three cases in which the outcome hinged on interpretation of “commercially reasonable efforts.” Mr. Crosby's services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant.

Product Expertise:

Implantable Devices Cochlear Implants Cardiac Pacemakers Implantable Defibrillators Artificial Hearts and LVADs

Neurostimulation Devices In Vitro Diagnostics Medical Device Software Patient Monitoring Imaging / Ultrasound and X-Ray)

View Peter Crosby's Consulting Profile.

Bobby L. Lanford, PhD is a Forest Operations Consultant with over 35 years of experience. Dr. Lanford is currently an Adjunct Professor at both Auburn and Clemson Universities. Dr. Lanford provides litigation support services on court cases involving Forestry Accidents, Product Liability, and Contractual Disputes. He has been retained for his expert witness services approximately 25 times. Dr. Lanford offers his expertise to attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense. Selected Cases Include:

• Contract Disputes
• Forest Harvesting and Thinning Practices
• Wood Handling Facilities Safety Standards and Procedures
• Chainsaw Felling Personal Injury
• Truck Off Loading Standards and Procedures
• Timber Inventory and Mensuration
• Logging Machines' Productivity and Performance
• Potential Production and Profits of Logging Operations and Wood Products Facilities

View Dr. Lanford's Consulting Profile.

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.

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

Frank J. Smith, owner of Elite Fitness Consulting Services, has over 40 years of practical experience in the Fitness and Sport Equipment industries. He is available to testify as an Expert Witness in legal matters relating to Fitness Training, Fitness Equipment and Product Safety. Mr. Smith's clients include Academic Institutions, Insurance Companies, Health Clubs, Corporations and Private Persons. Fit Witness can help you resolve legal difficulties with health clubs and sporting facilities.

Mr. Smith's noted background makes him a qualified, impartial Expert on behalf of both Plaintiff and Defense. He served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports for 7 years, developing, organizing, implementing and supervising six national symposiums on "Employee Health & Fitness. Mr. Smith was also invited by the White House to give a presentation to 650 medical doctors during the "Fitness in America - The Medical View" symposium.

Areas of Expertise:

Fitness & Exercise Accident Reconstruction Fitness & Exercise Equipment Selectorized Equipment Cardio Equipment Sauna's and Steam Rooms Fitness Facility Design Free Weight Equipment

Plate Load Equipment Equipment Design Equipment Use Flooring Private Trainers Equipment, Warnings & Facility Signage Fitness Equipment Instruction of Use

View Frank Smith's Consulting Profile.

Over 35 years of experience in Mechanical / Structural Engineering & Design, Failure Analysis, Product Liability, Industural Asbestos,Pressure Vessel & Boiler analysis and evaluation of mechanical and structural components.

Extensive trial experience. Has been involved in multi-million dollar cases. Areas involved included:

- Piping & pipe supports - Structural failure of products - Failure analysis - Industrial asbestos - Seismic analysis - Fire protection - Pressure vessels

- Tanks - Construction - Heat transfer analysis - Environmental qualification of equipment - Welding - Product design - Patent information

Expertise in developing litigation rate-case exhibits and detailed supporting testimony, and in organizing case documentation into easy-to-use computer databases for trial use.

Eugene R. Camerota is a Professional Consulting Engineer. His consulting experience includes the analytical and experimental studies of Engineering problems dealing with Accident Reconstruction and Product Liability. His work includes the following specialties:

Automotive / Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction

Crash Data Retrieval

Seat Belt Restraint Analysis

Automotive Component Design Evaluation

Construction Equipment

Industrial / Portable Machinery

Consumer Product Evaluation

OSHA

Slip and Fall

Dr. Kevin A. Rider, PhD, PE, CPE of Forensic Human Factors, LLC., providing investigations and expert testimony regarding predictable human behavior, particularly as it relates to motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, and slips, trips and falls, the design and use of products, and adequacy of warnings/instructions. His work focuses on identifying the Human Factors Elements that lead to unfortunate incidents, and what should have been done to prevent them. 

Dr. Rider is a Licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Professional Ergonomist, and has studied human movements and behavior, and served as a human factors consultant since 1999, including five years teaching industrial engineering and occupational safety courses at West Virginia University. He has presented at professional conferences, both nationally and abroad, and his research is published and cited in a number of peer-reviewed journals. He continues to serve as a reviewer for conference and journal manuscripts. 

Dr. Rider has testified over 100 times, and excels at educating attorneys and jurors. His services are available to attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Driver Behavior - Cell Phone Use and other In-Vehicle Distractions
• Product Liability - Design, Guards, Warnings, Adequacy of Instructions
• Premises Liability - Sidewalks, Shopping Centers, Community Parks, Retail Displays
• Slips, Trips, and Falls
• Visibility and Lighting - Illumination and Conspicuity of Objects
• Workplace Safety - Defective Products, Gross Negligence or Misconduct, Third Party Actions on Worksites
• Machine Guarding 

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