Security Systems Design Expert Witnesses

Dr. Michael J. Fagel, PhD, CEM has over 30 years of broad based experience in a variety of fields relating to Crisis Management & Recovery, Consequence Management & Emergency Management. He provides specialized assistance in OSHA compliance assistance and training in Disaster Management, Emergency Response as well as Occupational Safety and Health. Aurora Safety has extensive experience in litigation guidance drawing from decades of experience in all phases of safety and emergency response and planning. They provide guidance to attorneys and insurance companies on a variety of topics and offer effective evaluations regarding the many facets of each case.

Dr. Fagel provides expert witness services to cases in across North America. He has served various Federal Agencies providing Occupational Safety Services at disaster sites. He also was EMS coordinator for the fire rescue division in North Aurora, as well as serving as an officer in the local fire service. Dr. Fagel currently teaches industrial safety and emergency medical services at several college locations and lectures at various professional trade conferences throughout the country. He offers Expert Witness Services and Litigation Support to attorneys representing both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

• Disaster / Crisis Management and Recovery
• COVID-19 / Coronavirus Recovery
• OSHA Compliance
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs)
• Fire, EMS, Disaster Management
• Site Inspections
• Training Assessment Management and Development of Safety Programs
• Critical Incident / Crisis Management Site Inspections
• Safety Audits

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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.

Howard Levinson, CPP has been in the Security field for over 37 years. As the President of Expert Security Consulting, his firm provides services such as Risk and Vulnerability Assessments and Surveys and Security System Designs of new and existing private and public facilities. His diversified experience in Security has included Education Complexes, Banking, Retail, Commercial, Industrial, Distribution, Home Crime prevention, Investigations, and other related areas. Mr. Levinson has performed or directed consultations at over 200 client locations. Mr. Levinson has been a Security Expert Witness for over 26 years. He assists attorneys in preparing for liability cases and provides expert witness and forensic testimony in cases involving security and premise liability issues. Representing both Plaintiff and Defense, he has either consulted or testified in over 50 cases. He is available to provide clear, concise reports with documentation for all investigation requirements. Areas of Expertise Include:

• Premise Liability
• Security Negligence with Security System Design (CCTV, Access Control, Alarms, Lighting)
• Risk and Vulnerability
• Security Operations
• Security Officer / Firm Negligence
• Crime Prevention
• Assaults and Attacks
• Policy and Procedures
• Theaters
• Parking Lots
• Schools / Education
• Residential
• Retail / Shoplifting
• Hospitality - Bars and Restaurants

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John Hatcher is an industry leader in Building Systems Engineering including, Security, Building Automation Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Intelligent Building Concepts and Commissioining. He has worked on some of the most prestigious facilities in the world including the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Russia, India and Southeast Asia. 

Security Expertise:

• Access Control
• CCTV Surveillance
• Emergency Communications
• Operations
• Risk Assessments

Building Automation Expertise:

• Energy Management
• HVAC Controls
• Operations
• MEP Commissioning

Other Systems Expertise:

• Fire Alarm
• Telecommunication
• Intelligent Buildings

Richard M. Santoro, CPP, is an ASIS International board-certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an experienced Hospitality, Resort, Premises Liability Security Expert. He has 30 years of corporate security experience that includes responsibility for security operations, risk management, executive protection, physical security, CCTV design and operation, investigations, special events, and labor action preparation.

Litigation Support - As an independent security expert, Mr. Santoro has opined, developed, planned, and consulted on various security operations, physical security, target hardening, emergency management, event planning, nightclub security, and matters for numerous public and private organizations. He has experience with hospitality, casino gaming, nightclub, bar, cash-in-transit (CIT), healthcare, public sector, retail, convenience store, petroleum vendor, and entertainment venue security litigation consulting.

As Principal of Interbrief.Org, Rick Santoro has the necessary expertise to assist in litigated matters from the beginning of the case through trial. He offers forensic research relating to:

Security Negligence Foreseeability Negligent Investigations Policies / Procedures Standard of Care Management and Supervision Training, Personal Safety

Threat Assessment Crime Prevention Wrongful Detention Workplace Violence Resort / Hospitality and Gaming Security CCTV Operation Retail Major Crime

Credentials:

• New Jersey Security Officer Reform Act (S.O.R.A) Instructor
• UNLV/DHS Soft Target Terrorism Awareness Instructor
• Graduate of FBI Citizens Academy
• Federal Secret Clearance
• Member of Department of Homeland Security Commercial Sector Advisory Council

View Rick Santoro's Consulting Profile.

J. Patrick Murphy has over 40 years of experience in Law nforcement, Security Management, and Corporate Loss Prevention. Mr. Murphy's background as a Fortune 50 company security director provides a strategic view of operations, security planning, and liability. His continuing education in the area of security case law and his unique approach to investigating cases make him a valuable Security Expert Witness to any litigation team. His hands on approach and advice during the discovery phase of the case can often be pivotal in determining the ultimate outcome.

Mr. Murphy provides Security Expert Witness testimony for plaintiff or defense in a broad area of security liability. He specializes in Crime Analysis to establish Foreseeability and to determine the Reasonableness of security measures. Mr. Murphy has extensive litigation experience opposing Wal Mart. Plaintiff 60% Defendant 40%

Areas of expertise:

• Premises Liability and Inadequate Security - apartment communities, bars and Other adult Entertainment venues, malls and shopping centers, parking garages / lots, motel, restaurants
• Retail Loss Prevention - hiring, training and supervision, false arrest, shoplifting, excessive use of force, death during apprehensions, false imprisonment, employee theft, wrongful termination in malls, and major retail settings
• Bouncers, Bars, Nightclubs, and Security Guards - mall security, shopping center security, proprietary and contract security guards and off duty police
• Insurance Casualty Claims - adequacy of security hardware such as burglar alarms, robbery alarms, closed circuit television (CCTV), fencing, fictitious pickups of goods and cargo theft at warehouses and distribution centers

John M. White, CPP, CHPA is Board Certified in Security Management; Certified Protection Professional (CPP); Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA); and a Published Author.

Mr. White has been a professional security practitioner, security consultant, and expert witness since 1999. He has over 40 years of experience in Corporate Security Management and Law Enforcement and Security consulting, including physical security, security operations, regulatory compliance, & security training. Prior to forming Protection Management, LLC, Mr. White served a distinguished career in law enforcement, corporate security, and the military.

As a security consultant, Mr. White has developed and/or assessed security programs involving multi-unit residential properties, hotels/motels, homeless shelters, tourism services, places of worship, retail stores, high rise office/residential buildings, food services, entertainment services, healthcare services, hospitals, long-term care facilities/assisted living, parking facilities, college campuses, lounges, and other commercial properties.

In 2013, Mr. White was approached by publisher Butterworth-Heinemann and asked to write a book on security risk assessments. That book, titled: Security Risk Assessment – Managing Physical and Operational Security was published in July 2014 and is available online through numerous bookstores.

Litigation Support - Mr. White has been retained by law firms representing plaintiffs and defendants in negligent security, premises liability, and use of force lawsuits in the field of security. His services include case consultation, document review and analysis, deposition, arbitration and mediation, and trial testimony when necessary.

Areas of Expertise:

Crime Prevention Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Security Premises Security Issues Security Risk Assessments Security Audits

Security Training Security Management Security Program Development Security Policies Use of Force Workplace Violence

View John White's Consulting Profile.

Gregory D. Lilyhorn, BSCrJ, CFC, LPI, CPP, CAS, CHS-V - Accredited practitioner with extensive broad-based knowledge in management and consulting, with over forty years of diverse service and participation in Law Enforcement, Private Security and Emergency Management.

Substantial experience in various pubic and business sectors including commercial and residential properties and unique environments such as high-risk or high-profile properties including banks, high-rise buildings, hospitals, drug clinics, and homeless shelters. Trusted and knowledgeable with extensive and diverse contacts in national corporations, healthcare, commercial property, criminal justice, government, non-profits, law enforcement, legal, religious and educational fields.

Accredited court-qualified expert with “successful court case experience” in (premise liability and personal injury cases) offering formal reviews and detail written opinions on civil and criminal matters involving lengthy reviews of negligent property security or security responses. Practiced public speaker, knowledgeable and experienced educator, certified security professional and licensed instructor in police and private security training.

Core Specialties: Expert Witness Opinions, Security Management, Crime Risk Vulnerability Evaluations, Site or Operations Security Assessments,  Crime Prevention Programs, H.R. Investigations, Case & Opinion Presentations/Reports, Source Intelligence, Law Enforcement Liaison, Public Speaking, Continuing Education Training, Business Crisis Preparedness-Response, Media Relations, and Complex Private Investigations.

Corporate Security Background - Mr. Lilyhorn served in corporate security for Tenet Healthcare Corp., one of the nation's largest for-profit healthcare organizations, where he was responsible for corporate security strategy, programs, and support of operations. Some of the most pressing duties were in the protection of newborn infants from kidnapping and in fraud, drug and identity/records theft investigations. While employed with the Tenet, he was also involved in massive evacuation operations for the 2008 Houston Texas Hurricane Ike and in the 2005 Hurricane Katrina and Rita disaster response operations for five seriously damaged hospitals.

Law Enforcement Background - Mr. Lilyhorn has also had a successful law enforcement career covering thirty years of practical state and federal law enforcement experience, finishing out his career as a Senior Federal Law Enforcement & Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Federal Protective Services being honorably retired after twenty years of federal law enforcement service in 2004.

Military Background - Gregory is a proud patriot and decorated veteran having served in the United States Air Force Security Police in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

View Gregory Lilyhorn's Consulting Profile.

Alan J.  Robinson brings over 35 years of Security / Law Enforcement experience to the  security, safety, fire safety, emergency management field. Mr. Robinson is a former Supervisor, Protection Services for Disney-ABC, Inc. in New York, where he coordinated the security of millions of dollars in equipment for both Reagan Presidential Inaugurations. While at Disney-ABC, he was credited with creating the first hostage negotiation training class after an incident at ABC News in Washington, D.C.

Background Experience: For  the past 25 years, Mr. Robinson has been the Director of Protection and Security Services/Emergency  Management for Atlantic Health System; a hospital system based in New Jersey where he manages: Public Safety and Security, Fire/Life Safety, Emergency  Management, Investigations, and Special Events for a healthcare system that approximately 10 million square feet of physical plant and campus, spread  throughout New Jersey.

Mr. Robinson directly and indirectly manages over one-hundred (100) security  officers, investigators, fire safety officers, emergency management officers, and contract law  enforcement officers. He has successfully navigated numerous external agency regulatory compliance  surveys including those from the “Joint Commission,” State Department of Health, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, and New Jersey Office of  Counter-Terrorism.

Litigation Support: Mr. Robinson has been retained to provide consultation, security analysis, and security expert witness testimony by plaintiff and  defendant in a wide variety of civil suits. He is available to consult and testify in matters concerning:

Premises Liability Inadequate Security Negligent Security

Crime Foreseeability Private Security Officer Training Security Industry Standards

Areas of Expertise

Workplace Violence Prevention and Investigation · Public Safety & Security · Emergency Management · Preventing Infant Abduction · Child Predator Protection · Narcotic Diversion Investigations · Multi-Facility Management · Asset Protection · Hospital Security · Continuous Process Improvement · Crisis Event Management

View Risk and Threat Analysis Management, LLC's Consulting Profile.

Michael S. D’Angelo, CPP, CSC,CHPA is the founder of Secure Direction Consulting, LLC. He has been in the public safety and private security industries for over 25 years. 

Background - Before transitioning into security management, Mr. D’Angelo was a Police Captain, serving 23 years with the South Miami Florida Police Department. During his law enforcement career, he served in a variety of specialized units and gained significant managerial experience as a supervisor, middle manager, and senior commanding officer. Upon transitioning to the private security profession, Mr. D’Angelo was hired as the Corporate Security Manager for Baptist Health South Florida, where he served as an internal consultant for security and emergency preparedness to six hospitals and a multitude of outpatient/non- hospital facilities. D'Angelo achieved both Board Certification in Security Management (CPP) and Board Certification in Security Consulting (CSC). Expanding his expertise in the healthcare sector, he went on to achieve both the Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA) and Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) designations. 

Litigation Support - Michael S. D’Angelo provides forensic litigation support for cases involving security negligence and premises liability. Mr. D'Angelo's services include case review, expert testimony, and consultation on security standards and best practices. *Please contact for Mr. D'Angelo's CV. 

View Michael D'Angelo's Consulting Profile.

Robert J. Coventry, Jr., CPP, CHS (III), has over 25 years of experience in the Security, Protection, and investigations field. He has been the Chief Operations Officer, (COO) of Starside Security and Investigation, Inc. (Starside) since 1991. Mr. Coventry is Board Certified in Security Management and a Certified Protection Professional, (CPP) with the American Society for Industrial Security, International. He is a Licensed Private Investigator, holds a Private Patrol Operator License in Arizona and California, and is a Private Investigator Security Manager in Florida. He is also a California Registered Locksmith.

Starside, under Mr. Coventry, has provided Armed and Unarmed Detention Security Officers and Transportation Officers for numerous Governmental agencies and provides security for the financial, entertainment and other commercial industries. He has nationwide and international security consultant experience in Durban South Africa prior to the World Cup, and numerous times in Mexico, France, United Kingdom, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. He has provided executive protection as well as armed and unarmed uniformed security and patrol services in both the public and private sectors. Recognized for his expertise, Mr. Coventry sits on Advisory Boards for California State University, Fullerton's Private Investigation and Security Program and Grossmont College Adult Corrections Academy.

Litigation Support - Mr. Coventry has been serving as a Security / Use of Force expert witness throughout his career. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include consulting, investigations, case Review, arbitration, and testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Bank Security Bars / Lounges / Night Clubs Deadly / Excessive Force Hospital Security Inadequate / Negligent Security

Private Investigators Security Guards Security Management Special Event Security Workplace Violence

View Robert Coventry's Consulting Profile.

Roy G. Taylor is a current Chief of Police with over 40 years of experience in a wide-range of federal, state, local, and private criminal justice positions. Mr. Taylor specializes as an expert witness in Police Practices and Procedures and Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Current Positions:

• Chief of Police Blue Ridge Public Safety (2014)
• President/CEO Signal 88 Security of Charlotte (2012)
• President/CEO Capitol Special Patrol (2012)
• Chief of Police Capitol Special Police (2002)
• Lt. Colonel – Provost Marshal, Army National Guard (2000)
• Antiterrorism / Emergency Management Branch Chief DoD (2007)
• Provost Marshal Joint Civil Support Task Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2014)

Litigation Support - Mr. Taylor is called upon to analyze cases from both defense and plaintiff perspectives. His services include case review, written reports, deposition, and trial testimony as needed. Areas of Expertise:

Police Standards & Practices Use of Force & Deadly Force Electronic Control Devices Standards of Conduct High Speed Vehicle Pursuits & Chases Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures

Failure to Train Law Enforcement Malpractice Failure to Supervise Violations of §1983 Civil Rights Personnel Selection & Retention Police K-9

View Roy Taylor's Consulting Profile.

Michael J. Canaan, CPP CFLC, is a Premises Liability Expert Witness with over 45 years of experience in military and civil law enforcement, as well as corporate and private sector security and investigative positions.

Assignments have taken him from the Bering Sea to Southeast Alaska, across Canada and the United States, to countries in Central and South American in case venues ranging from educational settings, amphitheaters and stadiums, nightclubs and sports bars, ships, casinos, retail environments, food processing facilities, malls, and shopping centers.

Expert cases have involved evaluating failure to meet best practices, duty or standard of care in areas such as:

• Inadequate or negligent hiring, retention, training, supervision, staffing, and terminations
• Use of force or excessive force, threats, harassment, and intimidation
• Inadequate or non-non-existent policies and procedures, post orders
• Assaults, voyeurism, rape, sexual assault, robbery, shootings, stabbing, and homicide
• Security technology integration, improper or inadequate physical security infrastructure or systems installation
• Workplace violence

Mr. Canaan has worked over 35 expert cases, with testimony experience in both deposition and trial.

He is Board Certified in Security Management by the American Society for Industrial Security, International. ASIS is the largest professional security practitioner association with over 38,000 members worldwide, of which only 2200 have received this prestigious certification. Mr. Canaan is also a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant with the Forensic Expert Witness Association.

View Michael Canaan's Consulting Profile.

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, PhD, is a prominent scholar, practitioner, and entrepreneur, described by The International Herald Tribune as “a rising star in the counterterrorism community.” His career has focused on understanding how terrorist groups and other violent non-state actors (VNSAs) are changing the world, and helping governments and private clients fashion creative solutions to save lives and safeguard their interests.  Background Experience - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross is the founder and CEO of Valens Global and Valens Labs. He is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague. Previous positions he has held include senior advisor to the director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Community Partnerships, fellow with Google’s think tank Jigsaw, and adjunct assistant professor in Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.

As a practitioner, some of Dr. Gartenstein-Ross' recent projects have included: 

• Delivering regular briefings and assessments to U.S. government agencies on such topics as ISIS’s European attack network, the implications of the failed coup in Turkey on counterterrorism efforts, and the strategic implications of the Libyan civil war.
• Organizing and facilitating a conference in Nigeria as an EU-appointed Strategic Communication Expert, helping civil society activists understand militant groups’ use of social media.
• Mapping the online counter-ISIS narrative space for Jigsaw/Google’s Redirect Method, which was designed to divert users who may be susceptible to the jihadist group’s propaganda.

Litigation Support - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross has testified on his areas of core competency before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives over a dozen times, as well as before the Canadian House of Commons. He has also served as an expert witness on terrorism and sub-state violence in numerous federal legal cases, including criminal, civil, and asylum cases. 

Dr. Gartenstein Ross on Russian Hacking in the U.S. on CNN News

Speaking Engagements - Dr. Gartenstein-Ross is frequently a featured speaker at events throughout the globe, including delivering keynote speeches at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Commander’s Conference, the University of Southern California’s National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), and the Global Futures Forum. Other venues where he has spoken include the Royal United Services Institute (London), the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (Kazakhstan), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

View Valens Global's Consulting Profile