Forensic Document Analysis Expert Witnesses: 12

FORENSIC EXPERT WITNESS - PHOTOGRAPHY

Professor Jeff Sedlik has decades of experience at the highest level of professional photography including advertising, corporate, editorial and stock. He is a respected and acknowledged authority on photography having served as Past National President of professional photography's leading trade organization,  "Advertising Photographers of America". Professor Sedlik is also an experienced Expert Witness. 

Areas of Expertise:

Contracts Copyright Licensing Publicity Rights Model Releases

Lost/Damaged Film Stock Photography Business Practices Forensic Scene Recreation Forensic Image Analysis

Colorado Office: 1550 Larimer Street, Suite 251 Denver, CO 80202 T: 303/330-8636 F: 303-265-9087

Texas Office: 3021 Ridge Road, Suite A130 Rockwall, TX 75032 T: 214/458-6009 F: 303-265-9087

Wendy Carlson, Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Expert, Court qualified in Federal, state and local courts in 16 states, Canada and the Bahamas. Regularly retained by government agencies including Dept of the Army, Dept of the Air Force, Public Defenders and Prosecutors, Police Departments, City and County Election Divisions, Private Investigators and Associations.

Ms. Carlson has examined hundreds of signatures, handwritings and case documents, and rendered opinions on cases in at least 46 states and more than a dozen foreign countries. She has also examined documents and rendered opinions in cases written in Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean and Spanish writing.

Specific Areas of Training:

Handwriting Identification and Discrimination

Signature Comparison

Techniques for Distinguishing Forged Signatures

Disguised Handwriting

Altered Numbers

Anonymous Writing

Factors that Affect Writing

Brenda Petty, CQDE, has over 18 years of experience as a Forensic Document Examiner. She is currently a member of the International Association of Document Examiners and has earned the designation of Certified Questioned Document Examiner.  

Litigation Support - Ms. Petty has examined over 1,500 cases both nationally and internationally. Clients have included attorneys, individuals, police departments, public defenders' offices, and various government offices. Ms. Petty has testified in 13 states in the United States, most provinces in Canada, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. She has been qualified under Federal Rules of Evidence 702 and has gone through Daubert Challenges favorably.

Ideal Client Engagement: Ideal clients include anyone or any office that needs a document examined for genuineness, questioned signatures, alterations, historical purposes, anonymous writing, election boards verifying signatures, etc. Ms. Petty has examined historical documents for content as well as identification and participated in an examination of signatures that involved the 2020 election process. 

Areas of Expertise:

Wills Holographic Wills Various Types of Deeds Anonymous Handwriting Questioned Handwriting

Workplace Hostilities Graffiti Writing on Various Mediums (glass, walls, car doors) Historical Documents Election Signatures

California Main Office: 793A East Foothill Blvd., #200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Global Forensic Services, LLC (GFS) is a Forensic Consulting, Laboratory and Investigative Firm offering over 44 years of experience and training in a wide range of forensic science and private investigation disciplines.

Larry Stewart has personally examined tens of thousands of individual items of evidence from sources such as state, local, and federal agencies (e.g. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Central Intelligence Agency, and others), and foreign governments. On several occasions he has examined cases involving international disputes between governments. 

Mr. Stewart has testified as an Expert Witness in state, federal and military courts of law, as well as in foreign court systems to include; Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He has also testified at The Hague in the Netherlands and three times as an expert before the U.S. Congress. 

Areas of Expertise Include:

Questioned Documents Crime Scene Evaluation Trace Evidence Ink Analysis Age Determination Authenticity Fraud Investigations

Handwriting Daubert and Cold Case (consultant) Investigations Indented Writing Striations Typewriting Erasures Office Machines Tracing

George Reis is the president and owner of Imaging Forensics, Inc., and has been providing expert witness services and training in Forensic Image Analysis, Forensic Video Analysis, and Forensic and Technical Photography through Imaging Forensics since 2004. He is Certified in Forensic Photography and Imaging by the International Association for Identification, and is certified in Forensic Video Analysis by the Law Enforcement and Video Services Association (LEVA). He is a member of the editorial review board for the Journal of Forensic Identification.

Litigation Support -  Mr. Reis has testified more than 80 times in depositions and in Federal, State, Military Courts and Internal Court. He has provided training throughout the United States to individuals and agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, US Army Crime Lab; and internationally in England, Hong Kong, Singapore, Qatar, Canada, and Australia.

Mr. Reis worked from 1989 to 2004 at the Newport Beach Police Department in Southern California, as a forensic photographer, image analyst, crime scene investigator, and latent fingerprint examiner. He introduced digital imaging to that agency in 1992, making them one of the first law enforcement agencies in the world to utilize this technology.

• Image Analysis Services: 
  • Image and Video Analysis, Image and Video Authentication, Image and Video Enhancement, Comparative Analysis
• Forensic Photography:  
  • Items of Evidence, Close-up / Macro Photography, Exploded View Photography, Low Altitude Aerial Photography, Crime and Accident Scenes, Eyewitness Perspective, Reverse Projection / Reconstruction
• Training:
  • Over 1,000 police agencies have taken advantage of digital imaging training by Imaging Forensics — either through regional workshops or in-house training. Imaging Forensics offers regional workshops throughout the United States as well as in-house training to meet the needs of your agency.

Laurie Hoeltzel, PhDc, a Forensic Document Examiner, has studied handwriting examination and apprenticed under some of the leading court-qualified Forensic Document Experts in the United States. She spent 11 years serving her country in the United States Air Force, including three tours of duty in Iraq, while obtaining a Bachelors degree and Document Examination Certificates. Laurie Hoeltzel has been 100% court-qualified and her testimony has always been allowed.

Litigation Support - Ms. Hoeltzel has reviewed numerous signatures and handwritings, examined case documents, and rendered an opinion on cases in AZ, AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MI, MD, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WA, Washington D.C.; Montreal & Quebec Canada; Freeport & Nassau, Bahamas. She is court-qualified and attorney-recommended. With over 20 years of experience, she is available for depositions and court testimony when necessary, Ms. Hoeltzel offers her expertise to counsel for both plaintiff and defendant NATIONWIDE!

Areas of Specific Training:

• Handwriting Identification
• Signature Comparison
• Distinguishing Forged Signatures Techniques
• Disguised Handwriting
• Altered Numbers
• Anonymous Writing
• Factors that Affect Writing

Disputed Documents or Signatures Analysis on: Wills, checks, contracts, deeds, account ledgers, mortgages, loans, notary disputes, and medical records. Investigation and Analysis for: Questioned signatures, suspect documents, forgeries, identity theft, robo-signing, anonymous letters, bond authentication, alterations, obliterations, erasures, typewritten documents, altered medical records, graffiti, handwritten numbers, suicide notes, and computerized and handwritten documents.

Colorado Office Telephone: 720-724-8077 www.denverhandwritingexpert.com

Texas Office Telephone: 832-827-3052www.houstonhandwritingexpert.com

Arizona Office Telephone: 310-985-2807 www.arizonahandwritingexpert.com

East Florida Office Telephone: 954-745-0752 www.floridahandwritingexpert.com

West Florida Office Telephone: 727-213-5722 www.floridahandwritingexpert.com

August Meyer, QDE is a court qualified Forensic Handwriting and Document Examiner. He has been trained in the examination of handwriting and documents to include simulated signatures, disguised writing, altered documents, ink and paper analysis, and anonymous and threatening notes. 

Since 2014, Meyer has worked cases ranging from medical malpractice to title transfers. Through the National Gang Crime Research Center (NGCRC), he has approximately 175 hours of training and education in gang-related activity. In 2016 he was invited to be a guest presenter to the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation and gave a seminar covering gang culture, structure, and graffiti. In this presentation he showed how gang members will often work their symbols into their handwriting allowing an examiner to identify possible gang affiliations and rivalries from nothing more than handwriting.

Litigation Support - Meyer has worked cases across the country from Las Vegas to Indiana. He consults with attorneys to review opposing expert's reports on handwriting to identify and exploit weaknesses. He has successfully testified in court resulting in favorable resolutions for his clients. 

Areas of Expertise:

Signature Authentication Disguised Writing Altered Documents Ink and Paper Analysis Anonymous and Threatening Notes Wills Quit Claim Deeds Medical Malpractice Insurance Fraud

Medical Documents Titles Deeds Contracts  Checks Credit Applications Loan Applications Prenuptial Agreements Receipts Insurance Claims

Meyer participates in continuous training and annual proficiency testing from the Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners and the International Association of Document Examiners. Additionally, Meyer has published three articles in peer reviewed journals.

Mr. V C Misra is a leading Forensic Handwriting, Finger Print and Document Examiner with over 21 years of experience. He has solved and given opinion on thousands of cases in India, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, South Africa and UAE. Mr. Misra's Expertise Includes:

• Examination of Handwriting, Signatures, Fraudulent Additions and Alterations
• Approximate Age of Documents
• Photo Static and Scanned Transplantations of Signatures
• Traced, Freehand and Impersonation Forgeries
• Denial of Normal or Disguised (Changed) Signatures
• Anonymous Letters
• Body Writings on Account Opening Forms
• Denial of Withdrawal of Money
• Development of Latent Finger or Palm Prints from the Cheques
• Bank Documents by Ninhydrin (Chemical) Method Used for Impression Sweat on Paper
• Opinions on Folds
• Sequence of Strokes and Distinction Between Inks
• Insertion of Typed or Printed Matter
• Fake Currency Notes
• Credit Card Forgeries
• Identification of Computer Typed Documents
• Fake Seals and Rubber Stamps

Mr. Misra's Expert Opinion is Available in the Following Languages: English; French; German; Russian; Spanish; Hindi; Gujarati; Urdu; Marathi; Regional Languages of India or Abroad. Clients Include:

Air Force Police Bank of Tokyo Bechtel (India) Bennett & Coleman Birla Soft C.R.P.F. Delhi Police Delhi University Duncan Industries Electrolux I.C.I. Fertilizer IIT New Delhi & Kanpur

Industries & MNC's J & K Bank JNU New Delhi L.I.C. Main Detective Agencies Private Parties Punjab National Bank Skanska Standard Chartered Bank State Bank of India U.P. Financial Corporation U.P. Police

Mike Wakshull is a civil and criminal court-qualified document examiner who partners with legal clients to dissect the evidence presented in handwritten and computer-generated questioned documents. His valid approach often produces winning arguments during the trial. Wakshull applies his scientific training to examine questioned documents which is a court requirement. He uses generally accepted practices such as SWGDOC and ANSI/ASB standards. His laboratory is well-equipped with high powered digital microscopes, VSC80, ESDA, high quality digital scanners, and software. He has built a large forensic reference library. Wakshull is skilled at creating and explaining complex exhibits in easy-to-understand language and pictures. His courtroom approach is to teach and engage the trial participants—opposing attorney, judge and jury.

Mike Wakshull holds a graduate school certificate in Forensic Document Examination. Since 2010 Mr. Wakshull has worked and studied in the science and discipline of Document Examination and Handwriting Analysis. He is one of only a handful of forensic document examiners with graduate school training in the science of forensic document examination. His opinion is always based on sound fundamentals of evidence. Mr. Wakshull has spoken at International and local conferences and seminars and also holds professional certifications that bring unique skills to your case. As a Certified Quality Engineer, Mr. Wakshull studied the science of variability and applied this to the analysis of handwriting and documents. As a Certified Information Systems Auditor, he applies his knowledge of information systems and technology to the analysis of documents.

Q9 Consulting, Inc. Has both an extensive research library and laboratory. Q9 Consulting, Inc. serves Southern California counties of Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, and surrounding regions. Mike has worked cases from 29 states and five countries. Work is accepted from all other locations.

Areas of Expertise:

Contracts Wills (Printed and Holographic) Deeds Affidavits Employment Agreements Checks Insurance Claims Social Security Cards Anonymous Letters Crime Scene Writing

Notarized Writing Photographs Threatening Letters Graffiti Altered Documents Handwritten Notes Computer Generated Pages Medical Records Loan documents Robo signed documents

View Mike Wakshull's Consulting Profile.

Setec Investigations offers unparalleled expertise in computer forensics and electronic discovery, providing highly personalized, case-specific forensic analysis and litigation support services to assist in the investigation, handling, and prosecution of computer-related crimes or misuse.

Setec Investigations combines today's most advanced computer forensics and litigation support expertise with a business- and legal-friendly approach, resulting in a sound analytical foundation that carefully balances critical investigative requirements with vital legal and evidentiary needs.

Setec Investigations incorporates a cross-disciplinary team comprised of computer forensic investigators, attorneys, law enforcement specialists, and seasoned business professionals who have established a proven track record of success since 1997.

Services Overview

Setec Investigations possesses the necessary combination of technical expertise, understanding of the legal system, and specialized tools and processes enabling the discovery, collection, investigation, and production of electronic information for investigating and handling computer-related crimes or misuse.

Explore our range of service offerings:

Computer Forensic Investigations

Computer forensics and enterprise investigation services identify, gather, analyze, and preserve electronic evidence to establish a sustainable posture for internal or legal action.

Electronic Discovery

Manage large volumes of electronic data and quickly identify and isolate electronic evidence that is critical to the success of a litigation.

Litigation Support

Legal consultants and attorneys translate litigation issues into strong case strategies that effectively utilize electronic evidence.

Expert Witness

Supports the resolution of security incidents and active litigations by offering impartial and independent expert testimony, opinions, and customized reports in legal proceedings.

Robert Radley's practice is the longest established private independent laboratory in Great Britain dealing solely with the Forensic Examination of Handwriting and Documents. Mr. Radley is a trained forensic scientist specialising exclusively in this field. He has written numerous papers and publications in forensic science journals on forensic document examination relating to a variety of aspects of this work and has presented these to scientific meetings both in this country and abroad. He has been on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners.

Since 1971, Mr. Radley has been consulted in over 9,000 cases involving questioned documents with instructions received from all over the world. These generally relate to signature authentication and/or handwriting identification together with other areas of document examination which are dealt with on a routine basis, including non-destructive instrumental analysis of inks, paper, alterations, erasures, typewriting, printing, indented and electrostatic writing impressions in documents (ESDA), photocopy examinations, dating queries and determination of sequences of writings. He has trained as a Single Joint Expert and regularly deals with such cases. His laboratory is extensively equipped with the necessary instrumentation for the forensic examination of documents.

Mr. Radley has given evidence on several hundred occasions as an expert witness in the courts throughout the UK and also courts in Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, The Hague, The Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Cyprus, Germany, Switzerland, Kenya and Gibraltar.

USAForensic is a boutique state-of-the-art forensics company with full-time labs in Phoenix, Arizona and Detroit, Michigan. Our booking office is on the east coast. This helps with an earlier start each day and with overseas cases.

Specializing in forensic Audio, Video, Cell Phones, Computers Photography & ”Cell Tower tracking” debunking.  USAForensic is court certified in Federal, US Military, US District, many State and county courts throughout the United States. International cases are not uncommon. Mr. Neumeister has worked in 23 countries over the past 40 years.

Clients range from the largest Law firms to private firms, large corporations, the Department of Defense, government agencies, advocacy groups, the DOJ to the innocence project.

Technology is flying past the court system. We’re here to work with attorneys to understand how to deal with digital or analog evidence, how to challenge it or how to get it admitted into evidence.

We prefer to work in the background assisting attorneys, even writing out Daubert 702 & 902 issues regarding other parties evidence submissions.

In a recent Federal Daubert hearing USAForensic worked with DOD JAG attorneys to get police cell tower tracking ruled inadmissible. The federal judge rule police cell tower tracking as “Garbage in, Garbage out”. 

Not a verifiable science, not peer reviewed, no scientific white-paper to support its use.

Over 600 cases in the past 3 years. From the very highest profile to simple straightforward forensic cell phone extractions or video and audio clarification for court use.

To us Data is Data & takes no side, but it has to be verifiable data.