Food and Beverage Contamination - Spoilage Consultants: 7

Ted W. Simon, PhD, DABT, is an award winning Environmental Toxicologist and Scientist. His expertise is in toxicology, risk assessment, mathematical modeling, statistics, neuroscience, and environmental / ecological health issues.

Dr. Simon has over 10 years of experience as a toxicologist employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He served as EPA’s senior toxicologist in the waste management division working on risk and soil cleanup.

Teaching Experience - Since 2001, Dr. Simon has served as an Instructor / Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, at the University of Georgia.

Public Speaker - Well published, including the author of a textbook on toxicology and environmental risk assessment, Dr. Simon has extensive national and international public speaking experience. Since 1996, he has been delivering seminars and lectures to universities and national institutes on many subjects within his area of expertise. In 2016, he delivered a lectures on “Bayesian Methods for Application of Uncertainty Factors,” to the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, and “Quantitative Prediction of Phenotypic Change from High Throughput Assay Results,” to the EPA's Workshop on In Vitro to In Vivo Extrapolation, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Litigation Support - Dr. Simon has over 15 years of experience offering expert witness services to counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant. He has been retained over 20 times since 2000 for cases involving environmental risk, drug and alcohol cases, DUI, accidental poisoning, and intellectual property. Dr. Simon has particular expertise in dioxin-like chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). His services include consulting, reports, deposition, and trial testimony when necessary.

Areas of Expertise:

Dioxins PCBs Drugs Alcohol Poisoning DUI / DWI Water Contamination Soil Contamination Environmental Risk Assessment

Environmental Toxicology Carcinogenicity Food Contamination Pesticides Fracking Lead Marijuana Polychlorinated Biphenyls Intellectual Property

David Rutecki's career spans 39 years of Restaurant and Hospitality related experience. Working in more than 20 restaurants and involved in the opening of more than a dozen, he has worked every position possible within this industry. Mr. Rutecki currently owns and operates Mountain Deli in Hendersonville, garnering the 2016, 2017 & 2018 Blue Ridge Growth Award. He is a Member of the North Carolina and National Restaurant Associations. Mr. Rutecki has been invloved in the following selected restaurants:

• Fancy’s Food and Wine, Gourmet Shop, Coral Gables, South Miami & Grove Isle, Fl.
• Susie’s Bagels, Breakfast Restaurant, South Miami, Fl.
• Pizzaria Uno, Full Service Restaurant, Miami, Fl.
• Baystreet, Full Service Seafood Restaurant, Miami, Fl.
• Rusty Pelican, Upscale Seafood, Key Biscayne, Miami, Fl.
• Rudolph's BBQ, Upscale BBQ, Miami, Fl.
• Signature Gardens, Upscale Catering Hall, Miami, Fl.
• Chart House, Upscale Seafood, Coconut grove, Fl.
• Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Coconut Grove, Fl.
• Gatsby’s, Upscale Billiards and Cigar Bar, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Prezzo, Casual Italian, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Maxwell’s Chophouse, Upscale Steakhouse, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Mountain Deli, Delicatessen, Downtown Hendersonville, NC
• Tabica Grill, Upscale American, Jupiter, Fl.
• Jonathon's Landing Marina Club, Upscale Boating Club, Jupiter, Fl
• Jetty's, Upscale Seafood, Jupiter, Fl.
• Austin Grill, Casual, Washington, DC.

Litigation Support - David Rutecki offers expert witness and litigation support for restaurant related issues in the United States. His services are available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. Areas of Expertise:

• Restaurant and Kitchen Design, Menu Development
• Food Safety and Sanitation
• Bar Operations & Liquor Liability... Dram Shop
• Safety & Security - Slips, Trips and Falls
• Daily Operations & Management, Employee & Staffing Issues
• Retail Operations
• Staff & Mgmt Training Programs & Handbooks
• Business Plan Development

Following a career in the public and private sectors, Catherine Adams Hutt, PhD, RD, CFS, launched a consulting career and is currently President and CEO of RdR Solutions Consulting. With vast experience in her field, she provides advice and guidance on a wide range of topics, including:

Regulatory Compliance Food Safety Quality Systems Management Supply Chain

Health and Wellness Business Strategy Product Development Software Solutions for Product Development Processes

Dr. Adams Hutt also partners with Elizabeth Sloan and Sloan Trends to create business strategy advice for Fortune 500 businesses in the Food and Dietary Supplement categories. Sloan Trends examines consumer trends using unique predictive tools to identify emerging mega markets. They help businesses better understand the market and differentiate long-term business opportunities from short-term trends. Dr. Adams Hutt compliments the trend analysis with in-depth investigations of the science behind the issues and regulatory considerations.

A Registered Dietitian and Certified Food Scientist, Dr. Adams Hutt was formerly Chief Quality, Food Safety, and Nutrition Officer for McDonald’s Corporation and led Supplier and Restaurant Food Safety teams for YUM! Brands. She was Chief Quality Officer for Coors Brewing Company, led the North America Quality team at H.J. Heinz, and developed next generation Quality programs for the Campbell Soup Company. Dr. Adams Hutt was Assistant Administrator for the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) where she led the development of HACCP as a regulatory tool. She has been an active participant in international programs, and led the U.S Delegation for the Codex Food Hygiene Committee.

Texas Office 4568 Elm Bottom Circle Aubrey, TX 76227

Virginia Office 124 South Fairfax Alexandria, VA 22314

View Dr. Adams Hutt's Expert Witness Profile.

Perry Group International, founded in 1985, provides consulting, interim hotel management and restaurant and hospitality expert services for lodging, food services, resorts, and nightclubs. Their group does work nationally and internationally with new startup, profitable, and under-performing and distressed hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, retail and mixed-use real estate. 

The professionals at Perry Group International serve as third-party asset manager, owners representative, and advisor, for investors and owners. They also act as court appointed receivers and interim hospitality managers for lenders, operators, and their legal and real estate professionals. Clients have included Biscuits & Blues, Cantina’s, Chevy’s, Choice Hotels, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Hilton, Holiday Inns, Hooter’s Casino, Hyatt, Marriott, McDonald’s, Microtel Inn & Suites, Outback Restaurants, Radisson, Residence Inns, Signature Resort, Sizzler, Sonic Drive-Ins, Starbucks, Starwood, Sheraton, Togo’s, Wendy’s, and Willie Mays Skybox Lounge among others.

Hospitality Management Consulting:

Interim Hotel Management Temporary General Manager Short Term Corporate Manager

Owners Representative Hotel Asset Manager Project Supervisor

Hotel Restaurant Nightclub Consulting:

Acquisition and Disposition Due Diligence Financial Evaluation and Income Impact Planning, Market Analysis, Feasibility Operations and Internal Review Business Interruption

Pre-opening / Post-opening Technical Support Workouts, Restructuring and Repositioning Court Appointed Receiver Provisional Director Expert Witness

Dennis Gemberling, CHA, CFBE, FMP, FCSI, President and Founder of Perry Group International, has over 35 years of experience in the Hospitality Management industry. His experience includes managing, operating, and consulting on full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, all-suite, condo and timeshare hotels and resorts, casual, fine-dining, and quick-service restaurants, bars and nightclubs, special event facilities, casinos, and mixed-use real estate. 

Mr. Gemberling has held prior positions for different owners, operators, and chains as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Director of Food & Beverage, and Restaurant Unit Manager. He has been retained for over 400 projects with typical values in the $1 million to $75 million range and revenues in the $1 million to $100 million range both nationally and internationally. 

View Dennis Gemberling's Expert Witness Profile.

Packaging Technology & Research LLC provides Food Packaging Consulting, Tailored Packaging Science, and Value Chain Solutions that improve   packaging in the Food and Beverage Industry. 

Science-Based Consulting:

Problem Solving and Technical Consulting - Help uncover and shine a spotlight on what’s working and what is NOT to help our clients take bold steps rooted in science-based packaging expertise.

Sustainable Packaging - Unlock the optimal blend of food and packaging science, value chain experience, and consumer insights to achieve more sustainable packaging for clients. This includes food packaging system, flexible packaging, and packaging materials that support food packaging sustainability.

Increase Shelf Life and Prevent Food Waste - Empower clients with packaging solutions to prevent food waste, meet bold commitments on addressing UNSDGs, food justice, hunger, and GHG. reduction. F

Strategy and Roadmaps - Steer clients’ futures by developing science-based, systems-thinking strategies and roadmaps to ensure both an intelligent plan and a strong business case. From food packaging for frozen food to edible packaging and pet food packaging 

Clients: Food Companies, Produce Companies, Frozen Food Manufactures, Meal Kit Delivery Companies, Food and Packaging Wholesaler, Restaurant Chains, Industry Associations, Packaging Companies, Bakeries, Pet Food Companies, Packaging Manufacturers, Quick Service Restaurants, Environmental Advocacy Groups, Chemical Companies, Dairy Farms, Butchers, Copackers, Meat Delivery Companies, Restaurants.

Claire K. Sand, PhD, is a Global Packaging Technology  Leader with over 35 years of Food Science and Packaging experience. Dr. Sand's background includes working with Total Quality Marketing, Nestle, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Safeway, and academia, as well as in basic research, development market research, and marketing in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand. 

Dr. Sand is the owner and founder of Packaging Technology and Research, LLC, as well as Gazelle Mobile Packaging Inc. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University and CalPoly. She is an IFT Fellow, the Riester-Davis-Brody Lifetime Achievement in Food Packaging Award recipient, a member of numerous Editorial Boards, the author of the Packaging Value Chain, and the co-chair of pacfoodwaste. Dr. Sand received her doctorate in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota, as well as master's and bachelor's degrees in packaging from Michigan State University.

View Dr. Claire K. Sand's Expert Witness Profile.

Dr. Ewen Todd is a Food Safety Expert with over 45 years of experience in the reporting and surveillance of Foodborne Disease, as well as development of analytical methods for identifying foodborne pathogens. As a result of his knowledge of foodborne disease and work researching different pathogens and toxins, Dr. Todd has influenced research programs and regulatory approaches taken by the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada. In the US, he held the position of Director of the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center and the Food Safety Policy Center at Michigan State University.

A leader in microbial research, foodborne disease surveillance, costing of outbreaks, food safety policy, seafood toxins, standard-setting, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication, his presentations and food safety programs have been influential in many countries including China, Cambodia, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Europe, as well as Canada, and the USA. Dr. Todd has delivered over 400 presentations and posters at national and international meetings, with over 200 invitations to speak and teach workshops.

An acclaimed author in the field of Foodborne Illness, he has written 109 research papers, 16 reviews, 36 book chapters and booklets, 40 departmental publications, 37 conference proceedings, 9 laboratory methods, 56 investigational and editorial articles, 90 published abstracts, and 3 editings of proceedings or books. Dr. Todd has received 20 appointments and awards, including the Excellence in Science Award for 1998, the first to be awarded by Health Canada. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Association for Food Protection and MSU University Outreach and Engagement as well as Editor in Chief for the Elsevier Encyclopaedia of Food Safety.

Dr. Todd's Consulting services are available to businesses and governments internationally. He responds to telephone calls, emails, and written requests for information on food and waterborne disease.

Consulting Services Include

• General Food Safety and Spoilage Issues
• HACCP and GHP Systems
• Standards for Poultry
• Listeria Monocytogenes in Soft Cheeses
• Standards for Poultry
• Seafood Toxins
• Food Workers
• Investigation of Foodborne and Waterborne Illnesses
• Foodborne Disease Surveillance Systems
• Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Risk Governance
• Safety of Aquaculture Systems
• Norovirus in Elder Care and Other Facilities
• Salmonella and Shigella in Schools and Child Care Centers
• Salmonella in Tahini and Other Oil-based Foods
• Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Leafy Greens
• Staphylococcus aureus in Cheese, Clostridium botulinum in Canned or Preserved Food and Native American / Inuit Fermented Food
• Listeria monocytogenes in Deli Meats and Soft Cheeses
• Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-eat Foods
• Hydrophobic Grid Membrane Filter Systems

View Expert Witness Profile.

E & S Consulting, Inc., is a Florida registered professional engineering firm dedicated to bringing clients top-level consulting engineering services. E & S Consulting specializes in Product Liability litigation and expert testimony, however, they routinely perform Failure Analyses in non-litigation matters. They provide services to attorneys, insurance companies, state and local agencies, as well as manufacturing companies.

Services iNclude:

Metallography Hardness Testing Multi-channel Temperature Profiles Binocular Microscopy

Photographic Documentation Scanning Electron Microscopy X-Ray Diffraction Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy

President and Principal Investigator, 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 - Porcelain
View Edward George's Expert Witness Profile.