Automotive Expert Witnesses: 21

Jack G. Cohen has been involved in the Automobile Industry for over 30 years, wholesaling and retailing, and running several dealerships and franchises. Mr. Cohen has been retained as an expert witness over 50 times since 2015. His services are available to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He consults with attorneys, dealers, consumers, and insurance companies. 

Areas of Expertise:

Appraisals Industry Standards Dealer Fraud Vehicle Sales and Leasing Dealership Practices New and Used Auto Transactions

Auto Warranty Issues Finance Documentation and Analysis Lender - Dealer Relationships Wholesale and Retail Diminished Value Cases Automobile & Equipment Rentals

Steven Proto is a Nationwide Certified Auto Appraiser (IAAA Certified, USAAP compliant) with over 20 years of experience as an Auto Valuation Expert.

Mr. Proto's expertise is in Fraud Investigations, including diminished value, dealership practices, new and used auto transactions, prior accident damage detection, and vehicle valuations from a Corolla to a Ferrari. He currently serves as the GM of an Auto Auction, Auto Mediator Umpire and he establishes and maintains markets in automotive vehicles, appraising vehicles, and arbitration disputes for top tier auto franchises.

Litigation Support - Hired by Auto Manufacturer's, Top Tier Auctions, the D.O.J.  and qualified to testify in Federal/ State Court as an  Expert in Vehicle Valuation, Dealer Fraud, Dealer Business Practices, Wrongful Death, Tesla Repair process. He can assist in the discovery stage to ensure clients are able to document real damage or the bogus nature of fraudulent claims. Serves as an expert witnesses for both plaintiff and defendant. 

Steve Proto Automotive Mediator and Expert Witness

Areas of Expertise:

Dealership Business Practices Automotive Industry Standards and Practices Diminished Value Market Valuation Total Loss Vehicle Valuation Tesla Repairs Wrongful Death Fraud Investigations Auto Leasing/Auto Rental Automotive Auction Appraiser Automotive Auction Arbitration Inspector Prior Repairs and Previous Paint Work

Automotive Mediator Auto Dealer Disputes Dealer vs. Dealer Disputes Insurance Claims Consumer Disputes Lemon Law Total Loss Claims Manufacturer Warranty vs. Dealer Disputes

Dr. Kanellakopoulos is a technology leader with 25+ years of experience in R&D and engineering management in both academia (former UCLA Professor of Electrical Engineering) and industry, and a seasoned expert witness with a perfect success record.

He has designed and built telecom products such as DSL and Carrier Ethernet hardware and software, as well as a prototype fully automated electric vehicle. He has conducted applied research in adaptive control of nonlinear systems, with applications to automotive driver assistance systems (adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, vehicle collision avoidance) and active suspensions. He has significant experience with international telecommunication standards (ITU-T SG15/Q4), and has directed collaborative projects with several automotive/truck manufacturers and vendors (Ford, Mercedes-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner, Gentex, Visteon).

He has significant experience as an expert witness in patent infringement (including IPR) and product liability cases in the automotive and telecommunication areas; the vast majority of his cases have resulted in a win or a very favorable settlement for his clients. In 2017, he was the lead expert witness in a product liability case against Nissan that resulted in a $25M jury award for his clients; this decision was later upheld on appeal. His deep technical expertise allows him to analyze patents and products in detail, and explain clearly (in expert reports, depositions, and court testimony) the main issues that the judge and jury need to internalize in order to comprehend the essence of the case.  His extensive educational experience allows him to help judges and jurors understand the topic they are dealing with, instead of confusing them with unnecessary technical details.

After all, it takes excellent teaching skills and a deep understanding of a complex technical concept to convey the essence of that concept to non-experts without talking down to them.

View Dr. Kanellakopoulos's Consulting Profile.

Experienced in Fire Cause and Origin, Arson Prosecution and Defense, Product Subrogation, Fire and Building Codes, Life Safety Codes, Fire Injuries and Fatalities, as well as Fire Department Operations and Management. 

John Michael Agosti & Associates provides assistance to insurance companies, attorneys and other agencies in the determination of cause and origin in fires and explosions. Our goal is to provide independent and articulate findings to you the client, quickly and accurately. 

With over 28 years of fire department experience and 15 years in the private sector, Mr. Agosti has completed over two thousand investigations of fires, explosions, and life safety incidents. He has testified in both federal and state courts for both plaintiff and defense clients.

Nationwide Expert Witness and Case Preparation Services Provided For Litigation Involving Automobile Industry Standards & Practices, Specializing in Dealership Operation, Relating to Sales, Leasing, Finance, New & Used Cars, Service & Parts. Auto Industry Veteran Since 1978. 

Issues:

Fraud Unfair Business Practices Single Document Rule Document Disclosure Spanish Contracts Finance Reserve Payment-Packing Purchase/Lease Flip Rental Disclosure Sales, Closing and Desk Procedures 4-Squares AB-68

Deferred Down Payment Regulations M & Z Wholesale Procedures Reconditioning Safety Inspection Title History Wrongful Termination Discrimination Wrongful Death Class Actions Sales & Management Training Song-Beverly Lemon Law

Los Angeles Business & Resale Licenses
Resume & References upon Request

Dr. Cristina Benton is a senior consultant with Anderson Economic Group, directing the Market and Industry Analysis practice area. Her background is in Research and Data Analysis, Community and Economic Development, and Urban Planning.

While with AEG, Dr. Benton has worked on a number of auto dealership franchise projects as well as retail, industry, and market analyses. Among the clients for whom she has worked are Holland Tulip Time Festival, the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Automation Alley. Dr. Benton has also worked with automobile dealerships in matters of sales performance assessments, geographic territory analyses, market opportunity studies, and expert testimony. 

Prior to joining AEG, Dr. Benton worked as a community and economic development assistant with the City of East Lansing, Michigan where she provided analysis and support to the city’s economic development efforts. Prior to that, she was a research assistant at Michigan State University working on the evaluation of economic revitalization programs in Michigan. 

Dr. Benton holds a PhD in geography and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, both from Michigan State University, along with a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Babes-Bolyai University, Romania. She is a member of the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA).

Litigation Support - Dr. Benton has successfully testified in countless state and federal courts, legislative hearings, and commercial arbitration panels. Her services include thorough reporting, depositions, arbitration, and trial testimony as needed

Areas of Expertise:

Market and Trade Area Analysis Retail Location and Distribution Network Analysis Sales Forecasts and Performance Assessments Industry Studies and Benchmarking Surveys and Focus Groups

Tourism and Event Impact Studies Real Estate Feasibility and Market Strategies Urban Planning Community and Economic Development Automotive Specialties

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.

Jayson Uribe, Vehicle Investigator, is an active Firefighter with the Napa County Fire Department, as well as a professional Driver and Instructor at Sonoma Raceway and the Allen Berg Racing School at Laguna Seca. 

Mr. Uribe owns and operates a private investigation company, Code 3 Consultations specializing in professional driver coaching, autonomous research and development, vehicular analysis, scene recreation, motorcycle accidents, and expert witness testimonies. In a consulting capacity, he has worked with such companies as Allen Berg Motorsports (ABMS), Sears Point Racing Experience (SPRE), Skip Barber Racing Schools, American Supercamp (ASC), Waymo Technologies, Faction Tech Co., Mercedes-Benz USA/GER, etc.

Heavily involved in the motorsports industry for almost 20 years, he has in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience with any and all modern safety systems and how they operate. He has the mechanical knowledge to be able to decipher the validity / integrity of a potentially compromised system which may have been associated with an incident.

From a driver standpoint, Mr. Uribe uses his experience as a performance driving instructor to properly break down and analyze the actions taken by an individual to determine if any malicious intent was involved. Essentially, he is the one you call when you have a traffic accident that requires more than just an on-scene report from an officer. 

Litigation Support - With nearly 20 years in the motorsports industry, 5 years in accident recreation and autonomous vehicle R&D, and 8 years in a coaching / teaching role, Jason Uribe is uniquely qualified to assist in complex accidents. His services include on-site accident investigation, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Motorcycle / Vehicle Accident Analysis Accident Scene Recreation Vehicle Safety Systems and Operations R&D for Autonomous Vehicles

Safety Training for Emergency Vehicles Safety Training for Private Security Details Stunt Driving Train the Trainer

View Jason Uribe's Consulting Profile.

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years.

Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore. Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets.

Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster. Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs.

They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

Aviation & Aerospace Biomechanics Construction Defects Digital Forensics Electrical Injury & Electrocutions Causation Chemical Computer / Network Equipment Failure Construction Defect Disputes over Reparability of Damage Electrical Failure Equipment Restoration Fire & Explosion Analysis Equipment Restoration

Industrial / Manufacturing Equipment Materials Failure Mechanical Accidents Mechanical Failure Medical / Laboratory Equipment Product Failure / Liability Project Management Structural Failure Subrogation Utility & Energy Valuation of Structures or Equipment Vehicle Accident Investigation Workplace / Premises Accidents

View Envista's Consulting Profile.

Albert Ferrari, PE, CSP. is a Mechanical Engineer and Safety Professional experienced in both the micro and in the macro focus. Mr. Ferrari is particularly sensitive to reliability, safety, and function. His Forensic Engineering experience includes 30+ years in Accident Reconstruction, Causal Analysis, Failure Analysis, Codes, Standards and Regulations, Consulting and Testimony.

Mr. Ferrari provides Expert Witness Consulting and Testimony services to Defense attorneys, Plaintiff attorneys, Claims adjusters and Insurance companies. 

Engineering Work Includes:

• Automotive Engineering
• Pedestrian Facilities
• Machine Design
• Thermal and Mechanical Energy Analysis
• Structural Load and Stress Analysis
• Piping and Tanks
• System Safety and Human Factors Analysis for Design of Hazardous Equipment

Evaluations Include

• Cause of Injury, Loss and Damage
• Adequacy of Products, Systems, Materials, Practices
• Standard of Care of Design, Manufacturing, Use, Maintenance

Services Include:

• Investigation and Consultation
• Diagnostics, Testing and Analysis
• Technical Photography and Video
• Literature and Standards Studies
• Codes and Regulations Analysis
• Reports and Testimony
• Evaluations

Roy Theophilus Bent, Jr. is a well known and respected expert and consultant in the automotive industry. An IACP Certified Auto Appraiser, Expert Witness, and Field Inspector, Mr. Bent is the seated President of the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers, a National Professional Appraisal Credentialing Organization that has trained, tested, and certified over 2,400 students under his leadership in the practices of IACP Certified Auto Appraisals and Litigation assistance.

Mr. Bent holds numerous licenses and credentials as an ASE Certified Mechanic, I-Car Collision Specialist, Licensed Auto Appraiser, Insurance Adjuster, Umpire, Mediator, Arbitrator, Classic Car Judge, and Vintage Car Historian.

KPRC 2 Houston Interview with Kenneth Sanders on Diminished Value

Litigation Support - Mr. Bent is retained by counsel to provide IACP Certified Third Party Appraisals for most auto related lawsuits. He serves law firms whose clients are involved with dissolution, probate, bankruptcy, and diminution of value, and automobile accidents. Mr. Bent is a contributing author in several peer reviewed journals in auto accident expert witness related theories, case studies, and reports which are used exclusively by other expert witnesses in the field. His services include deposition, arbitration, mediation, and trial testimony when necessary.

Areas of Expertise:

Diminished Value Appraisals Total Loss Appraisals Corrosion Defective Products Lemon Laws Air Bags Repair Negligence Motor Homes Motorcycles Recalls

Seat Belts Auto Accident Reconstruction Automotive Accident Photography Automotive Odometer Tampering Used Car Dealer Fraud Tractor Trailers / Unsafe Loads Classic Cars / Custom Vehicles Commercial Vehicle Accidents Electronic Control Module (ECM) High / Low Speed Accidents

Deceptive Trade Practices Ignition Switch Failures Pedestrian / Vehicle Collisions Public Transportation Accidents Recreational Vehicles-RVs Rollover-Roof Crush Run Overs (Pedestrians) Self-Insured / Liability Claims Unibody & Frame Repair Vehicle Fire Cause & Origin (Battery)

View Houston Auto Appraisers' Consulting Profile.

Inside the Box, LLC is an Automotive Crash Data Retrieval company which caters to the legal community. Their certified technicians use state of the art equipment to download crash data and keep it safe in their secure servers. Their technicians are able to download the data from vehicles that have been repaired and vehicles that have been damaged beyond repair. 

Litigation Support - If secured early, the black box data can be used to help evaluate the value of a case and validate a client’s claims. During the litigation process, opposing viewpoints, such as those regarding liability or accident severity, can be evaluated by referring to the crash data. The black box data can also be a valuable tool during settlement negotiations.

Often, at this stage, the involved vehicles have been scrapped or sold and the black box data can no longer be retrieved. This can cost thousands of dollars to be added to the cost of a reconstruction by having to rely solely on traditional accident reconstruction methods. The black box data, if secured early, can be made available to an accident reconstructionist, at a later date, simplifying the reconstruction process.   

A vehicle’s black box, or Event Data Recorder (EDR), contains critical information useful to evaluate a case. The crash pulse data provides information regarding the impact. Speed and acceleration time histories provide insight into the severity of the impact. The black box also stores five seconds of pre-impact data, such as Pre-impact Speed, Brake Usage, Steering Data, Seat Belt Usage, and more.  

Services

• Tier 1:  Report Only - Includes download of the black box data, secure storage of the report and a secure link to download the report. Basic photographs of the vehicle and the download setup will be taken. The report and photographs will be available, securely, for one month, following the download.  
• Tier 2:  Report Plus Photographs - The black box data will be downloaded and stored securely. Detailed photographs of the vehicle exterior and interior will be included and also uploaded to the secure server and made available for one month following the download.
• Tier 3.  Report, Photographs, and Measurements - The black box data will be downloaded. The vehicle will be photographed and documented.  Standard vehicle measurements which will be useful for an accident reconstruction will also be recorded. The data, the photographs and measurements will be available, securely, for one month following the download.
• Report Interpretation: The data contained in a black box can be confusing to those not versed in accident reconstruction. A short explanatory report is offered which translates the EDR report into plain English. This report is not an accident reconstruction, but rather, a straightforward explanation of what is being reported by the EDR. 

**Inside the Box, LLC does not perform Accident Reconstruction or Biomechanical services.

The four PhD and registered PEs at Miller Engineering are celebrating 40 years of Professorships at three universities along with providing services to Government, Insurance, and Industry—through research, publications, presentations, and expert testimony. We have a dedicated office with a full time staff of engineers, researchers, and technical writers. The span of our collective academic and experiential expertise covers well the Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Agricultural, Industrial, Human Factors, Ergonomic and Safety fields of engineering. The areas listed below are from actual projects completed in our 40 years of history. 

Vehicles Car/Truck Accident Reconstruction Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Visibility & Reaction Time Analysis Tires, Trailers, Brakes & Accelerators Truck/Off Road Vehicle Egress/Ingress Traffic Signing and Construction Zones Electronic Vehicles Mechanical & Electrical Safety Product Safety & Analysis Machinery - Metal, Wood, Plastic Molding Machine Guarding & Safety, Robots, Automation Hazard and Risk Analysis Employee Safety Procedures – OSHA Electrical Distribution & Transmission Hazards

Warnings & Instructions Warning Labels & User Manual Design Hazard Analysis & Product Label Designs Medical Device & Drug Warnings & Instructions Inadequate Warnings Analysis Standard Compliance (ANSI Z535) Product Recall Information & Strategies Consumers/Household Safety Appliances & Tools Child Furniture, Choking, Playgrounds Swimming Pools & Exercise Equipment Recreation - ATV, Boats, Bicycles, Boards Ladder, Stair, Step and Railing Accidents Slip, Trip, & Fall Accidents CPSC Recall Information & Strategies

Chemicals Safety & Labeling NEW OSHA HAZCOM (2012) & GHS Review MSDS, SDS and Product Label Compliance Toxic Torts - Diacetyl, Asbestos, Benzene, Lead, Carbon Monoxide Vaping & E-Cigarette Health Effects Chemical Exposures & Workplace Safety Chemical Inhalation, Ingestion, Dermal Contact Contamination - Water & Environmental Manufacturing & Process Line Accidents Slips, Trips, Falls, & Entanglements Fires & Explosions Cause & Origin Investigations Gas, Vapor, & Electrical Spontaneous Combustion Vaping & E-cigarette Battery Failures Fire Control & Explosion Issues

Agriculture Tractor & Equipment Accidents Chemical Applications & Exposures Crop Storage & Harvesting Accidents Pesticides Construction Vehicle Visibility Accidents Slip, Trip, & Fall Accidents Power Tool Repetitive & Immediate Injuries Scaffolding - Cranes - Hoisting - Fork Lifts Insurance Subrogation & Forensics Accident Investigations Electrical & Fire Causation Chemical Leakage Damage Defective Equipment Injuries Premise and Process Damages

James M. Miller, PE, PhD – Founder  Dr. Miller is an Emeritus Engineering Professor at the University of Michigan. He has directly served in Washington originating several Federal OSHA safety regulations, and interacts regularly with CPSC regarding safety and product recalls. Dr. Miller often works on projects relating to compliance with occupational safety standards, provides upper management guidance on product design, recall and liability issues, and serves as an expert witness.

Mark R. Lehto, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Lehto is a Professor of Engineering at Purdue University. He completed his Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Michigan, where he specialized in Human Factors Engineering, in particular Warnings and Labeling. Dr. Lehto specializes in knowledge engineering, warnings and instructions, structuring expert systems, accident modeling, accident statistical analysis, consumer product safety, boating safety, in-field national surveys of product usage, and product information effectiveness.

David R. Clark, PE, PhD – Co-Founder Dr. Clark is an Emeritus Engineering Professor at Kettering University. He was an engineering PhD graduate from the University of Michigan, where he specialized in human factors engineering and system safety analyses. He has a special expertise in electrical fire- and explosion-related accidents, and has extensive experience working for loss control companies, performing over 150 fire origin and cause investigations in the past few years.

Adam M. Olshove, PE, MSE – Engineering Manager Mr. Olshove has over 10 years of experience providing consulting services to industry and the legal profession. He holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on control systems and battery modeling (2019), and a BS in Mechanical Engineering (2012), both from the University of Michigan. He has performed dozens of on-site investigations nationwide in relation to consumer product design and industrial accidents, including failure analysis and testing.

Jeffrey D. Rupp, MSE – Engineering Associate Mr. Rupp has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a MS in systems engineering and engineering management from Wayne State University. Among his company affiliates is 26 years with Ford Motor Company and Volvo Car Corporation, where he was involved in crash development and crash sensing calibrations.

Established in 2000, Laird are an Expert Witness services firm supporting the Legal sector across the UK. They understand the importance of providing an efficient and seamless customer journey and review their processes continually to ensure that they achieve and surpass expectation levels daily.

With constantly evolving IT systems and exceptional customer service, Laird are leading the way in the Expert Witness sector. You can instruct with the click of a button via their website and will be kept up to date at every stage of your case.

Laird have three main areas of expertise:

Automotive Experts

Vehicle Damage Reports Low Velocity Impact Diminution in Value Desktop Reports

Vehicle Valuation Disputes Accident Reconstruction Pre and Post Repair Inspections Vehicle Data Check

Photography Experts

• Locus Reports
• Personal Injury Photography Reports

Language Experts

• Interpretation
• Translation
• Witness Statements
• Document sign up service

Lewis Grill is a Trucking Expert with over 45 years and millions of miles of experience as a truck driver, owner operator, truck driver training instructor, truck driver training program director, safety director. Mr. Grill is currently licensed and certified as a commercial driver for tractor-trailer with endorsements for hazardous materials, tank truck, double and triple trailers, passenger carriage, and school buses. He is certified for air brake inspection and repair, operations of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs), and as a Pilot / Escort Driver.

Lew Grill has testified as a trucking expert witness in litigation matters for law firms, trucking fleets, trucking insurance companies, and truck driving schools in Federal and State courts across the nation. His litigation support services involve the Safe Operation of Commercial Motor Vehicles and the Standard of Care of truck drivers and motor carriers.

Areas of Expertise:

• Truck Accident Investigation
• Advanced Accident Reconstruction
• Human Factors Analysis
• Heavy Truck Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Dynamics

View Lewis Grill's Consulting Profile.