Parks and Recreation / Exercise and Fitness (General) Expert Witnesses: 10

Gordon Giesbrecht, PhD, is a professor emeritus (ret) of Environmental Physiology with emphases on Hypothermia, Drowning, and Cold Weather Survival. Dr. Giesbrecht is also an expert on Vehicle Submersion Deaths. He is a full professor in the Faculties of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, and Medicine (Departments of Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine) at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Giesbrecht has a Ph.D. in respiratory physiology from the University of Manitoba (Faculty of Medicine) and received post-doctoral training at the University of Calgary (Faculty of Medicine). He has also earned fellowships from the Aerospace Medical Association (FAsMA), Wilderness Medical Association (FAWM) and World Extreme Medicine (FEWM).

Litigation Support - Dr. Giesbrecht has 30 years of experience as a legal consultant, more than 30 years as a published researcher in human environmental stress, and 2 years as a wilderness guide. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

• Human physiological responses to environmental stress (e.g., cold, heat, and altitude)
• Human response to treatment of environmental illnesses [cold (hypothermia and frostbite) and heat (heat illness and heat stroke)]
• Drowning prevention, mechanisms, and treatment
• Vehicle submersion: vehicle sinking characteristics, self-rescue strategies, and protocols for emergency response operators
• Human factors and emergency response training

Dr. Giesbrecht is widely published in the field of environmental medicine, including being the lead author on immersion hypothermia in a leading textbook of Wilderness Medicine.  He has co-created several internationally known educational programs for medical, law enforcement, military, and search and rescue professionals. These include Baby It’s Cold Outside, and Beyond Cold Water Boot Camp.  His extensive human research studies have provided data for survival models for lost mariners that are used by the US Coast Guard (Probability of Survival Decision Aid) and the Canadian Coast Guard (Cold Exposure Survival Model). Dr. Giesbrecht has also created protocols for emergency response operators for Vehicles in Water, and Vehicles Stranded in Flood Water.

Dr. Giesbrecht’s work has earned him the Arnold D Tuttle Award from the Aerospace Medical Association for contributions to cold water immersion physiology, survival, and medical treatment. He has also been awarded the Blair Erb World Congress Award for worldwide impact on wilderness medicine from the Wilderness Medical Society, and the Education and Training Award of the National Search and Rescue Program Awards of Excellence (Canada).

Finally, Dr. Giesbrecht has been a consultant for the military in the US, Canada, and Sweden (including US Special Forces and JTF2 in Canada), as well as the Coast Guard in both the US and Canada. He has also worked with the FBI and other law enforcement organizations across the US and Canada.

David Harlowe is the Founder and President of The Sport Management Group, Inc. (SMG), a nationally recognized Risk Management Expert with 28 years of dedicated service in the Athletic, Fitness, and Recreation Industries. He is an accomplished professional known for conducting safety audits, risk assessments, and developing strategies for numerous organizations, including the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

David has personally performed over 3,500 safety audits on athletic and fitness facilities and has performed over 14,000 risk assessments nationwide. With a vast range of expertise and a commitment to safety, he has made a significant impact in the field of risk management. 

Litigation Support - David has been retained as an expert witness in over 40 cases nationwide. His services are available to attorneys for plaintiff and defense and is well-acquainted with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines.

Areas of Expertise:

Career Highlights:

• Manages over 500 independent field inspectors around the country
• Authored various safety manuals and training programs designed for athletic directors, health club owners and managers
• Created and currently maintains a website, https://facilityriskservices.com, a 24-hour resource for facility owners and staff members
• Developed risk management websites specifically for the athletic, fitness and recreation industries
• Conducts risk management lectures at local universities and colleges
• Developed an E-Learning Program specific to the athletic and fitness industries
• Authored “Fitness Center Safety” chapter in Risk Management in Sports, Second Edition, edited by Herb Appenzeller.

Douglas Baumgarten, M.S., offers consulting and expert witness services related to Fitness, Health Clubs, Exercise Equipment, Personal Training and Sports. Mr. Baumgarten is a graduate of Harvard University and California University of Penna. (M.S. Exercise Science). He is a certified Health/Fitness Director (Amer. Coll. of Sports Medicine), Performance Enhancement Specialist, Medical Exercise Specialist, Bike Fitter, cycling coach, and baseball/softball official.  He is a former Adjunct Professor of Health and Fitness Management at Marymount University.

Mr. Baumgarten has over 40 years in the fitness industry, as personal trainer, manager, consultant, equipment dealer, President of a large fitness company, and owner of SportFit Consulting. He has contributed to Fitness Management magazine, Boardroom magazine, Club Management magazine, and other publications.  

Litigation Support -  Mr. Baumgarten has over 18 years of experience as a legal expert, on cases from equipment accidents to health club employee conduct. He works with both plaintiffs and defendants, and has testified in federal, state, civil and criminal courts.  Douglas Baumgarten has the experience and expertise to assist in cases involving:

View Douglas Baumgarten's Consulting Profile.

Pool Operation Management (POM), founded in 1980, is an Aquatics Safety and Risk Management firm that is nationally recognized for pool consulting services including liability and risk management, compliance with governmental regulations, facility operations, mechanical questions, and personnel requirements. Trevor A. Sherwood II has extensive experience in the swimming pool industry, with 30 years of experience in service, consulting, training and education, code/regulations development, and expert witness. He has contributed to aquatic textbooks and related articles, influenced State Recreational Bathing Codes, and presented at national industry conferences. He has provided leadership to such organizations as National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA), Community Association Institute - New Jersey Chapter (CAI), New Jersey Apartment Association (NJAA), New Jersey Parks and Recreation Society (NJPRS), Pennsylvania Parks and Recreation Society (PRPS) and New Jersey and Massachusetts Health Departments. He has been retained by attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense. Mr. Sherwood's extensive swimming pool consulting experience qualifies him to appear in court on the following matters:

View Consulting Profile.

Laura Miele, PhD, CST-2, is a Sport, Fitness, and Education Expert with over 30 years of experience in various aspects of sport, fitness, and physical activity including the education, training, and supervision of athletes. Dr. Miele is a Nationally Certified Accredited Interscholastic Coach through the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) and has 14 years of physical education experience, (Pre-kindergarten-12) within multiple states across the country.  

Background Experience - Dr. Miele played Division I basketball at Arizona State; was Tight End for the Arizona Caliente, of the Women’s Professional Football League; and was also a New York Golden Gloves semi-finalist in 2004. She began coaching athletes in 1986 and has been involved as a personal exercise and fitness trainer since 1994.  She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe as an athlete and coach and has been involved in consulting, coaching and teaching a wide range of sports including but not limited to; Basketball, Gymnastics, Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Football, Archery, Bowling, Figure Skating, Hockey, Boxing, Wrestling, Field Sports, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, and Tennis. 

Dr. Miele is a level 2 Certified Service Technician for the International Association of Trampoline Parks. She serves on the Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities Committee and currently serves and assists on the task force that is in the process of creating the standards for Amusement Challenge Areas. She has given numerous presentations on the topics of sport injury prevention as well as supervision and safety in Amusement Challenge Courses / Trampoline Parks Risk Management.

Litigation Support - Dr. Miele is an expert in fitness, sport and recreation with specific expertise in sports psychology, coaching, recreation, personal training, fitness facilities management/operations, and injury prevention. She is an accomplished athlete as well as an experienced trainer, coach and teacher. She provides expert witness services to attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant. Her services include thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Dr. Miele has relevant experience in the proper teaching standards required by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) for the:

• Proper Supervision Before, During, and After School
• Skill Progression and Instruction
• Proper Use of Safety Equipment
• Practices related to the Role and Responsibilities of Teachers and Administrators  

Areas of Expertise:

• Fitness Facility Operations including Personal Training, Supervision, Risk Management, and Injury Prevention
• Physical Education, Sport and Recreation-Risk Management
• School / Teacher Supervision-Playground-Recess
• Proper Coaching Training Practices and Procedures in Sports
• Gymnastics, Trampoline Parks / Amusement Challenge Courses
• Emergency Preparation and Response in Schools, Fitness and Sport Facilities

Ken Tannar’s Golf Expertise is unique in the legal world. As an Errant Golf Ball expert, Mr. Tannar can analyze and give advice on potential damage produced by errant golf balls. With an increase in residential developments built around golf courses, errant golf balls will almost certainly cause damage to property and/or persons. 

Mr. Tannar provides litigation support services on all cases involving golf club / ball interactions. Having consulted on over 70 cases, he uses a highly accurate golf ball projectile model, Mr. Tannar can determine the “zones of danger.” including:

Golf Netting Safety Height - Topographic Errant Ball Analysis - Adjoining Property Errant Golf Ball - Safety Determination

Mr. Tannar has been providing expert advice to golf courses, driving ranges, residential properties and the courts for since 2000. He has advised on cases in Australia, Canada, Norway, Spain, UK and many of the US States.

Gary Deel, Ph.D., J.D. has 10 years of experience in executive-level positions in the hospitality industry and 10 years of experience teaching hospitality management and law curriculum for some of the nation's top hotel schools.

Dr. Deel holds both a Ph.D. in Hospitality and a J.D. in Law, so he understands the nuances of expert witness testimony from the perspective of attorney strategy. He has also worked in a variety of different hospitality industry capacities including operations, sales, security and risk management, training and administration, and others. His services are available to help attorneys make the strongest possible arguments for clients in hospitality-related cases. Dr. Deel offers expert witness services nationwide in the areas of:

Recent Cases:

• Suit against Miami beach resort involving catastrophic injury in the ocean and hotel duty to warn about latent hazards known to hotel and not obvious to visitors (plaintiff).
• Suit against Orlando city center convention hotel involving sexual assault of a minor guest by an employee and hotel duty to monitor employee whereabouts and activities (plaintiff).

Dr. Theresa A. Schmidt, DPT, is an expert Orthopedic Physical Therapist with 35 years of clinical expertise and over 10 years of academic experience.  As an Approved Provider of continuing education for NY State Boards of Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy, and for the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Inc., (NCBTMB), she updates clinicians internationally on clinical practice guidelines, standards of care, examination and management of injuries, disease, movement impairments and disability.

Litigation Support - Dr. Schmidt offers expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. She is dedicated to providing the latest evidence-based assessment and interventions to support functional outcomes. Dr. Schmidt offers meticulous, objective review of medical records and documentation.  She is an excellent communicator, engaging presenter, and expert orthopedic physical therapist with clinical, academic, and professional speaking experience.

Areas of Expertise:

Educise Education, Health and Wellness with Dr. Schmidt, DPT

Background Experience - Dr. Schmidt has been in private practice physical therapist for over 30 years. She has presented for American Physical, Occupational and Massage Therapy Associations, NASA Inomedic Health, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt Medical, Wake Forest, private companies and medical centers across the US.

View Dr. Theresa A. Schmidt's Consulting Profile.

Dr. William L. Bainbridge, Ph.D., FACFE, is a Forensic Education Expert with extensive experience in School Related Accidents, Incidents, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, College Athletics/Sports Injuries and Title IX compliance. He is court qualified in Schooling, Education Standards, Policies, and is considered to an Expert in over 35 states.

Dr. Bainbridge currently serves as President and CEO of the SchoolMatch® Institute and as a Distinguished Research Professor at The University of Dayton.

www.expertonschools.com

Dr. C.J. Abraham, P.E. is a Licensed Professional Safety 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: