Engineering Expert Witness Services
Forensic engineering / expert engineering services – investigating the root cause of structural failures, industrial accidents and fire/explosions. This includes construction litigation – as well as product liability issues on commercial and industrial equipment, including machinery, forklifts and cranes.
We support law firms and major insurance companies in State, Federal & International Courts (on both Plaintiff and Defendant cases) – from simple to complex issues. Our work has included supporting US government agencies including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Chemical Safety Board (CSB). As an independent forensic engineering firm, we provide unbiased, comprehensive technical results.
Our experience covers a broad range of industries, materials, and equipment. For a comprehensive list, see Industries Served.
- Forensic Investigation of Forklift Accident
- Plaintiff Award over Failed Ductwork in an Allegheny County School (PA)
- $98.8 M plaintiff Award in a Construction Contract Interference Case
- $590 M ICC Binding Arbitration Investigation on Coke Oven Battery design/ construction issues.
- Forensic Investigations – Residential Construction/ Remodeling Disputes
Images above: Failed Forklift Brake Cable/ Scaffold/ Transmission Shaft/ Hunting Bow
Expert Witness & Forensic Engineering
What We Do
We were asked to provide engineering technical expertise in a ($200 M) construction litigation regarding the structural integrity of a coke oven battery. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to calculate temperatures, deflections, strains, and stresses to evaluate the long term integrity of the roof and heating walls.
The results showed that the battery oven walls would not deflect enough to induce instability. The construction imperfections had no meaningful effect on the structural integrity, robustness, or longevity of the battery.
Recent Projects
Experience Summary
For over 30 years, we’ve been performing engineering expert witness services. We assist in determining whether a component was used improperly (failure to warn), manufactured incorrectly (manufacturing defect), or initially designed improperly (design defect).
Our engineers are quite familiar with codes including AISC, NFPA, ASTM, AWS, API, ISO, DIN and ASME.
Whether it’s a statue base, a compound bow, a pressure vessel or an industrial turbine – our experience includes materials, metallurgy, fabrication practices and finite element analysis – offering comprehensive, accurate results. These forensic expert witness services range from local cases to high-profile international matters.
Our experience has proven to be quite successful in court, providing quantitative results and effective visuals/ animations.
- Based on accurate engineering models
- Clarify the root cause
- Enables judges and juries to easily understand the technical issues
Not sure what type of expert you need? – give us a call, we may be able to help.
Examples Include:
- Forklifts
- Ductwork
- Machinery
- Fifth Wheels
- Cranes
- Piping
- Consumer
- Commercial
- Petrochemical
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Appliances
- Sporting Equipment
- Furnaces
- Assemblies
- Conveyors
EXPERIENCE
- Construction Defect Lawsuits
- Oil & Gas Accidents and Injuries
- Scope of Damage from Catastrophic Events
- Fires and Explosion Origin and Cause
- Extent of Damage/Repairs
- Personal Injury Lawsuits
- Negligence Lawsuits
- Products Liability Cases
- Safety/ Workplace Safety
- OSHA Compliance and Citations
Read more about our Litigation Experience.
Producing Results
The right forensic expert can offer a powerful advantage during litigation – what sets us apart is our multi-disciplinary experience in engineering design, analysis, materials/ metallurgy and troubleshooting. When performing forensic analysis, our team thoroughly investigates the issues – from taking data at the scene, to analyzing drawings, material specifications, and supporting documentation.
Our investigations range from the simple to complex. Quite often the precise cause of equipment failure is difficult to quantify. In such instances, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to determine and quantify design, materials and fabrication/ construction defects. FEA has been qualified for use in the aerospace, marine and defense industries – and has passed the Daubert Challenge.
Give us a call to discuss your forensic engineering/ expert witness needs.
Related Links
>> Tom O’Donnell, PE
>> Fire/ Explosion Investigations
>> Safety Evaluation Services
>> Materials/ Metallurgy Consulting
>> Industries/ Equipment Applications
>> Portfolio of Legal Cases
Learn from the experience of others. Especially when one such “other” is Dr. William O’Donnell, PhD, PE, Founder and President of O’Donnell Consulting Engineers, Inc., and ASME “Engineer of the Year” – his 50 years of experience in analysis of components including fatigue and fracture safety evaluations and failure analyses are now comprised in this volume.
If you are interested learning more in Engineering Design, Manufacturing and Construction, as well as Failure Analysis, then this book is a must have!
$49.95*
* Does not include shipping, handling or tax
