Chemistry Fire Origin Cause Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.682

Maryland

Areas of Expertise

General chemistry and chemical analysis and experimentation. Spontaneous combustion analysis and experimentation. On-site and laboratory investigations to identify fire and explosion origin and cause; file review to develop coherent scientific explanation for observed and reported data; explanation and exploration of basic definitions and relationships in fire-related phenomena.

Investigations into corrosion and metal deterioration under environmental impact.

Investigations into aspects of the physical chemistry of materials and their relationship to accidents.

Experience

Accepted as expert in several courts including: Four Courts in Dublin, Ireland; Federal Court in Memphis, Tennessee; Superior Court in Charles County, Maryland; Superior Court in Montgomery County, Maryland; and District Court in Baltimore, Maryland.

About three times as many cases have gone to deposition and have been settled before trial.

Educational Background

Syracuse University
B.S. in Chemistry, 1956

Iowa State University
M.S. in Chemistry, 1959

Oregon State University
PhD. in Chemistry, 1964

Professional Experience

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
Professor, 1962-1979
Associate Chairman, Department of Material Science and Chemistry, 1970-1973

Office of Naval Research, Chicago, Illinois
Temporary Duty as Scientific Field Officer, 1974-1975

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
Professor, 1975 - present
Associate Chairman, Department of Chemistry, 1981-1983
Chairman, Department of Chemistry, 1983-1988

Professional Consulting

Ralph Atkinson, Incorporated; Monterey, California, 1964
Developed photoengraving process.

Chemical Processes of Ohio, R&D laboratory, Monterey, California, 1966-1968
Research and development studies on the chemical engineering parameters of a new urea production system; air pollution analyses; NASA contract for water-carbon dioxide recycling system for spacecraft.

Consultant in legal and insurance matters, 1979 - present
Provided on-site investigations and laboratory simulations and studies for the investigation and explanation of industrial accidents; especially explosions and fires. Served as an expert witness on numerous occasions when suits arose from the studies.

Professional Organizations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Chemical Society
Chairman, Maryland Section, 1982
Counselor (National Legislator), 1980-present

The Royal Chemical Society (London)
The Society of the Sigma Xi (Research Honorary)

Publications

There are eight publications in the general scientific literature; mostly in the area of fundamental studies. In addition, 43 graduate student theses prepared under my direction are on file with the National Technical Information System (NTIS). Many of these latter documents are of an applied nature and concern high energy work (fires and explosions), chemical oceanography, and environmental impact.