Automotive Product Liability Design Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.762

California

Experience

Chevrolet Detroit Forge, Detroit, Michigan, 1961 – 1963

Student Engineer – 2 Years

Fisher Body Engineering, Warren, Michigan, 1963 – 1967
Project Design Engineer/Student Engineer – 5 Years
Designed, developed, and tested numerous interior occupant safety devices, including interior padding, energy absorbing materials and restraint systems.
Wrote Fifth Year Thesis – “Passenger Compartment Energy Absorption”

Hauke, Gifford, Patalidis, Lathrup Village, Michigan, 1971
Patent Clerk – 1 Year
Prepared mechanical devices patent applications, claims and amendments.

Chrysler Corporation, 1967 – 1987
Design Supervisor and New Product Design Engineer – 9 Years

Worked in the following design areas within Chrysler’s Advanced Engineering Office:

New Product Design:

Occupant Packaging
Body Hardware
Seating & Interior Trim
Human Factors Engineering

Safety System Design:

Restraint Systems
Glass & Visibility Systems

Energy Absorbing Materials (Padding)Engineering Manager – 10 Years

Prepared Chrysler’s Long Range Passenger Car Safety Plan.  The Plan analyzed the various NHTSA Safety Standards and the impact they would have on Chrysler’s future products.
Prepared responses to many proposed Safety, Emission and Fuel Economy Standards and Regulations.  Met with congressional staff and testified at numerous EPA and NHTSA hearings regarding these standards.
Managed the Advanced Vehicle Test Program for the “K” car and a proposed 1990’s Minivan.  This included durability testing and preparing $1 million prototypes for Federal MVSS crash testing.
Directed the Powertrain Engineering Operations Staff which controlled the Work Plan and $75 million budget for 30 engineering departments and 1,400 employees.·Set up the Chrysler-Shelby Performance Center in Santa Fe Springs.
Set up Chrysler’s Advanced Styling Center (Chrysler Pacifica) in Carlsbad.
Set up Advance Product Design Shows for Mr. Iacocca.

Toyota Motor Sales, Torrance, California, 1987 - 1989
Design Analysis Manager, Product Liability – 2 Years

Provided technical advice and support to counsel regarding product liability lawsuits, including:

Analysis of accident and injury causation theories.
Selection of technical and medical expert witnesses.
Education of counsel on the technical and design aspects of the product and the various Federal MVSS Safety Standards.
Conducted vehicle inspections with technical expert witnesses.

Howard, Moss, Lovedar, Strickroth & Walker, Santa Ana, California, 1989
Law Clerk – Defense Litigation

Lancer Claims, Orange, California, 1990

Regional Claims Director – Defense Litigation

Law Offices of David M. Harney, Los Angeles, California, 1990 – 1994

Attorney – Products Liability

Products Liability Consultant, Carlsbad, California, 1993 – Present

Education

JD, Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1972
BSME, General Motors Institute, 1967
Design School, Fisher Body, 1963
Human Factors Engineering, University of Michigan, 1972
Biomechanics & Accident Reconstruction, AAAM, 1988
Vehicle Rollover – SAE Toptec, 1992
NHTSA/Industry Relations – SAE Toptec, 1994
Restraint Systems & Air Bags – SAE Symposium, 1995
Seat Design For Safety  – SAE Toptec, 1995
Head Impact Protection – SAE Toptec, 1995
Side Impact Protection – SAE Toptec, 1995
Air Bag Design & Performance – SAE Toptec, 1997
Passenger Car Rollover – SAE Toptec, 1999
Role of Seat in Rear Crash Safety – SAE Seminar, 2003

Professional Organizations

Society of Automotive Engineers
California State Bar
Michigan State Bar
American Bar Association