Safety Expert Witnesses in South Dakota

Expert in rapid transit accident investigation, particularly rolling equipment and motive power, event recordings, track, operations, train handling, and human performance. He retired from the National Transportation Safety Board after 22 years as an investigator-in-charge in which time he participated in 57 major accident investigations, 32 field accident investigations, 10 public hearings, 16 depositions, and 6 special studies.  He wrote 11 major accident reports, 8 field accident reports, and personally conducted 10 sworn depositions. He was responsible for over 157 adopted NTSB safety recommendations in all facets of rail transportation. He previously worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad as a mechanical department manager. After his NTSB retirement, he became Assistant Vice President of Operations, Planning and Analysis for Rail Sciences Inc. As the son of a now 96-year old retired locomotive engineer who had 42 years of service, he grew up in a railroad family and became fascinated with trains and the rail industry, particularly safety.

This expert is nationally recognized as a school bus expert who has been working in the industry since 1978. He has successfully taught Fire, Law Enforcement, and EMTs for 25 years about the characteristics of the school bus so they can respond to a crash and rescue scene with more confidence in their response. He established a school bus training consultancy in 2000 to specialize in training the school bus industry, the fire and rescue industry, and law enforcement on the construction and design of the school bus. He has trained over 14,000 fire and rescue and EMT workers, and scores of law enforcement have learned about the school bus, what they need to know to be successful in a rescue effort, and how to enter or breach a school bus more effectively for 25 years. He is recognized by the industries as an expert on school buses. In 1985 was the Supervisor of Transportation Equipment (Fleet Manager) for Minneapolis Public Schools. He has worked with Minnesota legislation concerning school buses for many years, served on two governor's task forces, 1994 and 2006. He has served five National Congress on School Transportation conferences, as a delegate from Minnesota, served on the Body Committee, the Chassis Committee, Chaired the Chassis Committee, Vice-Chaired the Special Education Committee, and the Safety and Security Committee. He also has presented annually at the School Transportation News (STN) EXPO conference and at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) every year since 1999. He currently presents at state and regional conferences on a regular basis.

A certified leisure professional and playground safety inspector, this expert is also a nationally acknowledged expert in the area of playground safety. She has made presentations both nationally and internationally on playground design and safety, and is the author /co author of over 150 articles on playgrounds and children’s play. This expert has held numerous leadership and committee assignments in national professional organizations, including the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Recreation and Park Association.

This highly qualified expert has extensive experience in commercial insurance and occupational safety. He earned his BA in philosophy from Allegheny College and is an associate of risk management and associate of underwriting through the AICPCU/The Institutes, as well as an OSHA-authorized general industry instructor and a certified occupational health and safety technician. He began his career as a reporter, news editor, and photographer for the Bear Paw Sentinel and the Great Falls Tribune. He then served as the vice principal of Great Falls Christian School before transitioning to the insurance industry. This expert served as a senior account executive for Liberty Northwest and a commercial lines agent for Western States Insurance, focusing mainly on workers' comp insurance. Currently, this expert serves as an occupational health and safety specialist for a state labor and industry department, teaching both 10-hour and 30-hour OSHA classes.