This case involves a 21-year-old male who suffered severe injuries after being hit by a firework manufactured in China. The young man was lighting fireworks with his family in a field outside of his home. The man lit the fuse and the firework shot toward him and his family instead of shooting into the air. They were standing approximately 75 feet away from the launch site. The man was struck twice, in his back and in his left leg, causing him to fall and sustain a concussion in addition to severe burns all over his body. An expert in pyrotechnics was sought to opine on this case.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
Are you familiar with the quality control and manufacturing processes of fireworks both domestically and in China? Is it likely that this firework was produced inadequately, for the aforementioned incident to take place?
Expert Witness Response E-004636
The manufacturing process in China is regulated differently than in the United States, and that may have contributed to the abnormal direction that the fireworks shot. I am a qualified expert in Chinese manufacturing of fireworks and can testify about manufacturing processes and quality control. I spend a significant amount of time in China with my consulting clients, as I am primarily a global supply chain management strategist and architect. I have extensive experience in dealing with and managing Chinese manufacturing of fireworks. On top of the manufacturing process, I have also dealt with several liability cases involving fireworks manufactured in China.
About the author
Zach Barreto
Zach Barreto is a distinguished professional in the legal industry, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Research at the Expert Institute. With a deep understanding of a broad range of legal practice areas, Zach's expertise encompasses personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, defective products, and many other sectors. His skills are particularly evident in handling complex litigation matters, including high-profile cases like the Opioids litigation, NFL Concussion Litigation, California Wildfires, 3M earplugs, Elmiron, Transvaginal Mesh, NFL Concussion Litigation, Roundup, Camp Lejeune, Hernia Mesh, IVC filters, Paraquat, Paragard, Talcum Powder, Zantac, and many others.
Under his leadership, the Expert Institute’s research team has expanded impressively from a single member to a robust team of 100 professionals over the last decade. This growth reflects his ability to navigate the intricate and demanding landscape of legal research and expert recruitment effectively. Zach has been instrumental in working on nationally significant litigation matters, including cases involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, toxic chemical exposure, and wrongful death, among others.
At the Expert Institute, Zach is responsible for managing all aspects of the research department and developing strategic institutional relationships. He plays a key role in equipping attorneys for success through expert consulting, case management, strategic research, and expert due diligence provided by the Institute’s cloud-based legal services platform, Expert iQ.
Educationally, Zach holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and European History from Vanderbilt University.
