Kristin Casler
Kristin Casler is a legal writer and journalist who served as the editor for LexisNexis Mealey’s litigation news monitor for 17 years.
Plaintiff’s Forensic Engineering Expert Witness Admitted in Catastrophic Rollover Case in Maryland Federal Court
Case: Darin Ruark v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., No. ELH–09–2738, U.S. District Court District of Maryland; January 30, 2014 Background: Darin Ruark was 17 in 2006, when the 1995 BMW 325is coupe he was riding in rolled over several times. Although he was wearing his seat belt, his head struck the roof
Posted on June 23, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
Arizona Supreme Court Allows Sexual Abuse Expert Witness Testimony, Finds Rule 702 Allows General Testimony
Case: State of Arizona v. Martin David Salazar-Mercado, No. CR-13-0244-PR, Arizona Supreme Court, May 29, 2014 Background: Martin David Salazar-Mercado was convicted in Pima County Superior Court for molesting his cousin’s children. He was sentenced to life in prison. Sexual Abuse Expert Witness: Dr. Wendy Dutton, a forensic interviewer, presented expert testimony on behalf of
Posted on June 30, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
U.S. Judge in Colorado Refuses to Exclude Patent Expert Witness in Action Against Google
Case: Potter Voice Technologies LLC v. Google, Inc., et al., No. 12–cv–01096–REB–CBS, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado; March 19, 2014 Background: Potter Voice Technologies LLC owns patent number 5,729,659 (the ′659 patent). The patent describes a method and apparatus for controlling a digital computer using oral input. Potter alleges that BlackBerry Voice Commands, Google
Posted on June 23, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
Federal Circuit Says Patent Expert Witnesses Wrongly Barred, Resurrects Smartphone Action in Apple v. Motorola
Case: (Apple Inc. et al v. Motorola Inc., et al., Nos. 2012–1548, 2012–1549, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; April 25, 2014 Background: Smartphone manufacturers Apple Inc. and Motorola Inc. asserted patent infringement claims against each other. They sought declaratory judgments of non-infringement and invalidity of patents related to smartphone technology. Following claim
Posted on June 23, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
Peanut Company Owner Accused of Fraud Loses Psychology Expert Witness Testimony
Case: United States of America v. Stewart Parnell, No. 1:13–cr–12 (WLS), U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Albany Div.; June 24, 2014 Background: Stewart Parnell was the CEO of Peanut Corporation of America. He faces a 76-count indictment alleging he sold salmonella-contaminated peanuts. The indictment alleges that he defrauded his customers by
Posted on July 1, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
8th Circuit Resurrects Causation Expert Witnesses in Contaminated Baby Formula Case
Case: Scott Johnson v. Mead Johnson & Co., Nos. 13–1681, 13–2685, Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals; June 6, 2014 Background: Scott Johnson, as guardian ad litem for his infant, H.T.P., asserted claims against baby formula maker Mead Johnson & Co. for negligence, products liability and failure to warn after the child sustained severe, permanent
Posted on July 7, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
9th Circuit Affirms Admission of Economics Expert Witness In FTC Pyramid Scheme Case
Case: Federal Trade Commission v. BurnLounge, Inc., et al., Nos. 12–55926, 12–56197, 12–56228, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals; June 2, 1014 Background: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asserted claims of unfair and deceptive practices against multi-level marketing business BurnLounge, Inc., and its chief operating officer for allegedly operating a pyramid scheme. The scheme involved
Posted on July 17, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
9th Circuit Says Engineering and Metallurgy Expert Witnesses Wrongly Barred from Insurance Dispute
Case: Pyramid Technologies, Inc., et al. v. Hartford Casualty Insurance Co., No. 11–56304, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals; May 19, 2014 Background: Pyramid Technologies, Inc., which purchased and resold electronic parts, had coverage for business interruption, building replacement and business personal property replacement under a policy with Hartford Insurance Co. Pyramid had more than
Posted on July 17, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
Massachusetts Federal Judge Nixes Part of Securities Expert Witness’s Testimony in Ghana Banking Fraud Case
Case: Patricia M. Keppler v. RBS Citizens, No 12–10768–FDS, U.S. District Court, Massachusetts; June 24, 2014 Background: Patricia Keppler asserts that she was a victim of a “romance fraud” involving one or more people in Ghana. They persuaded her to allow the use of her bank accounts to launder and transfer funds through her home-equity
Posted on July 23, 2014 in News & Working with Experts
Securities Fraud Plaintiffs Lose Accounting Expert Witness in Case Against Coal Company Auditors
Case: In re Puda Coal Securities, et al. Litigation, No. 11–cv–2598 (KBF), U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; June 26, 2014 Background: In September 2009 Puda Coal Inc.’s chairman, Ming Zhao, and his brother, Yao Zhao, arranged to transfer Puda’s entire 90-percent interest in Shanxi Puda Coal Group Co., Ltd. to M. Zhao
Posted on July 23, 2014 in News & Working with Experts