Expert Services--Litigation Support

2025

As an employee of Verdantas, retained as an expert by Downey Brand, LLP in support of Monterey County and other defendants in litigation arising from a 2023 flood along the Pajaro River, California. Deposed by opponent’s counsel. Settled by mediation.

2024   

 As an employee of cbec eco engineering, a Verdantas company, retained as an expert witness by Coastal Ranches Conservancy in case, Coastal Ranches Conservancy v. Tavares, C.D. Cal. Case No. 2:24-cv-00468-DSF-RAO. Client brought suit against Caltrans regarding schedule for addressing instream barriers to fish passage. Deposed by opponent’s counsel. Matter is pending.

2024  

 Retained as an expert witness by Braden & Thornburg, LLP in support of the Georgia Pacific Company, plaintiffs in the case, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Georgia-Pacific LLC, Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products, LP, and Fort James, LLC v. STS Hydropower, LLC and Creek Renewable Energy, LLC, Ingham County (MI) Circuit Court, Civil Action No. 2022-000150-CE. Client brought suit against electrical utility charging that drawdown of a reservoir released sediment that complicated Superfund Site operations in the river downstream from the dam. Deposed by opponent’s counsel. Matter was settled out of court.

2024  

Retained as an expert witness by the firm, ExpertConnect Litigation Support in support of the Texas Attorney General’s office in the case, United States vs. Abbott, Case No. 1:23-CV-853-DAE. Federal government brought suit alleging Texas had violated Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 by placing a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to deter illegal border crossings. Deposed by opponent’s counsel. Matter is inactive.

2023   

As an employee of cbec eco engineering, a Verdantas company, retained as an expert witness by in case, Damian Sowers v. California Tahoe Conservancy. Case No.23CV1008, Superior Court of the State of California, County of El Dorado. Plaintiff brought suit against client alleging flood damages to residence due to restoration of the Upper Truckee Marsh. Prepared expert report. Matter was settled out of court.

2022

Retained as an expert witness by The Trace Dillon Law Firm for the case, Wolf Creek Homeowners Association vs. Northwest Exterminating Co. Settled prior to trial.

2018

Retained as an expert by Randall Tinsley of Brooks Pierce, Greensboro, North Carolina.  Investigated accelerated sedimentation in privately-owned impoundment on a stream draining part of a national park. Settled prior to trial.

2017

Retained as an expert witness for the California Department of Water Resources under the supervision of Carlson, Calladine & Peterson, LLP of San Francisco. Provided expert witness services as an employee of cbec eco engineering in support of defendant, California Department of Water Resources in litigation arising from the Oroville Dam Spillway erosion incident, JCCP 4974. Client prevailed on all counts.

2017

Retained as an expert by Baker Hostetler, LLP, Los Angeles, California. Addressed concerns raised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding a riparian Superfund site by performing a qualitative geomorphic assessment of lateral channel stability of San Jacinto River, Texas. Matter settled by regulatory ruling.

2015

Retained as an expert by Lafayette Civic Center in prelitigation examination of erosion and sedimentation impacts on a small lake related to adjacent earthmoving activities. Settled prior to trial.

2015

Retained as an expert by Willoughby and Hoefer, P.A., Columbia, South Carolina. Case   (Snyder et al. v. SCE&G) involves assignment of responsibility for extensive flooding of residential areas during high-flow events associated with Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015. Case settled prior to trial. 

2014

Retained as an expert by Wheeler and Howorth, landowners adjacent to Shaw Place, an antebellum home surrounded by 5 acres inside the City of Oxford, Mississippi. Provided a written report and testimony before the City Planning Commission regarding effects of development on runoff and erosion. Case settled prior to litigation.  

2013

Retained as an expert witness by Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, Oxford, Mississippi. Case (Kmart Corporation v. City of Corinth, MS et al.) involved flooding of a retail shopping center. I assessed the evidence in the case and critiqued analysis and report by plaintiff’s expert. Case was settled out of court.

2010

Retained as an expert witness by Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, Oxford, Mississippi. Case (Crockett et al. v. City of Saltillo, MS) involved flooding of a subdivision. I prepared a preliminary report and a work plan for more detailed analysis. Case was settled out of court.

2008

Retained as an expert consultant and potential expert witness by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, Sacramento, California, counsel to Robert Mori and Robert Mori II, in the case of Mori II v. Baroni, et al. I was never called upon to serve.

2006

Consultant to Village of Taylor, Mississippi. Provided an examination of runoff, storm drainage, and erosion and sedimentation issues surrounding design of the Main Street Taylor Development. Acted as consulting expert at request of Freeland & Freeland law firm, Oxford, Mississippi.

1993

Retained as expert witness by Mr. Dana Swan, partner, Chapman, Lewis & Swan, Clarksdale, Mississippi. Case involved erosion of a stream channel bank and attendant damage to client’s property following work on the channel by a real estate developer. Following my deposition, developer settled outside of court.