DRI Faculty List
2021 Fire Science and Litigation Seminar
Grand Hyatt Washington DC | Washington | September 9 - 11, 2021
David Anderson, Ph.D Exponent
David Anderson, Ph.D applies mechanical and chemical engineering principles to solve clients' complex technical problems across a broad range of industries, including consumer products, textiles, manufacturing, industrial chemical processes, heating and cooling systems, and heavy earthmoving equipment. Dr. Anderson specializes in accident evaluation and prevention, failure analysis, fire and explosion investigation and analysis, industrial process evaluation, product development and validation, and intellectual property disputes. He has both academic training and industry experience in the design, analysis and validation of thermal systems; in modeling complex systems involving simultaneous species transport, chemical reaction, and heat transfer; in experimental instrumentation and data acquisition; and in design, manufacturing, and field support of heavy construction equipment. |
Patrick O. Barry Associate General Counsel
Emerson Electric Co
Patrick O. Barry is Associate General Counsel, Emerson Electric Co., Patrick is responsible for advising on and managing global commercial matters for the Commercial & Residential Solutions entities of the Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR). This includes counseling on IoT, product liability and dispute resolution. Additionally, Patrick drafts and reviews contracts, including sales, information technology, procurement, logistics and nondisclosure agreements for these Commercial & Residential Solution entities. Further, he provides consultation to these companies on business record retention and discovery issues. Lastly, Patrick is a returning speaker for DRI and has guest lectured at the University of Dayton, School of Law class on Internet of Things, the nation's first law school class dedicated specifically to IOT . Specialties: Corporate Counsel, Product Liability, Contracts. |
Eric Benstock, P.E. Director of Operations
McDowell Owens Engineering
Eric Benstock, P.E. is a Principal at McDowell Owens Engineering and serves as the Director of Operations. He received his B Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston and his B.Sc. in Business Administration from Framingham State University in Massachusetts. He is a licensed professional engineer in nine states, an Incorporated Engineer in the UK and a member in the Institute of Fire Engineers. Mr. Benstock is a Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator and has over 25 years of experience in Forensic Engineering and Origin & Cause Investigations. |
Nestor Camara Engineer
McDowell Owens Engineering
Nestor Camara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland, University College. He is a Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) through the I.A.A.I. and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI) through N.A.F.I. and the State of Texas. Mr. Camara served as arson investigator for the Cy-Fair VFD. Mr. Camara has acquired over 25 years of extensive experience and training in gas system analysis and testing, explosion and fire analysis inclusive of LPG and other flammable gases and liquids and system code compliance. |
Kristine K. Campbell Assistant General Counsel
U-Haul International Inc
Kristine K. Campbell serves as the Director of Litigation at U-Haul International, Inc. In addition to managing U-Haul's litigation department, she manages all of U-Haul's class actions, commercial and trailer products liability cases. Prior to joining U-Haul in 2011, Campbell worked as a commercial litigator at Greenberg Traurig LLP. She also has two active kids that keep her extremely busy when she is not at the office. |
Scott E. Dillon, PE P.E., CFEI
ESi
Scott E. Dillon, PE is a licensed professional engineer with over 20 years of experience in fire protection engineering, fire science and fire investigation. He provides clients with expert consultation regarding fire protection systems, fire dynamics, fire testing and compliance with codes and standards. He has experience performing origin and cause investigations involving residences as well as commercial, industrial, chemical and agricultural facilities. He also has experience managing large fire and explosion scenes as well as investigations involving fuel-gas systems and equipment. |
Frederick "Fred" Ferrand Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP
Frederick "Fred" Ferrand is a Partner at Swift Currie and defends clients in complex, high-stakes litigation matters related to insurance claims, products liability, contract issues and other commercial disputes. Fred handles matters across the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and overseas on behalf of his clients, including major insurance carriers and large multinational corporations in the hospitality, products manufacturing and risk management and insurance industries. In addition to his litigation practice, Fred counsels businesses in matters related to establishing and maintaining subsidiaries in the U.S. for foreign corporations. Fred handles international arbitration and has litigated in the French Commercial Court in Paris. |
Stuart J. (Stu) Goldberg Eastman & Smith Ltd.
Stuart J. (Stu) Goldberg is an owner at Eastman & Smith Ltd. His practice includes fire, product liability, general casualty, fraud investigations and professional negligence. Stu is a member of DRI's Product Liability Committee, and has spoken previously at its Product Liability Conferences and Fire Science and Litigation Seminars. Stu is a past president of the Toledo Bar Assn., and continues to volunteer on several of its committees, and fundraises for the American Heart Assn, and the United Way of Greater Toledo. |
Adam Goodman S-E-A
Adam Goodman is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer/Senior Fire Investigator with S-E-A. In addition to fire/explosion origin and cause, he analyzes incidents involving fire-related deaths/injuries, fire suppression and detection system failures (water-based, commercial kitchen, special hazard, smoke/fire alarms), fire department responses/operations, confined spaces and carbon monoxide exposures. Analysis can include fire testing and research, fire dynamics, flame spread, computer fire modeling and code analysis. He is also an active firefighter and has served as a Chief Officer. |
Amy E. Gray, PhD, PE Senior Consultant
ESi
Amy E. Gray, PhD, PE is a licensed mechanical engineer with expertise in thermal-fluid sciences. She applies this specialized knowledge to provide clients with consultation regarding fires, explosions, and mechanical product liability. Failure investigations conducted by Dr. Gray have included fuel gas explosions, aircraft accidents involving fires, tank and boiler ruptures, natural gas pipeline and utility incidents, fuel spread and dispersion, gas-fueled appliances, and chemical processing plant incidents. Additionally, she has experience in Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Computed Tomography (CT) data analysis, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). |
Sean C. Griffin Member
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Sean C. Griffin is a member in the Washington, D.C. office of Dykema. He litigates breach of contract and fraud cases before courts, arbitrators, and mediators around the country. He also responds to subpoenas investigating violations of federal or state laws, including the False Claims Act, anti-bribery laws, and securities laws and regulations. Additionally, he assists clients with data security and responding to data breaches. |
Benjamin Knox, PhD, PE Colwell Consulting LLC
Benjamin Knox, PhD, PE is a Senior Engineer at Colwell Consulting where he specializes in the area of fire and explosion investigation. He conducts fire origin and cause investigations involving recreational and passenger vehicles, marine vessels, lawn mowers, commercial and residential structures, electrical appliances, as well as industrial equipment. Dr. Knox also has experience in the analysis of eyewitness testimony and fire related injuries, such as burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and smoke inhalation. |
Melanie C. Lockett Partner
Lowe Stein Hoffman Allweiss & Hauver LLP
Melanie C. Lockett is a partner at Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver LLP, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She enjoys a diverse trial and appellate practice with an emphasis on insurance coverage and defense in the areas of commercial general liability, professional liability, extra-contractual liability, surplus lines, and bad faith. Melanie is a steering committee member for the DRI Insurance Law Committee, DRI Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and is member of the DRI Law Institute. Melanie is also the Program Chair for the 2021 DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium. |
Sarah MacGill Marr Riley Bennett & Egloff
Sarah MacGill Marr represents local, regional, and national companies in commercial litigation in Indiana and around the country. She represents clients in all stages of the litigation process, including trial, and has successfully defended claims for breach of contract, tortious interference with contractual and business relationships, alleged product defects, and premises liability. Sarah concentrates her practice on commercial cases involving business torts and claims for breach of contract, but also often works with product manufacturers to defend claims. Sarah has a particular interest in structured negotiations and other strategies which may help clients avoid litigation. She regularly counsels clients regarding best practices to avoid litigation, including tips for negotiating and drafting their contracts. |
Richard Marzola Sr. Electrical Engineer
S-E-A
Richard Marzola received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University. He investigates electrical faults and malfunctions, particularly those suspected of causing a fire or damage. He performs failure analysis of electronic components and systems. He performs reconstruction of accidents to determine the mode, sequence, and/or component of failure resulting in the damage to equipment. He performs analysis of various types of electrical power equipment (i.e., transformers, circuit breakers, power lines, commercial and residential electrical systems, etc.) and appliances onsite and/or in the laboratory to determine the cause or result of an incident (i.e., fire, equipment damage, or personal injury). |
Jamie McAllister, PhD, PE, CFI Technical Director
FireTox LLC
Jamie McAllister, PhD, PE, CFI is the Technical Director of FireTox, LLC. She is a fire protection engineer, a forensic toxicologist, and a certified fire investigator. She has investigated hundreds of fires and offered expert opinions on issues such as contributory causes in fire deaths the impact of code violations on fire growth and spread, product failures and defects, fire dynamics, and carbon monoxide poisonings. Additionally, Dr. McAllister served as a code official for the federal government and was responsible for the enforcement of fire and life safety provisions set forth in OSHA regulations, the International Building and Fire Codes, and NFPA standards. |
Gretchen N. Miller Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Gretchen N. Miller is a Shareholder in the Litigation Practice of Greenberg Traurig's Chicago office. She concentrates her practice in product liability and toxic tort litigation in state and federal courts. As trial counsel, Gretchen has tried cases on behalf of manufacturers of consumer, industrial and automotive products. As national counsel, Gretchen oversees litigation nationwide and counsels clients on risk management strategies and compliance with regulatory authorities, including the CPSC, NHTSA and EPA. Gretchen is the Product Liability Committee Vice Chair, is a member of IADC and is recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer. |
Nicholas A. Nava, PE, CFEI Exponent
Nicholas A. Nava, PE, CFEI is a professional fire protection engineer that applies fire science and fire protection engineering principles to the analysis of fire protection systems, consumer product performance, material fire performance, and origin and cause investigation of residential, commercial, and industrial fires and explosions. Mr. Nava's project work experience includes fire modeling as it relates to origin and cause fire and explosion investigations, modeling fire protection system (sprinklers, smoke alarms, heat detectors) response to fires, and building and fire code compliance. |
Drew Paris, PE, CFEI Director - Fire Forensics Central
Jensen Hughes Inc
Drew Paris, PE, CFEI, Director, Fire Forensics - Midwest Region and Principal Electrical Engineer specializes in investigating and consulting on electrical fires and failures, electrical design and electrical safety. His investigative casework experience includes product failure analysis, residential, commercial, and industrial fire and explosion investigations, heavy equipment accidents and failures, personal injuries, electrocution and electric shock investigations, appliance fire and failure investigations. Mr. Paris brings to Jensen Hughes an extensive background in electrical safety consulting. He has developed safety training procedures for industrial clients as well as inspected the design and manufacture of specialized industrial machinery. In addition to his forensic and safety experience, Mr. Paris has worked as a manufacturing and design engineer where he designed and tested custom and replacement current transformers for a variety of industrial and utility customers. He provides litigation support and expert testimony to law firms, insurance companies and manufacturers. |
William A. Posey Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
William A. Posey is a partner with Keating Muething & Klekamp, PLL in Cincinnati, Ohio with over 40 years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in significant product liability and personal injury actions in over 30 states. He began his career in fire and explosion litigation in the Beverly Hills Supper Club litigation. He recently was lead trial counsel for U-Hail International in the Philadelphia food truck propane explosion litigation. As plaintiff's counsel he has obtained numerous multimillion verdicts and settlements. |
Kathryn A. (Katy) Regier Counsel
Sandberg Phoenix
Kathryn A. (Katy) Regier is an attorney with Sandberg Phoenix in its Kansas City, Missouri office. She is admitted to practice law in Missouri, Kansas and California. Katy has a wide range of civil litigation experience including product liability matters involving fires, explosions and carbon monoxide exposure in fatality, serious injury and high-dollar property damages cases. She currently serves as Chair of the DRI Fire Science & Litigation Group. Katy is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law. While in law school, she was Articles Editor for the Kansas Law Review and participated in the Judicial Clerkship Clinic at the Kansas Court of Appeals. |
Amy E. Richardson Partner
Harris Wiltshire & Grannis LLP
Amy E. Richardson is a partner with the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP. Ms. Richardson practices in Washington D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina. She focuses on complex civil litigation and legal ethics and malpractice. Ms. Richardson works closely with retailers and mobile marketers in cases involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. She also has extensive experience with multidistrict litigations. Ms. Richardson has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and ranked among Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite." She is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Law and Duke University School of Law. |
Chelsea Smith Counsel
Tucker Ellis LLP
Chelsea Smith of Counsel for Tucker Ellis LLP, represents clients in several areas of complex litigation across the United States. In addition to her commercial litigation practice, class action work and as part of her product liability practice, Chelsea works on the Tucker Ellis team that serves as national counsel for a large consumer appliance manufacturer in its dryer fire litigation. In this role, she manages product liability cases in federal and state courts throughout the country, and manages a dispute resolution program. An accredited Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) certified by the National Association of Fire Investigators, Chelsea plays an active role in each phase of a fire-related claim, including attending scene inspections and laboratory examinations. She works closely with origin and cause experts to determine defense strategies that best suit clients' interests. |
Andrew E. Stead Partner
McMillan LLP
Andrew E. Stead is a litigation partner in McMillan's Calgary office. Andrew has extensive experience in both litigation and arbitrations, including defending product liability claims, energy (oil and gas), class actions and construction disputes. Andrew has successfully acted for numerous automobile, recreational vehicle, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle manufacturers. Andrew has often spoken and published on issues relating to these disputes. Andrew also has broad experience defending all manner of product liability claims, including those arising from alarm system manufacturing and installation, fire suppression, plumbing products and pharmaceuticals.He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta as well as administrative and regulatory tribunals. He also represents clients before all levels of court in Ontario as well as the Saskatchewan Court of Queens's Bench. |
Melanie H. Stevens Partner
McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC
Melanie H. Stevens is a Partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey and focuses her practice on product liability, personal injury, and professional liability disputes, predominantly involving claims resulting from fire or explosion. She prides herself on her ability to fully understand complex legal and scientific issues. Whether coordinating investigations, analyzing claims pre-suit, developing litigation strategy, or arguing on behalf of her clients in court, Melanie works efficiently and effectively to help clients achieve their goals. Melanie has been selected to the Maine Rising Stars List, which is a recognition given to only 2. 5% of lawyers in each state, every year since 2013. She has also been recognized as Katahdin Counsel, a designation earned by providing at least 50 hours of pro bono service in a year, by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. |
Randy Watson, IAAI-CFI S-E-A
Randy Watson, IAAI-CFI is the Director of Technical Training and a Senior Fire Investigator with SEA, Ltd. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining S-E-A in 1992, he spent 15 years investigating fires and explosions incidents for the fire service, law enforcement, and private sector. Mr. Watson has been a member of the NFPA 921 Technical Committee since 1992 and Chairman since 2008. |
James E. Weatherholtz Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
James E. Weatherholtz is a partner in the Charleston, South Carolina office of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from The Citadel in 1996, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1999. His primary areas of practice are product liability - including building products and class actions - and construction law. Mr. Weatherholtz is a Past Chair of the South Carolina Bar Construction Law Section. He is also an active member of the DRI Product Liability Committee, having served as program chair, chair of the building products specialized litigation group, and currently as committee chair of the committee. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of construction law. He is the Chair of the Construction Practice Team at Womble and is a frequent lecturer on construction and product liability topics. |