Ronald Panunto, PE ::::

Case Synopsis:  A million dollar beach-front home was seriously damaged by a fire.  The Origin & Cause Investigator for the homeowner’s insurance provider claimed that the fire was caused by the electrical failure of a condensation pump.

Dr. Tom J. Griffiths ::::

Case Analysis: Plaintiff, a middle-aged healthy, fit male (experienced swimmer), swam across the deep end of a large, local outdoor pool more than once with two teenage companions.  He became distressed while swimming in the deep water.  His younger companions stated that he complained of cramps and struggled on the surface prior to submerging to the bottom of the eight foot deep section of the pool.

Steven M. Schorr, PE ::::

Case Synopsis: The collision occurred on a three-lane roadway oriented north and south.  There was one lane northbound (NB), one lane southbound (SB), and a center, dual left-turn lane.  A NB police vehicle with proper lights and sirens was responding to an emergency call.  The police vehicle, partially in the center turn-lane, was heading NB, passing stopped vehicles.  A passenger vehicle exiting driveway on east side of the roadway was turning left to head SB.  The left-turning vehicle turned in front of the stopped vehicles in the NB lane, directly into the center left-turn lane and into the path of the approaching police vehicle. The police vehicle hit the left-turning vehicle on the driver’s side, killing the driver.

Johann F. Szautner, PE, P.L.S. ::::

Case Synopsis: An elderly lady tripped over a three inch raised-up portion of two adjoining sidewalk slabs, while walking in the neighborhood she lived in. As a result of her fall, she sustained a broken wrist and lacerations to her face.

Thomas J. Cocchiola, PE, CSP ::::

Case Analysis: Food processing facility has an automatic roll up door that is routinely used by forklift operators and pedestrian workers traveling between different areas of the building.  Forklift drivers open the door by activating a pull cord switch; pedestrians open the door by pressing a pushbutton switch.  Activating either switch initiates a controlled cycle where the door opens and remains open for a predetermined period before automatically closing.  On the day of the accident, a forklift driver opened the door and drove through the doorway.  A worker subsequently approached the doorway and proceeded to walk through.  The door unexpectedly closed and struck the worker in the head.  She sustained severe injuries from the force of impact.

R. Scott King, BSME :::: 

Case Synopsis:  A tractor-trailer, as well as its load of high-end consumer electronic equipment was severely damaged by a fire that reportedly began in the tractor.  A preliminary fire investigation revealed that the fire began in the engine compartment; however, the cause was initially reported as indeterminate.  Carriers for the tractor, trailer, and load retained an independent engineer to evaluate the available data and physical evidence to determine, if possible, the fire’s cause. 

Thomas Cocchiola, PE, CSP ::::

Case Synopsis:  A process engineer was summoned to resolve a problem on a packaging machinery line that produces a continuous roll of labels for consumer products.  The packaging machines print images on two continuous webs of material and laminates them before winding the finished product onto large rolls being shipped to customers.  The engineer was asked to troubleshoot a laminating machine problem that was affecting one edge of the material and ruining the finished product.  He isolated the cause of the problem and attempted a minor correction with the packaging line in operation.  Unfortunately, his right hand was pulled into an unguarded in-running nip point formed between two rotating rollers as he made the adjustment.  He was able to reach an emergency stop cable after his hand was trapped and injured in the machine.

R.  Scott King, BSME ::::

Case Synopsis: A vehicle owner was leaning into the open trunk of his late model sedan, reaching for groceries, when the trunk lid suddenly closed, striking him in the back causing permanent nerve damage.  The owner sued the auto manufacturer claiming the trunk lid mechanism was designed defectively and in a way that permitted the lid to close unexpectedly. 

Ronald E. Tomasetti, CDS, CDT ::::

Case Synopsis: A tanker delivering airplane fuel at a local airport crashed into an electric baggage cart when the driver made a sudden turn to avoid a worker loading baggage onto the cart.  The worker was severely injured when the cart overturned on him.  The tanker driver, who was in the US on a work VISA from Argentina, was operating the commercial motor vehicle which was placard (flammable) without a Commercial Driver License (CDL).  The employer, ABC Fuel Enterprise, Inc, did not have the vehicle licensed (displaying a plate).  The injured worker brought suit claiming the driver was not qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle and the employer was negligent for hiring him.

Steven M. Schorr, PE :::: 

Case Synopsis: A pedestrian on the east side [southeast corner] of a city street was looking to the north, waiting for the traffic signal to direct pedestrians to cross.  A northbound tractor-trailer was executing a right turn to head eastbound.  The tractor passed the pedestrian, but the pedestrian was knocked down by the right side of the trailer and then run over by the right rear trailer tires.  The pedestrian was moved prior to the police documenting the area.  There was a photograph of the point of rest position of the tractor-trailer which had finished its turn prior to being “flagged down” by witnesses who observed the collision.  The witnesses gave contradictory testimony as to whether the pedestrian was on the curb or in the street at the time of the collision.