Expert Details
Forensic Engineering, Intellectual Property, Failure Analysis of Plastics, Rubbers, Composites
ID: 727562
United Kingdom
He has recently investigated the failure of catheter connectors which led to brain damage to a premature baby as part of a team of experts in a High Court action. The action succeeded without a trail and led to the award of substantial damages. The connectors had been poorly designed and moulded, leading to premature cracking and bacterial infection through the cracks.He recently investigated a series of fires at Heathrow airport caused by ozone cracking of diesel fuel linesHe investigated a series of seal and OExpertring fractures on semiExpertconductor lines in Japan. The failures were caused by ozone cracking when compressors on the pneumatic lines were replaced.He investigated the failure of a plastic catheter used for an epidural anaesthetic in childbirth. It was probably caused by UV degradation during manufacture and the woman concerned wa sarded substantial copmpensation.He appeared as an expert witness for Flymo Ltd in a patent action brought by Black& Dccker. His testimony was accepted and the patentExpertinExpertsuit declared invalid on three different grounds.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 1970 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Polymer Physics and Chemistry | Institution: Manchester University |
Year: 1966 | Degree: BSc | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: Manchester University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 1976 to 2000 | Employer: Open University | Title: Senior Lecturer | Department: Materials engineering |
Responsibilities:He researches failure problems and teaches forensic engineering, polymer technology and failure analysis |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2008 to 2012 | Employer: Open University | Title: Reader in Forensic Engineering | Department: Materials |
Responsibilities:Consulting on product failure |
Government Experience
Years | Agency | Role | Description |
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Years: 1975 to 1990 | Agency: National Coal Board | Role: consultant | Description: investigating failure of mining lamps and other mining products |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
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Years: 1999 to 2001 | Country / Region: Ireland | Summary: He presented a report in the case of Murphy InfantsExpertvExpertFiat spa, in a case in the Irish High Court involving a car fire in which two young children were injured. The case succeeded and the children awarded very substantial damages |
Years: 1996 to 1997 | Country / Region: Germany | Summary: He prepared evidence ina patents appeal at the EPO in Munich, and the american company won the appeal for its patent (shrink wrapping of bottles) |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
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Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining |
Licenses / Certifications |
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Fellow of the IOMMM, FIOMMM |
Professional Appointments |
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Professional Qualifications 1. Fellow of the Institute of Materials, FIMMM (1985-) 2. Chartered Engineer, CEng (1988-) 3. Member of the Forensic Science Society (1990-) Appointments and Experience 1. 1968 Research Associate, EI DuPont de Nemours Inc, Wilmington, USA 2. 1969Expert70 ICI Research Fellow, Dept of Physics, Manchester University 3. 1970Expert75 Lecturer in Metallurgy, Manchester University (Forensic work started) 4. 1975Expert77 Honorary Fellow (Mech and Aero Eng Dept) University of Salford 5. 1975Expert1984 Lecturer in Materials, Open University 6. 1976Expert1992 Consultant to Oldham Batteries, Denton, Lancs 7. 1978Expert86 Joint holder of SERC Grant for PostExpertgrad education 8. 1984- Senior Lecturer, Open University 9. 1988Expert94 Joint holder of Teaching Company grant from EPSRC 10. 1988Expert94 Joint holder with Consumer Research Labs of World Bank grant 11. 1988Expert90 External Examiner, University of North London (School of Polymers) 12. 1998- Joint holder of IGDS grant from EPSRC for new courses 13. 2000Expert03 External Examiner, Cranfield University (Forensic Eng and Science) 14. 2003- Member of Industrial Liaison Board, Cranfield University 15. 2003 PhD Examiner, Cranfield University 16. 2007- Member of Course Review Board, Cranfield University 17. 2010- Reader in Forensic Engineering, Open University 18. 2010- Senior Research Fellow, Open University |
Awards / Recognition |
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Dow award at SPEExpertAntec |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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Expert is the author or coExpertauthor of over 70 papers in academic journals such as Engineering Failure Analysis, and has written over 400 technical reports. Expert is author to five books in forensics and related topics. |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
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He has appeared in numerous trials involving product liability and patent disputes in County courts, Magistrates courts, the High Court, the Patents court, the Technology court, Irish Supreme court and European Patents court. High Court, Patents Court, Technology Court, Patents County Court, County Courts, Coroner’s Court, Crown Court, Magistrates Court (witness evidence and crossExpertexamination in most), EPO Court of Appeal, Irish Supreme Court (affidavit), New Zealand High Court (reports). |
Training / Seminars |
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He has developed several distance learning courses in forensic engineering and disaster analysis |
Vendor Selection |
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He is entered in several expert witness directories |
Marketing Experience |
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He has consulted with many different industries in order to solve failures and improve product design |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
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English | Highly proficiernt |
French | Some skill in use of the language |
Fields of Expertise
accident investigation, accident reconstruction, applied chemistry, claim (patent), device patent, elastomer, elastomer fatigue, electrical device patenting, European patent, expert witness, failure analysis, foreign patent, forensic chemistry, forensic engineering, forensic materials failure analysis, forensic microscopy, fracture, fracture analysis, injection mold, injection molded plastic, injection molding, injection molding machine, material fatigue testing, materials failure analysis, medical polymer molding, molded glass, patent, plastic injection molding, plastic molding, plastics patent, plastics research and development, plastics reverse engineering, plastics trade secret, rotational molding, rubber component, rubber degradation, rubber fatigue, rubber molding, rubber oxidation, rubber physical property, product invention, elastomer fracturing, trade secret, process inventing, stress cracking, fractography, electron microscopy