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Sewage & Water Expert Witness
& Forensic Consultant
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John Shaw, PE
Water
Expert
(530) 550-1576
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As an expert in construction, civil engineering and water, sewer, wastewater and hydraulic engineering as well as experience in operation and maintenance of the related facilities, John Shaw, P.E. is often asked to provide consulting and/or expert
witness and forensic services to the legal profession, insurance companies and other engineering firms.
Expert witness services typically include “mode of failure” analysis, review and critique of design and/or operations and maintenance, engineering “standard of practice or care” review as well as detailed engineering analysis, product suitability and construction defect issues.
John Shaw works widely as both an expert consultant and expert witness on forensic projects. Understanding the distinction between the two engagements and their implications in the discovery process is important during the process of case evaluation and advising legal counsel. John has and continues to spend significant time and effort in learning and understanding the legal nuances associated with expert participation in the judicial process.
A list of the most recent and significant cases are as follows:
State of Arizona v. Brent Henry Weidman
This case was a criminal prosecution (two counts of manslaughter, one count of aggravated assault and one count of endangerment) of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Far West Water & Sewer, Inc. (FWW&S), an Arizona Corporation which provides operation and maintenance services of both potable water and municipal and industrial wastewater utilities. In 2001, two men died at a wastewater treatment facility at which a crew from FWW&S was present. One of the men who died was an employee of FWW&S, one was employed by a third party contractor. The State of Arizona criminally prosecuted the companies who employed the two men who died (FWW&S and Santec Corporation, a Colorado Corporation). Santec plead guilty and FWW&S was found guilty of various charges.
As an expert in this case, I reviewed deposition and trial transcripts (from the trial concerning the companies), the operations and maintenance and safety program for FWW&S, safety training of staff, safety equipment inventories, certifications and licensure and other relevant qualifications of staff members of both companies.
Andersen v. City of Ferndale, Washington
In this cases, the home of a sewer customers of the City of Ferndale were inundated with raw sewage as a result of sewer main blockage. The sewer mains were owned, operated and maintained by the City of Ferndale. I reviewed materials and provided expert
witness opinions at trial (jury) on the source of the inundation, the management, operation and maintenance programs, policies, procedures, personnel and funding of the Mt. View Sanitary District.
Rubino v. Mt. View Sanitary District
In this case, the home of a sewer customer of the Mt. View Sanitary District was inundated with raw sewage as a result of a sewer main blockage. The sewer main was owned, operated and maintained by the Mt. View Sanitary District. I am currently reviewing materials and providing expert opinions on the source of the inundation, the management, operation and maintenance programs, policies, procedures, personnel and funding of the Mt. View Sanitary District.
Malibu Highlands Maintenance Corporation v. Malibu Highlands 30, Ltd; Premier Group
In this action, the Home Owners Association (Malibu Highlands) has taken action against Premier Group (Premier), which is the original developer of the subdivision. As part of the subdivision, Premier had a sewer collection, treatment and disposal system design and constructed to serve the development. The disposal system failed after several years of use.
In this case I reviewed the design, regulatory review and approval as well as the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities. I also conducted an on-site
expert invasive investigation to determine mode of failure of the disposal system and produced an
expert report of my findings along with detailed recommendations and estimate of project cost and schedule.
Burns v. City of Los Altos
In this case, the home of a sewer customer of the City of Los Altos, California was inundated with raw sewage as a result of a sewer main blockage. The sewer main was owned, operated and maintained by the City of Los Altos, California. I reviewed materials and provided expert opinions on the management, operation and maintenance programs, policies, procedures, personnel and funding of the City of Los Altos Sewer Department.
This case was brought against the City of Los Altos on the legal basis of reverse condemnation. My
expert witness testimony was provided in deposition as well as trial where I was accepted as an expert in the field of sewer collection system design, management, operation and maintenance.
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