Aviation Litigation is a complex technical field in which specialized expertise is often required from the get-go. Therefore the use of experts is common practice, begging the question: what are the best practices when utilizing expert testimony in an aviation case?
Frederick Alimonti moderates a panel featuring distinguished aviation litigators and experts to discuss the role of experts and “consultants,” rules affecting experts and their disclosures, and what makes an expert earn his/her often considerable paycheck. We will feature exemplar evidence and animation.
Learning Objectives:
Founder and Senior Partner Rick Alimonti brings over twenty years of aviation and insurance litigation experience to the firm. His experience includes product liability, airline law, general aviation, and aviation insurance coverage. Martindale-Hubble lists Mr. Alimonti as an “AV” peer-reviewed lawyer, the highest rating awarded by the organization.
Mr. Alimonti is a member of the Southern District of New York’s mediation panel and has been appointed to the SDNY Mediator Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the American Bar Association and of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association. He founded Alimonti Mediation Services in 2012 to mediate disputes involving product liability, premises liability, aviation law and commercial disputes. Rick recently became affiliated with “Mediators Plus More,” a New York-based panel of private mediators that matches mediator expertise and experience to the dispute at issue. http://mediatorsplusmore.com/.
Alimonti Law Offices is a frequent provider of CLE-accredited programs in the United States and abroad. In June 2014, Mr. Alimonti was a panelist at the ABA National Institute on Aviation Litigation and presented “Trying not to Stress the Small Stuff, Tips on the Effective Handling of Non-Catastrophic Aviation Cases” and was also a panelist at the 48th Annual SMU Airlaw Symposium in Dallas, Texas, where he presented “Ethics in Negotiation and Mediation.” In June 2013, Mr. Alimonti was a panelist on ethical issues at the ABA Aviation Litigation Seminar in NYC. In June 2012, Mr. Alimonti presented “Defending and Managing Claims involving Unruly Passengers” at the ACI Conference in Boston, MA. In 2011, he presented a paper at the ABA Section of Litigation, Joint Committee Meeting in Snowmass, Colorado, and he presented “Ethics in Aviation Litigation” at the 2011 SMU Air Law Symposium and at the 2011 Aviation Litigation CLE Seminar at the NYC Bar Association.
Mr. Alimonti’s academic contributions to the field of aviation law include the formation and launch of the American Bar Association’s highly successful first Annual Seminar on Aviation Litigation in 1995. This program continues as an annual institution in New York to this day. Mr. Alimonti has twice served as chair of the ABA’s Aviation Litigation Committee. His positions include:
Mr. Alimonti is a regular speaker on aviation law, mediation and ethics. He has presented and published numerous articles including the following:
Mr. Alimonti received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University and his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University Law School. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, and Eleventh Circuits. He serves as the President of the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum at Teterboro, New Jersey and is a private pilot.
Doug Latto recently joined Speiser Krause as a partner in the firm and specializes in aviation accident litigation. He has been representing victims of aviation accidents for over 21 years, and has handled numerous cases involving catastrophic injuries and death. Named a New York Super Lawyer many times in his career, most recently in 2014, Doug has worked on numerous high profile aviation accidents and was appointed Co-Lead Counsel in the litigation arising out of the crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 that crashed on approach to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Doug also served as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in connection with numerous commercial aviation accidents including, Comair Flight 5191, American Airlines Flight 587, and Swissair Flight 111, as well as the sub-committees responsible for the litigation arising out of the hijackings of American Airlines Flight 11 and American Airlines Flight 77 in the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. Doug also was heavily involved in the litigations arising from the crashes of EgyptAir Flight 990, TWA Flight 800, Comair Flight 3272, ValuJet Flight 592, and Air Midwest Flight 5481.
Doug is currently working on a number of general aviation crashes involving claims against manufacturers, air traffic controllers, pilots and flight instructors. He has represented family members in numerous high profile general aviation accidents, including the August 2009 mid-air collision over the Hudson River where nine individuals were killed. He has also resolved many actions involving rotary wing aircraft, and has successfully litigated dozens of general aviation accidents which have included claims against manufacturers, flight schools and fixed based operators.
Doug received his Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from the American University School of Law in 1991 and was a member of the Law Review and the Honor Society.
Joseph R. Reynolds, PE, MEWI, MAE, is internationally recognized as a forensic engineering expert witness and is an authority regarding the investigation and analysis of aircraft accidents, aircraft fires and equipment failures, systems reliability research, and safety analysis, as well as producing emergency response preparedness scenarios and major claims resolution training courses, such as AViCON. He has served as the team leader and technical director, as well as principal testifier, in large multidisciplinary investigations. Examples of his specific experience in aviation encompass aircraft accident analysis and cockpit scenario reconstructions, airborne radar and communications, electric power systems, aircraft wiring and protection, flight sensors and controls, avionics and instrumentation analysis, aircraft electrical safety hazards, and the production of integrated flight path visualizations and simulations. Mr. Reynolds also has considerable experience in research, assembly, and testing of aircraft electronics.
Mr. Reynolds is the founder and president of RTI Group, LLC, and Anamet, Inc. based in the US, as well as the founder and chairman of the London based UK firm Reynolds Technological Inquiries Limited, RTI Ltd, with an office in South America. The RTI companies are an international consultancy and centre for research staffed by experienced expert witnesses who are supported by a certified chemical and materials analysis laboratory, forensic testing and joint inspection facilities, as well as a multimedia visual exhibits studio. A highly-diversified firm, RTI specializes in bespoke engineering investigations and the accident and failure analysis of various sized matters also involving marine, rail, telecommunications, power utilities, and other high risk industries.
Mr. Reynolds has given expert testimony for international arbitration hearings and various courts of law, and has appeared before safety boards and international professional forums.
Academic Background
Registration
Professional Experience
Professional Associations and Activities
Aviation Accident Investigations:
Research Activities
Lectures and Presentations
Frequent speaker, seminar presenter, and guest lecturer for a variety of groups and organizations
including:
Selected Publications and Presentations
Andrew J. Maloney, III joined Kreindler & Kreindler LLP in 1994 and is a 1985 graduate of Boston College and received his Juris Doctorate degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1988 where he was on the Dean's List and a member of the Urban Law Journal. He was elected partner in January 2005.
Mr. Maloney focuses in aviation litigation as well as general products liability, medical malpractice and general negligence cases trying, mediating and appealing cases in state and federal courts throughout the country. While at the firm, Mr. Maloney briefed and argued a case before the United States Supreme Court on the Westfall Act which governs scope of employment under the Federal Tort Claims Act for federal employees. He has also published an article in the New York Law Journal on the government contractor defense reflecting some of this work on litigation against military contractors for the V-22 Osprey aircraft which is currently being deployed for the United States Armed Forces.
In addition to the many cases he has litigated at the firm, he participated in one of the largest personal injury settlements in the State of Connecticut involving a charter plane crash at the Bridgeport Airport and some of the largest recoveries under the Military Claims Act involving an Air Force plane crash in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Very entertaining and well done presentation. Videos and panel discussion with lawyers and expert kept my interest.
INFORMATIVE
Good Program
Great course Fantastic presenters Please offer more aviation courses!!!!
Great speakers
Thank you.