SAFE 2015 Conference 

The Scientific Aspects for Forensic Document Examiners — July 31 & August 28

Mark your calendars now for the SAFE Second Annual  Forensic Document Examination Seminar  on July 31 & August 28.  The conference is being held on line with speakers located in many venues. Holding the conference on line allows attendees to view from their home, office, or any other location.

Since our members are located in 8 countries on 4 continents, holding the conference on line allows distant members to attend live without the need for many days of travel to a physical location.

The conference will be recorded for later viewing by those who register.  You can review the materials, or, if you miss it "Live" you can see the video.

The focus of the July conference is:
"Building a Successful Forensic Document Examiner’s Business"

All times stated are Pacific Daylight Savings Time.

9:00 – 10:00 AM
Presenter:   Tim Williams
Topic:          How to Build your Forensic Consulting Business –
Tim Williams has built a thriving, successful forensics consulting practice. He is in continuous demand in his discipline. Mr. Williams will share the secrets to how he built his business.

About the speaker:
Tim Williams is an over twenty-nine year retired Senior Detective Supervisor from the Los Angeles Police Department, last assigned to the elite Robbery-Homicide Division.  Unlike some Police Procedure experts whose experience is often only on the supervisory/patrol levels, Mr. Williams’ expertise draws upon actual experience in patrol, investigations, supervision and administration. Mr. Williams’ reports, testimony and depositions have resulted in million dollar settlements, new law enforcement policy implemented in a civil rights matter and cases resulting in acquittals in criminal matters.

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM
Presenter:  Mark Stolorow
Topic:         Developing Standards and Guidelines
                   for the Practice of Forensic Science

After attending this presentation, attendees will understand how the efforts of over 540 subject matter experts (volunteers) appointed to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) and others could impact laboratory protocols, accreditation efforts and testimony in forensic science. In addition, the high level priorities of the forensic document examination subcommittee will be provided.

This presentation will provide an overview of the processes employed by the OSAC to identify, foster the development of, and formally approve forensic science standards through publication on the OSAC Registration of Approved Standards and Registry of Approved Guidelines.  These standards development efforts will ultimately affect methods employed in forensic science laboratories, standards used during the accreditation process, report writing and testimony offered by experts.

The development of a quality infrastructure for forensic science was a key component of some of the reforms anticipated in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report. In response to the report, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the US Department of Justice signed a bilateral agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in March 2013 which specified the establishment of “Guidance Groups” now termed Scientific Area Committees (SACs).  NIST created the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) model to promulgate NIST’s responsibility to administer and coordinate support for the SACs and subcommittees that represent specific forensic science disciplines.

The consensus-based documentary standards and guidelines approved for posting on the OSAC Registry of Approved Standards and Registry of Approved Guidelines will be considered by laboratories as standard methods for specific analyses, potential discipline specific standards for consideration by accrediting bodies offering accreditation services in the forensic industry, and officers of the court when evaluating processes employed and testimony given by forensic science experts.

The OSAC design employs the essential requirements of developing consensus-based standards which include openness, transparency, balance of interest, due process and an appeals process that ensures each stakeholder’s viewpoints are properly considered.  In addition, the OSAC infrastructure will bring a uniform standards recognition platform to the community, enhance scientific rigor and increase communication among forensic scientists, research scientists, academicians, statisticians, attorneys, managers and quality assurance specialists.  The OSAC structure currently consists of a Forensic Science Standards Board, three resource committees, five scientific area committees and 24 subcommittees.

About the speaker:
Mr Stolorow is Deputy Director of the Office of Special Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He is Director f the Organization of Scientific Area Committees whose mission is to produce consensus documentary standards and guidelines to improve the quality and consistancy of work in the forensic science community.

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:30 – 12:30 PM
Presenter: Hass Sadeghi, Esq.
Topic:         Optimizing your Success in the
                    Dispute Resolution Process

As an expert witness, it is just as important for you to understand your role relative to the dispute resolution process, as it is to understand your role at trial. This session provides an insider’s perspective on how expert witnesses can add value to counsel and their clients at the time of a mediation or settlement conference. Participants learn how to contribute towards settlement efforts through (alternative dispute resolution) ADR by learning about the mindset of mediators and settlement conference judges.

About the Speaker:
Hass is a business attorney with dispute resolution expertise and a people focus. He serves as Negotiation Counsel to facilitate negotiations among partners forming a new business, as well as providing pre-litigation solutions to business legal disputes. For Hass’ Bio, feel free to visit his website at: www.sadeghilegal.com, and for his CV, feel free to visit his LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmsadeghijd.

12:30 – 1:30 PM  Lunch break and social time – Members are welcome to interact with each other over the Zoom line

  1:30 – 2:30 PM
Presenter: Gary Laturno, Esq.
Topic:         How to Market to Attorneys

As an expert witness and consultant to attorneys, it is important for the document examiner to understand what our clients want from us. Learn the skills, knowledge, and experience do they expect in the person they select to partner with them on a case.

About the Speaker:
Mr. Laturno, who has practiced law for over 30 years, has an AV Rating from Martindale Hubble and has been named to “Top Lawyers in San Diego” by San Diego Magazine and “Top Lawyers in Southern California” by the Los Angeles Times for a number of years. A former FBI Chief of Civil Litigation in Washington, D.C., he supervised ten litigation attorneys and represented high ranking FBI officials, including the Director of the FBI.

Gary writes on legal topics and speaks at conferences, events, and national webinars on continuing legal education topics including real estate, estate planning and financial security, negotiation, mediation, taxation and bankruptcy law. He has co-authored two books, The U.S. Housing Crisis – Lessons Learned” and “Three Steps to Wealth & Financial Security – All that Glitters Isn’t Gold” available at www.amazon.com.

2:30 – 2:45 Break

Presenter:   Jason Harden
Topic:           Identifying Fraudulent Mortgage Documents

Jason has previously presented two presentations for us:  Endorsements and Allonges to the Promissory Note, and Assignments of Mortgage.  We spoke about the issues with forged signatures, copies of Notes being presented as originals, and the different things to look for to identify questionable documents. 

During this next presentation Jason will show an example of a case that was referred to him by a SAFE member.  This case will demonstrate how we can work together, using our different strengths and abilities, and generate more business while helping more clients.

About the Speaker:

Mr. Harden has worked in the mortgage and finance industry for over 20 years.  His experience covers many areas of the mortgage industry, including loan origination, processing, underwriting and secondary marketing.  He managed managed teams of employees in these areas as well as owned his own mortgage company.

For the past five years Mr. Harden has worked as a forensic mortgage auditor. His company,  Forensic Mortgage Audits for Attorneys, LLC, is retained by foreclosure defense attorneys to examine mortgage documents for possible fraudulent activity and alterations.  The results of his work requires  a skilled attorney to present his findings in the court of law.  Mr. Harden scours the mortgage documents to uncover the problems. The attorney applies the law to his findings.