Please join Exponent and Vertex’s team of engineers and experts for an afternoon of CLE’s followed by Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres.
November 30, 1-5pm CLE Sessions
Social Hour from 5-7pm
Attendees can attend any CLE’s of interest to them, or all!
Magnolia Hotel Denver
Applied for Three General CLEs & One Ethics Credits
Valet Parking Covered by Vertex & Exponent
Free to any registrant and attendee!
PRESENTERS
Exponent
Jon Wren, PhD, PE; Charles Coccia, PhD; Paul Bennett, MS, PE, CBIE;
David Burnett, PE; Nathan Mayercsik, PhD; Nicoli Ames, PhD, PE;
Zachary Owens, PhD, PE; Alan Dibb, PhD, PE; Jason Skiera, MS, PE;
Benjamin Lester, PhD; and Robert Rauschenberger, PhD
Vertex
Ryan Phillips, PE, CCM, CEP, LEED AP, CDT
Choose between two CLE tracks, one pertaining to Construction Defects
and one to Personal Injury/Product Defects.
Applied for Three CLE General Credits and One Ethics Credit.
AGENDA: TRACK 1
Title: Landslides: Cause & Differentiation from Common Earth Settlement
Instructors: Jon Wren, PhD, PE and Charles Coccia, PhD
Description: This course presents an overview of landslides and their causes, and how to differentiate landslide induced building distress from that due to common earth settlement.
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Title: Ethics in Construction Claims - 1 Ethics CLE Credit
Instructors: Ryan Phillips, PE, CCM, CEP, LEED AP, CDT & Cedric Logan, Esq., Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell
Description: This course considers the ethics in disclosure of competing cost estimates in construction defect disputes and the Plaintiff’s obligation to disclose defense estimates to their client on the basis of fiduciary duties to client. Part 2. Also, potential impacts of poor or incomplete conflict checks will be discussed.
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Title: Building Material Failures
Instructors: Paul Bennett, MS, PE, CBIE, David Burnett, PE and
Nathan Mayercsik, PhD
Description: This course focuses on a recent history of failures in building materials that often have led to class action lawsuits. Building materials such as fiber cement siding, engineered wood, wood composite decking, windows, and concrete will be discussed.
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Title: Allocations in Construction Claims
Instructors: Ryan Phillips, PE, CCM, CEP, LEED AP, CDT; Paul Bennett, MS, PE, CBIE and Jason Rietz, Esq., Overturf McGath & Hull
Description: Allocation of fault in construction claims can be a controversial topic. This course will discuss a methodology for allocations and the importance of basing allocations on scientific evidence. An example allocation will be presented.
AGENDA: TRACK 2
Title: Fires & Explosions and Oil & Gas Field Injuries
Instructors: Nicoli Ames, PhD, PE and Zachary Owens, PhD, PE
Description: In this CLE we will consider two examples where engineering analyses were a key factor in elucidating the root cause of a wildland fire alleged to be caused by an arching transmission line and a residential explosion alleged to be caused by a propane water heater.
We will look at two personal injury cases that occurred in the oil field. State regulations, industry recommended practices, and local standard of care will be presented, as well as discussion about the growth of population centers into formerly remote oil/gas production areas.
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Title: Laying the foundation for accident reconstruction and biomechanical analyses through research, crash testing and literature.
Instructors: Alan Dibb, PhD, PE and Jason Skiera, MS, PE
Description: This course provides an overview of the technical aspects of vehicle accident reconstruction and biomechanics. A brief introduction to the steps typically followed by experts in these practice areas will be presented. Course learning objectives include a discussion of case material, crucial pieces of evidence, and technical tools often utilized including crash testing and research.
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Title: Human Factors and Premises Liability
Instructor: Benjamin Lester, PhD
Description: Human factors is a field of research in which the psychological and biological characteristics of the human are examined with respect to how these abilities operate in, and interact with, the environment. The capabilities and limitations of the human can be applied to understand and optimize product and premises design, systems operation, habitability, and health and safety. Applying human factors expertise to premises liability can inform topics encountered in slip, trip, and fall incidents, including visibility, awareness, pedestrian behavior and decision-making, design, and safety. In this presentation, understanding how and why human behavior and mental states precipitate slip, trip, and fall events will be discussed. The toolbox of human factors techniques that can be applied to premises litigation will be highlighted, as well as emerging areas of research and premises liability.
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Title: Human Factors in Product Liability and Class Actions
Instructor: Robert Rauschenberger, PhD
Description: Frequently encountered topics in product liability and class action lawsuits relate to consumer attention and decision-making, in particular with regard to product disclosures, such as warnings or marketing claims. What is common to both warnings-related and marketing claims-related decisions and behaviors is that they are predicated upon consumer attention to those disclosures. There are a variety of contextual factors that impact consumer attention to disclosures, as well as consumers' subsequent decision-making and behavior. The science on a number of these contextual influences will be discussed, as well as their implications for product liability and class actions lawsuits. Examples will be presented for, among other things, automotive, medical device, pharmaceutical, and food products.