Forensic Education

Accuracy in Engineering Animations

Speakers: 

Hugh Borbidge, BSME, Director of Engineering Animations

Laurence R. Penn, CFVT, Senior Forensic Animation/Video Specialist

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Our society has become largely accustomed to the visually stunning animations produced by major film studios; captivating, dynamic, and compelling; however, most legal professionals know their accuracy to be questionable.  For forensic experts and their clients, precision is paramount for the creation of demonstrative evidence, be it a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional animation illustrating movement.  Faced with more critical viewers than Hollywood Studios, the questions asked are often, “Is it to-scale? Do the movements align with the relevant laws of physics? Does the exhibit faithfully represent the results of the engineering analysis?”

This seminar delves into the creation of accurate engineering animations, adhering to principles that ensure admissibility in court. It covers the expert’s process from data collection, emphasizing the importance of all objects being “to-scale,” defining movements in accordance with physics laws, and ensuring the exhibit effectively demonstrates analysis.  Strategic planning and comprehensive understanding offer the opportunity to secure the acceptance of these potentially impactful exhibits as evidence. The presentation incorporates real-world case examples, showcasing both challenges and solutions.

Adverse Events in Healthcare

Speaker:

Stacy L. Donnelly, RN, BSN, Nursing and Nursing Home Expert

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Persons admitted to nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities generally expect that the medical care they receive will improve their health, not worsen it. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. In some instances, residents are harmed as a result of their medical treatment. This is referred to as an Adverse Event.  An Adverse Event is described as harm to a patient or resident as a result of medical care, including the failure to provide care.  The term Adverse Event covers a wide range of maladies and can be used to describe anything from an abrasion to death. Healthcare providers are trained to determine if an Adverse Event was preventable or non-preventable.

In this presentation, Stacy L. Donnelly, RN, BSN defines and describes various Adverse Events, identifies the factors in determining the preventability of an Adverse Events, describes the investigative process for adverse events, and identifies key staff members and their roles in the prevention of adverse events. Nurse Donnelly will also describe the continuum of care and how it applies to Adverse Events, providing real-world case examples of its applications.

‘Back Up’ Your Case: Utilizing Cloud Data when the Device is MIA

Speaker:

Timothy R. Primrose, Digital Forensic Analyst

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Digital forensic investigations rely heavily on the availability of electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets. However, in some cases, these devices may not be available for examination. For example, a cell phone may be lost, traded in, or damaged beyond repair. In such cases, digital forensic investigators must turn to alternative sources of evidence, such as carrier records, data backed up to the cloud, data from social media platforms, or data stored within a third-party mobile payment or audio streaming service.

In this seminar, we will discuss strategies and best practices for obtaining alternate data sources when the cell phone is not available. Join us to learn how to save your case when the pertinent cell phone in your case is inaccessible.

Cracking the Code: Mobile Forensics for Fraud Investigations

Speaker:

Timothy R. Primrose, Digital Forensic Analyst

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

With the rapidly evolving landscape of digital technology, mobile devices are key to unlocking valuable data for fraud investigations. In “Cracking the Code: Mobile Forensics for Fraud Investigations,” Timothy R. Primrose, Digital Forensic Analyst with DJS Associates, introduces the types of data available for extraction and analysis from cell phones, vehicle infotainment systems, and more. Real-world case applications utilizing digital forensic analysis will be explored to help attendees gain understanding of how device data can be harnessed to establish timelines, track movements, corroborate testimonies, and uncover crucial insights surrounding a person’s activities and communications.

Digital Forensics for Auto Insurance Investigations

Speakers:

Robert T. Lynch, P.E., Principal Collision Reconstruction Engineer

Timothy R. Primrose, Digital Forensic Analyst

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0-1.5 (substantive)

As the automotive industry continues to embrace technological advancements, the integration of digital forensics has become a pivotal tool to unravel the complexities surrounding claims and fraud. Tailored for insurance professionals, “Digital Forensics for Auto Insurance Investigations,” explores data collection and analysis from event data recorders, dashcams, infotainment systems, cell phones, and more. Attendees will gain insights into the vast array of digital footprints that can be leveraged to reconstruct events for claims investigations.

Elder Abuse & Neglect

Speaker:

Stacy L. Donnelly, RN, BSN, Nursing and Nursing Home Expert

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Elder abuse and neglect are often topics that are difficult to think about, however, they are real and do occur.  Both are common and often result in serious medical, social, and psychological consequences.  One way to decrease elder abuse and neglect, along with its negative impacts, is to provide education, including the warning signs and how to prevent it from occurring.

In this presentation by Stacy L. Donnelly, RN, BSN, Nursing and Nursing Home Expert, attendees will learn about the various types of abuse and neglect; examples of abuse and neglect; how to identify warning signs; and the steps to take if elder abuse and neglect is suspected.  Nurse Donnelly will also discuss the techniques used in the investigation of these cases, providing real-life cases studies. 

Failure or Fraud? Investigation of Household Products

Speaker:

John R. Yannaccone, P.E., Principal Mechanical Engineer

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

When consumer products fail, resulting damages may range from minor nuisances to substantial loss claims. Product failure can occur due to age, normal wear and tear, or more complex factors, including poor design, improper assembly, or improper installation. In some cases, investigations may even uncover that the incident resulted from intentional damage caused by the property owner. Detailed forensic examination of the product involved in an incident can reveal the reason for the failure and contributing factors. Subsequent expert analysis can assist insurance professionals to accurately assign liability to contributing parties and pursue recovery for accrued losses.

Nighttime Reconstruction: Don’t Get Left in the Dark

Speaker:

Robert T. Lynch, P.E. Principal Collision Reconstruction Engineer

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Reconstructing nighttime collisions often involves a visibility component to the analysis as objects become more difficult to see in lower lighting conditions. Determining when an object becomes visible as a hazard is fundamental to evaluate whether the driver could have avoided the incident. A pedestrian dressed in dark clothing who crosses a roadway during the day, with no geometric sight distance obstructions, may be visible from over 1,000 feet away. The same pedestrian crossing at night, however, may not be visible to drivers until their vehicles are less than 100 feet away, when headlights illuminate the pedestrian to the level of recognition. A tractor-trailer traveling slowly up an extended grade on a limited access highway might be easily detected during the day, but this same scenario at night is more difficult for an approaching driver to appreciate without the benefit of visual cues provided by the juxtaposition of the tractor-trailer relative to other roadway traffic and roadside objects. This seminar will explore each scenario and address common challenges related to reconstructing nighttime collisions.

Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Facility Operations and Standard of Care

Speaker:

Laura M. Miele, Ph.D, Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Expert

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Sport, fitness, and recreation facilities are required to implement and uphold a standard of care framework to ensure the safety and well-being of participants. This presentation explores critical aspects of risk management and safe industry practices, such as equipment usage, facility operations, training protocols and Emergency Action Plans. Speaker Laura Miele, Ph.D., draws upon experience as a former Division I college athlete and physical education teacher, in addition to her educational background in exercise science, sport psychology, functional training, fitness facility management, and use of safety equipment. Real-world case examples involving different types of fitness facilities, such as trampoline parks and climbing gyms, will help attendees to gain a deeper understanding of how standard of care framework provides invaluable guidance in legal cases, insurance claims, and dispute resolutions.

Take Your Case by Storm with Forensic Weather Experts

Speaker:

Steven Roberts, AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

What do property damage, slip and falls, and motor vehicle accidents have in common?  Answer: Weather could be a factor in causing these incidents.  Forensic weather consultants and meteorologists have been, and continue to be, an invaluable tool utilized by legal, insurance, and engineering professionals.  While some cases may have obvious cause for calling in the experts, such as a fall on black ice, other cases may not be as apparent.  This seminar will overview cases where forensic weather investigations should be employed, the benefits of using a weather expert, and how to select a qualified expert for your case.  Speaker Steven Roberts, AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist will detail the process of the meteorological investigation, analysis, findings, challenges, and oversights of an opposing weather expert through a real-world case example. 

Utilizing New Vehicle Technology to Reconstruct Collisions

Speaker:

Robert T. Lynch, P.E. Principal Collision Reconstruction Engineer

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 (substantive)

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, are becoming more prevalent in new vehicles. These systems, when functioning properly, will alert a driver to a potentially dangerous condition such as closing too quickly on a lead vehicle or leaving one’s travel lane without a signal activated, and some systems will even intervene by taking over partial control of the vehicle to help a driver avoid or mitigate an impending collision. This seminar will discuss the latest advancements in vehicle safety technology and how to extract and utilize this data to reconstruct a collision.