Court cases we
have prevailed in along with settlements. This is only a partial list at this
time because there are more. There are those that continually bash me on the
Web and funny, it just happens to be the experts I have opposed.
Although the expert can not take full credit for a case outcome, without his experience, training and background and his ability to testify on those matters the case would not be resolved the way it was.
In some situations which will be explained, the case would not have been settled before court if I had no involvement or my reputation would not have been involved. Although there are a few cases that were found not to be in favor of my clients, there were mitigating circumstances in which my testimony was not at issue.
As for my record with insurance clients when I was brought to testify, there have only been 2 cases since 1991 in which we prevailed because of my testimony.
Both of these cases are listed first:
Burnnette vs American Ambassador---4/2003—Dupage County, IL Court
Burned reported stolen vehicle: Qualified to testify on how
the vehicle was last operated, steering column, ignition lock, vehicle fire. My
testimony revealed misrepresentation on how insured claimed vehicle was last
operated before the fire and that the steering column and ignition lock had not
been defeated before the fire. Our Favor
Truchinski vs MetLife-6/2004-Joliet County, IL
Burned reported stolen vehicle: Qualified to testify as an expert in vehicle fire, steering columns, ignitions, transponder systems, forensic locksmithing. My testimony revealed that the vehicle was last operated before the fire with an ignition key cut for the ignition lock in the vehicle as well as having the correct electronic code in order for the vehicle’s computer to read the chip in the key in order to start engine. I also testified on the wear or the two insured supplied ignition keys through forensic lock/key analysis. Our Favor
Stropki vs Progressive—Stropki—Client—11/99 Ohio Court of Common Pleas—Cleveland, OH
Expert for Progressive: Northeastern Technical Services
Burned reported stolen vehicle—Opposing expert’s contention was that the vehicle was last operated with the insured’s second issued ignition key. I was qualified as an expert in vehicle fire, ignition locks, forensic lock analysis, ignitions, steering columns.
My testimony revealed that the opposing expert could not prove his conclusion because the ignition lock could be forced from the steering column in 12 seconds with no damage what so ever to the ignition keyway circumventing the use of the ignition lock and key system all together. Our side prevailed based on my testimony and demonstration. Our Favor
State of New York vs Moray-Westchester County Criminal Court—Moray—Client 8/2003-Westchester County, NY Our Favor Expert for State: Lange Technical Services
Opposing expert claimed damage to vehicle was insurance fraud-also admitted destroying evidence. The opposing expert claimed damage to vehicle was consistent with insurance fraud. I qualified as an expert in forced entry, ignition locks, forensic lock analysis, auto theft and in all areas I was certified in. My organization the “Inrtnstional Association of Forensic Auto Theft Examiners” was also recognized as valid as well as it’s certification program.
Along with my preparation of questions supplied to the client attorney for the opposing expert and my demonstration to the jury with lock component props, my client was found to be innocent of all charges.
State of New Jersey vs Dente Towing-Newark Criminal Court-Client-Dente-4/2003-Newark, NJ Expert for State: Hard Facts Our Favor
Opposing expert claimed he could determine ignition lock was not picked without removing the ignition lock, disassembling it and examining under magnificatiom. I was qualified to testify on how the vehicle was last operated before the theft, forensic lock analysis , ignitions and forced entry. I supplied questions to the client attorney for opposing expert. My testimony revealed through props and explanations to the jury as to why opposing expert could not make the conclusion he did based on any type of fact. We won that case and my client was found not guilty.
USAF V Jackson- Court Martials- Edwards AF Base,
California-----Client—Jackson--7/2004
Expert for Prosecution: North American Technical
Services Mangine Our Favor
Acused of stealing his own car and setting it on fire. Proved prosecution’s expert did not recover enough evidence to reach a conclusion.
O’Connell vs
Arbella Insurance Company-Quincy, MA Municipal
Court-Client-O’Connell-4/2004-Quincy, MA
Expert For Arbella : S.D. Lyons Our Favor
Opposing expert states he determined reported stolen vehicle last operated with an ignition key designed for the vehicle and that the PASS LOCK anti-Theft system was working before the theft. He also stated damage to vehicle was “Over Kill” relating to the extensive damage to the vehicle when recovered by police. I was qualified to testify in forensic locksmithing, the factory installed anti theft system PASS LOCK, forced entry, forensic lock analysis and auto theft. I supplied client attorney with questions for the opposing expert. I testified that without the examination of the ignition lock (which was not present for opposing expert) that there was no way the expert could have arrived to the opinion he did. As for the “Over kill” damage to the vehicle, I testified that there is no way to determine what happened to this vehicle in the week that the vehicle was missing. We prevailed in this case. A couple weeks later the client attorney motioned for treble damages and got that judgement.
Mannian vs CSAA Insurance Company-Fresno, CA County Court-Client-Mannian-6/2005-Fresno, CA. Expert For CSAA- Herb Miller-VINLOCKSMITHS Our Favor
Opposing expert stated reported stolen and burned Mercedes not stolen and operated last by insured’s key. I qualified as an expert on vehicle fires, security systems and auto theft. This style vehicle is very difficult to operate without an electronic key for this vehicle. I reviewed an extensive amount of information about the vehicle and it’s service records. There were a number of duplicate keys made for this vehicle. I testified that any one of the seven keys outstanding could have operated this vehicle and not necessarily the insured’s key. We won this case and for $380,000 and $40,000 was for punitive damages.
Holiday vs Progressive
3/2002 Eugene, OR Forensic locksmith testimony from Al Shannon disregarded from
jury. Progressive then cited non-cooperation.when I revealed his conclusion was
not valid.
The opening defense argument was that they would prove through forensics from their expert that the last key used was the insured’s.
Working for the plaintiff I proved that the expert could not prove his theories. The jury after hearing my testimony decided to throw out all the expert’s forensics in their verdict. The closing argument then was moved to non-compliance by the insured.
Ferreras V permanent General, Santa Anna, California 10/2005- Permanent General Expert: North Eastern Technical Services--Settlement Our Favor
11/2005
This case involved a Ford Transponder theft dettterrent requiring a properly encrypted ignition key to be used to start the vehicle. A third properly cut key was found in the console of the vehicle and was never tested for codes by the expert. Since this was a mail in the expert never had the opportunity to scan the vehicle’s computer to see how many keys were programmed for the vehicle. According to the expert, the last key used was the insured’s second seldom used key.
The day before my scheduled deposition The client’s paralegal and I went to the opposing attorney’s office for inspection of the evidence retained by the opposing expert. After examinng the evidence I told the opposing attorney of my intentions to show all the things that had not been considered by her expert. I told her I had the equipment with me toread the elctronic code on the keys. We left and the paralegl said the case had gone on close to 4 years. I had been involved in the case for three weeks.
Two hourslaterthe client attorney called me and told me mydeposition was cancelled and the case had settled in our favor.
Kourosh Sajjadi V permanent General Expert for Ins Co-None-Used information on transponders from North Eastern Technical Services to deny claim. Our Favor
The concept on this case was that the reported stolen vehicle could not be stolen because it was equipped with a factory theft deterrent. This car had not been recovered for 4 years. I was deposed and gave all the ways the car could be stolen, and yet there was no way of knowing because the car was never recovered. Shortly after my deposition the case was settled in our (insured’s) favor.
Serenas V. Infinity Insurance, Irvine, CA June, 2006 Expert for Infinity: North American Technical Services- Mangine Our F
State of Illinois vs Diaz-Lake County, IL Client: Diaz 3/2004— Expert for State: George Plackey PDQ Lock Service Our Favor
This case was interesting in which I reviewed and was prepared to serve as an expert for the defense. The opposing expert inferred arson and operated with a key on this reported stolen vehicle. He stated nothing other than the insured’s keys had been in the ignition lock. When the prosecution’s/ insurance company’s expert/locksmith impressioned the ignition lock and made a working ignition key and yet stated the lock revealed no signs of tampering! The client attorney (Shirly Bertraine) retained my services and mentioned to the prosecution that I was her expert. At that time the prosecution dropped all criminal charges against Joey Diaz. The client attorney was amazed and stated “Your name is Power” in a letter to me.
State of Ohio vs Echard- Expert for State Joseph Tavarres-JET Our Favor
Cuyahoga County Criminal Court-Cleveland, OH-Client-Echard-3/2005 This was an arson/vehicle theft case. The fire department claimed this vehicle was burned because of arson on the part of the insured and the insurance company claimed the vehicle was last operated with the insured’s ignition key. My services were retained by Sam Mamich (defense attorney). I reviewed the information supplied to me from this case. Included was the fire incident report and a report from an alleged lock expert. The fire report misstated the vehicle type. The vehicle was a totally burned. It was a 2001 Ford Super crew. The fire department had listed a 2002 Ford Sport Trac. The Super Crew is a full size truck. The Sport Trac is a compact truck. The fire alledgely started in the passenger compartment according to the fire department. My review of the burn patterns in the supplied photos revealed this was an engine compartment fire. I asked my client attorney to get a hydro-carbon (Accelerant) report from the Fire Department to show me this was a set fire from the passenger compartment. There was no such report and it was merely assumed by the fire department the fire started in the interior. I found this vehicle was under recall for underhood fires caused by a defective cruise/brake switch!
As for the expert determining the last operation of the vehicle I had the client attorney subpoena the expert’s former employment records in which the expert had signed a confession letter for embezzlement. I also revealed the spoliation of the ignition lock remains. The case was dismissed and the client attorney sent a letter of referral to me for my intervention on getting this case dismissed.
Piersol V. USAA Our Favor June 2006 Ft. Myers Florida Expert for USAA C&D Lock-Dave
Drew—Settlement—Our Favor
It was proven forensic locksmith
destroyed evidence and did not gather lock for safe keeping. Settlement at
mediation.
Ledin V. Mercury Insurance—6/2006
Tampa FL—Expert for Mercury-North Eastern
Technical Services Settlement-- Our Favor
Expert for insurance company could
not account for missing key.
Baca V. CSAA—Las Vegas, NV
5/2005 Our Favor
Case settled almost from
inception. Forensic locksmith made a big deal about no blunt force trauma being
done to ignition lock. He also stated in his report that there were no signs of
stripping to the vehicle. Upon my inspection of this vehicle that suffered from
a passenger compartment fire, I found seats, door trim panels had been removed
before the fire and the vehicle was in fact stripped.
State of Ohio V. Withers—Nov 2006 A-1 Lock- Mark Ames Our Favor
Case dismissed with me showing for
court.
State of Ohio V. Higgins—March
2007 Expert For State A-1 Lock- Mark Ames Our Favor
After prosecution rested and could not put defendant with car and after the judge read my report on all the variables the forensic locksmith did not consider before rendering a conclusion that car last operated with proper key,as well as state could not place defendant with car. judge invoke rule 29 dismissing the case and acquitting my client.
Theodore Pearson V. Progressive Expert
for Progressive A-1 Lock-Mark Ames Our Favor
Forensic locksmith determined that
vehicle last operated with a key. There was no lock for him to examine!
Espinoza V Infinity –Orange
County, CA 9/2006 Expert For North American Technical services-Mangine Our Favor
Turner V. Sterling Insurance
1/2006 Expert For Sterling-North American Technical Services-Mangine Our Favor
Baron V. Warrior – State of
Illinois—St. Clair County 6/2002 Expert for
Warrior- Tim Finley Our
Favor
Sidhu V. Farmers – Fresno, CA 3/2006
Experts for Farmers-Herbert T. Miller/
Tom Seroogy VINLOCKSMITHS Our Favor
$375,000 for insured
Wasseff V. Unitrin Orange County, CA-3/2007 Expert For Unitrin:
North American Technical Services-Mangine Settlement Our Favor
McCoy V. Progressive—LA—3/2007 Expert for Progressive: Forest Flolck Our Favor
$17K for car $65K emotional Distress, $100K
punitives
Nobels V. Ampac—Alabama—3/2007
Expert For Am Pac: Pronet Our Favor $375,000
State of MA V. Parry-Expert for State: Lange Technical—Dismissed on my affidavit
Thompson V. State Farm Kentucky Federal
Court-Expert for State Farm: North Eastern
Technical Services-Settled in our favor
Heady V. State Farm-Kentucky Federal Court Expert for State Farm-North Eastern Technical
Services—Heady won-Our favor
Porter V. Progressive Expert For Progressive: North Eastern Technical Services
Settled in Porter’s favor Our favor
Hampton V. State Farm/NICB-Kansas
City, Kansas Expert for State Farm; Technical
Forensic Services-Mike Hearold. Our favor of $800,000 for Jenny and her brother
Sept 30, 2005