BLDI uses its long-term experience in environmental and forensic engineering methods to develop and assess data, including developing field investigation protocols to assess case issues.
Forensic Environmental Engineering - Expert Witness
Mr. Joseph Berlin, PE of BLDI has developed unique expertise in forensic engineering to address environmental and engineering issues. Mr. Berlin is a member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. In his forensic work, Mr. Berlin is supported by BLDI's staff of professional engineers and a registered geologist. Mr. Berlin uses his long-term experience in forensic engineering methods to develop and assess data, including developing specialized field investigation protocols to assess case issues.
Mr. Berlin has reviewed dozens of cases in the past 10 years. Many of these cases are resolved long before discovery is completed. However, in those cases where a trial is the ultimate outcome, Mr. Berlin has had experience in both civil and criminal cases. The length of the case can vary from a single consultation to multiple years (see: Meijer v. Total Containment Case Study) to reach the final outcome.
Since many of our forensic projects deal with the release of hydrocarbons, BLDI utilizes various field and laboratory practices, including sometimes complex laboratory methods to assess hydrocarbon composition and compositional changes over time.
BLDI uses our education, knowledge, and experience in engineering, environmental regulations, and accounting to assess the implications of environmental issues on the financial reporting and valuation of public and private concerns. BLDI’s original research on the reporting of environmental liabilities and asset retirement obligations (AICPA, FIN) provides a unique insight into this relatively new reporting. This knowledge has most recently been used in resolving the valuation of a private family concern.
Benefits of using BLDI:
Mr. Joseph Berlin, PE, BLDI's court-certified expert, has the following attributes that our clients find important in selecting an expert to conduct peer reviews, litigation support, and deposition and court testimony.
- Civil and criminal court-certified expert
- Significant experience in working with attorney guidance
- Experience with environmental liability estimation (ASTM, FIN, FASB), including original research
- Experience on various types of environmental cases (e.g. cause and origin, fate & transport, financial)
- Experience in multiple states
- Experience in various courts
- Continued involvement in on-going technical projects
- Conduct that has earned trust with regulators