Richard A. Rice, PE - Editor
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Edition XXXIII - April 2019
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Major League Baseball (MLB) in the Hotseat
For many years, baseball, football and other sports fans have been injured or killed at stadiums across the United States because of an unsafe stadium exemption. The exemption allows guardrails in front of first row seating at stadiums to be lower than standard guardrails that prevent falls at other commercial structures. The photograph above shows a man falling to his death while trying to catch a foul ball at Texas Stadium in 2011. Just days after this incident, an insurance broker sent a memo to MLB to warn them about rail heights. Prior to the incident at Texas Stadium, your OFI editor investigated a similar incident in 2005 at the baseball stadium in Atlanta. The reason for the lower rail height is to allow people in those first rows to see the game. When brought to the attention to the state body that governs building codes, my concerns fell on deaf ears.
Click here
to read an article about how MLB is now going to pay attention to this issue. Get ready to see nets installed at the ball park.
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Again, thank you. If you have suggestions for OFI, please
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Sincerely,
Richard A. Rice, PE
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Expert Witness Challenges: Confusing Weight vs. Admissibility
An Illinois court has ruled that an expert licensed in Occupational Medicine could give opinions on the likelihood of future surgery, even though the expert was not a surgeon. It was the weight of the testimony, not the admissibility of the expert that was in question.
Click Here.
FIU Bridge Collapse Fallout
As you may remember, a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed and killed six people at Florida International University. OSHA found numerous violations by the General Contractor (GC). Now the GC had filed for bankruptcy.
Click Here.
Preserving Attorney-Client Priviledge as an Expert Witness
An interesting article about how a party to a Texas lawsuit can provide expert witness testimony and STILL maintain attorney-client priviledge.
Click Here
A Brewery in the Belly
There is a rare condition where alcohol is naturally produced in the stomach. This was the defense for a defendant who was charged with DUI. However, the judge was not having the explanation from the tenuous expert witness.
Click Here.
Another Engineering Board Slapped Down by the Courts on Free Speech Issue
You may remember the Oregon PE Board getting into trouble by denying a degreed engineer from calling himself an "engineer." Now the Mississippi PE Board is overturned when it tried to stop a tire store from calling its employees "Tire Engineers."
Click Here.
Understanding Subrogation
This article is a great primer (or a refresher) on the mechanics of subrogation. Forensic Engineers need to read this to know what your clients are dealing with at this level.
Click Here.
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I have the privilege to work with many great forensic experts in the United States, Asia and Europe in the fields of Accident Reconstruction, Electrical Failures, Mechanical Failures just to name a few disciplines. Please allow me to refer to you one of these court tested experts for your next insurance claim or legal matter. There is no charge to you. I do not get a finders fee from anyone. This is my way of helping you. Plus, I can help my Forensic Engineering colleagues. Please
email me
or call 404.395.7441.
Note:
No warranties, expressed or implied, are made to the suitability of any expert referred to you. Do your homework to make sure you have the right expert.
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Richard A. Rice, PE is President and Forensic Engineer for Mutual Engineering, Inc. - MEI. Because of 30+ years of continuous civil/structural design services, and his early and continued exposure to his friends and families many construction businesses, Mr. Rice is uniquely qualified to provide Civil/Structural Forensic Engineering services to the insurance, legal, and construction industries. Services include building design and construction, roadway design and construction, building inspection and code compliance, building/foundation collapse, construction site incidents, and other property loss subjects. Mr. Rice is a licensed professional engineer in several states, and a Fellow and Board Certified Diplomate of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE). Mr. Rice has written a novel and numerous technical articles published in professional journals for NAFE, the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP), and the Georgia Defense Lawyer Association (GDLA). Please call/email Mr. Rice or visit his company's webpage:
Richard A. Rice, PE - Civil/Structural Engineer
Mutual Engineering, Inc. - MEI
13009 Panhandle Road
Hampton, GA 30228
(Phone): 404.395.7441
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Happy Easter!!! Thank you for Your Trust!!!
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