Dr. Darrell R. Word, PhD, PE is an electrical engineer with extensive experience in both academia and industry. He has a particular strength in math and physics and underlying principles of science and engineering; and this includes a strong background in electromagnetics. He also has substantial knowledge and experience in mechanical engineering and electro-mechanical systems.
Dr. Word has practiced extensively in the areas of instrumentation, analog circuits and systems, data acquisition, signal processing and control systems. A diverse technical knowledge has also enabled a professional practice in several other disciplines, including RF Systems, Antennas, Radio navigation, electrical power engineering, and electrical geophysics.
Dr. Word is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. His principal focus is on professional engineering and consulting for industry, and some teaching as an adjunct professor in the ECE department at UT-Austin (presently not teaching), and with occasional work as an expert witness for selected legal cases in which he can help.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: (1) PhD - (Electrical Engineering) - (1970)- The University of Texas at Austin.
(2) MSEE - (1964) - UT - Austin.
(3) BSEE - (1961) - UT - Austin.
(4) Registered Professional Engineer - State of Texas.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: (1) Life Senior Member - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
(2) Member - IEEE Circuits and Systems Society.
(3) Member - IEEE Signal Processing Society.
(4) Member - IEEE Central Texas Consulting Network Group.
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: (1) UT Faculty - Adjunct Prof. of Electrical Engineering - ECE Dept - UT-Austin - various times (presently inactive).
(2) Technical paper presentations - Society of Exploration Geophysics Conventions - various times - on topics in EM Geophysics theory and methodology - (various times - last time in 1986).
(3) Technical paper presentation - Japan Society of Exploration Geophysics - in Tokyo, Japan on a new Magnetotelluric (MT) exploration technique (1987).
(4) Technical paper presentations to technical groups for The Ministry of Geology (Nanjing)and The Petroleum Corp. (Bejing) - in PR China - on MT exploration - (1988).
(5) Seminar on MT to Shell Oil technical personnel in Cairo, Egypt - (1988).
(6) Lecture on MT exploration to technical group at Huntings Geophysics Corp., London, UK - (1979).
(7) Private Corporate School special seminars and lectures on instrumentation, circuit theory, electromagnetics, and EM Geophysics, for sake of certain clients and company personnel - on numerous occasions and various times (to 1990 or so).
(8) Technical paper presentation at NATO-AGARD underground communication conference in Paris, France - on a low frequency subsurface EM communication experiment conducted by EERL of UT-Austin - (1965).
(9) Technical paper presentation at IEEE conference on low-frequency / high power signaling instrumentation for subsurface communications tests - (1964).
(10) Various Seminars and technical presentations to IEEE groups, including the consulting network group, on various topics and times (to present).
NOTE: This is not a complete list but is fairly representative.
I should also comment that the preponderance of EM Geophysics related presentations during the period from 1970 to 1990 is due to my close involvement with EM Geophysics during that time. After beginning private consulting in 1990, I was not as inclined to present technical papers; and more of the ones presented were of other topics. But it is important to recognize that, although geophysical exploration technology is somewhat specialized in its application, its design, development and implementation places an enormous demand on all of the physical sciences; and thus provides an experience and learning environment that is probably unmatched. DRW.
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: NO.
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: on 10 occasions -- (see the CV Addendum titled "Brief Summary of My Legal Case Experience - as Consultant and/or Expert Witness").
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Please see the CV Addendum titled "Brief Summary of My Legal Case Experience - as Consultant and/or Expert Witness".
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 90 percent (9 of 10).
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 10 percent (1 of 10).
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Deposed on 3 out of 10 cases.
A report was written for each case, and settlement was reached in 9 of the 10 cases before coming to trial. In at least one case, I served as a non-testifying consultant.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: Last deposition was in 2002.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: I am probably not clear on the significance of this question. Of the 10 cases, I have testified only one time in a courtroom before a judge. I am not aware (or do not recall) that my qualifications to testify were ever formally challenged in any of the 10 cases I have done; and I do not recall that any specific measure or procedure was employed in the court room case to first establish that I could testify. I think the answer is 'none'.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: I have testified in court before a judge in only one case, and never before an arbitrator.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: For the 10 cases that I have done, I believe that most all were unsolicited and infrequent; and this did not comprise a major part of my activity for most of the time that I have been involved. The first case was in 1993, and the most recent case was in 2003 (See Summary document at end of CV).
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: I am generally available for any such services that I am appropriately equipped to perform; and I have done each of the above mentioned ones at on one or more occasions during the 10 cases that I have worked on. I would want to base this on the nature and specifics of the given case and on related discussion with my client.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Consultation: $200 / hour.
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Document review: $200 / hour.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Deposition testimony: $250 / hour.
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Testimony at trial: $250 /hour.
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: I ask for an initial retainer of $5000.
I bill approved expenses at my cost.
References
Brian Engel, Att at LawMcGinnis, Lockridge & Kilgore, L.L.P.
1300 Capitol Center
919 Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 495-6000
Jeffrey L. Streets, Att at Law
Streets and Steel, Intellectual Property Attorneys
13831 Northwest Freeway
Suite 355
Houston, TX 77040
(713) 939-9444
Timothy M. O'Brian, Att at Law
Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner, & Proctor, P.A.
316 S. Baylen Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 435-7083
