Mr. David Jacobson has over 35 years experience in all facets of Structural, Civil, & Forensic Engineering, and, in addition to providing design and consultation services, has been providing expert services as an opinion witness to attorneys and insurance companies since 1988.
Mr. Jacobson's professional experience includes structural design of heavy industrial facilities, including nuclear powerplant, petrochemical, iron and steel, commercial and industrial buildings, single and multi-family residential, bridges, and cranes. He has also designed sites for shopping centers and individual buildings.
Mr. Jacobson maintains an office in Scahumburg, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago, and will consider cases nationwide. The office staff includes graduate engineers experienced in structural and civil engineering investigations and evaluations.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: B.S. Engineering, University of Illinois (Chicago), 1970, with Honors
Licensed Structural Engineer - Illinois
Licensed professional Engineer - Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin
Licensed Civil Engineer - California
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Member Structural Engineers Association of Illinois
Chairman of Building Code Board of Appeals for the City of West Chicago, Illinois
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: > 50
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Structural Failure Investigations; Construction accidents involving injury; determination of standard of care of Structural Engineer and cost of remediation; Highway geometry and signage; Sewer System failure (backup); means of egress re: ADA.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: We do not specifically track this data; our forensics work is split approximately 50-50.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: We do not specifically track this data; our forensics work is split approximately 50-50.
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: > 25
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: March 2008
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: several
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: > 10
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: since 1988
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Structural and Civil Engineering consultation, investigation and reports, failure investigation and analysis.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: 175; no charge for introductory telephone conversation (
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: 250
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: 300
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: 300
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: travel expenses: mileage @ $0.505/mile, transportation, meals, etc., at 110% of cost. Copies $0.12/sheet, fax >5 sheets, $1.00/sheet. LD phone at cost. Other expenses at cost.
