Denis A. Brosnan, PhD, PE
Dr. Brosnan is a ceramic engineer specializing in ceramics used in commerce, with special expertise in minerals (including asbestos containing materials), refractory ceramics, and building materials. He has extensive litigation experience in all of the aforementioned areas:
Minerals and mineral reactions at room temperature and on increasing temperature – Dr. Brosnan’s MS and PhD theses involved kinetics in ceramic systems. He has published the seminal paper on kinetic modeling of the thermal decomposition of chrysotile asbestos, a matter of interest when exposure assessments are made from thermal processes involving asbestos containing materials. In most cases, Dr. Brosnan has established that estimates of the decomposition temperature published in the literature are misleading due to the brevity of common laboratory tests. Similar considerations are applicable to other mineral reactions involving sintering, corrosion, and mineral/gas reactions.
Refractories and Applications – Dr. Brosnan has provided Expert Services in cases involving steel mills and foundries, aluminum and non-ferrous metals, cement plants, mineral and coke calciners, rotary kilns, and utility boilers. Dr. Brosnan has special techniques to determine the thermal history of used refractories, i.e. to estimate the use temperature with confidence. He is particularly expert in the use of optical and scanning electron microscopy in the determination of the wear mechanisms of refractory materials.
Building Materials – Dr. Brosnan’s expertise in clay brick and masonry systems had been used in numerous masonry matters. A particular expertise is in the evaluation of materials in historic buildings.
Other Materials – Dr. Brosnan has worked in the fields of whiteware ceramics (toilets, dishes, etc.) and technical ceramics (insulators, structural ceramics, etc.). Dr. Brosnan is knowledgeable about leaching of metals from ceramics and about environmental effects of high temperature processes.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: PhD, Ceramic Engineering, Iowa State University (1972)
MS, Ceramic Engineering, Clemson University (1968)
BS, Ceramic Engineering, Clemson University (1967)
Registered Professional Engineer, South Carolina, No. 13888
Construction Sepcifications Specialist, Construction Specifications Institute
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Member, ACTM Committee C15 on Manufacted Masonry Products
Former Member, ASTM C08 on Refractories
Member, The American Ceramic Society
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: 19 Years Experience teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Courses in Ceramic Engineering at Clemson University
Former Director, "Refractories" and "Advanced Refractories", The Center for Professional Advancement
Many Invited Presentations in Refracoties, Ceramic Manufacturing, and Masonry Products
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: I have served in an expert in approximately 75 matters, provided numerous depositions, and testified in court on several occasions.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Refractory products; asbestos litigation; building situations with masonry products; ceramic processing;and environmental impacts of production or use of ceramic products.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 100
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Approximately 40.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: October, 2007.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Approximately 20.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Approximately 20.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 19 Years.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: I offer consulting services with the availability of a complete ceramic laboratory for quick turn around of laboratory analytical tests, microscopy, and materials characterization.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $300.
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $300
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $600
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $600
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Please inquire for a complete fee schedule.
References
On RefractoriesMr. Michael Daniel
PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal
Darling Park Tower 2
201 Sussex Street
Sydney, Australia
michael.daniel@au.pwc.com
Mr. Michael P. Hutchins
Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP
240 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614
mhutchin@wthf.com
On Asbestos
William C. Mills IV, Esq.
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
wmills@morganlewis.com
Louis P. Hearns
Pierce, Herns, Sloan & McCleod, LLC
321 E. Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29413
louishearns@pshm.net
On Ceramic Materials
Mr. Michael Menapace
Dewey and Le Boeuf LLP
Goodwin Square
225 Asylum Street, 13th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
mmenapace@dl.com
On Ceramic Processing
Mr. Larry Murphy
Lawrence R. Murphy, Jr.
Robinett & Osmond
624 South Boston, Suite 900
Tulsa, OK 74119
lmurphy@robinettosmond.com
On Clay Bricks, Masonry, and Buildings
Mr. Keith Robert Hemming, Esq.
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP
Three Gateway Center
100 Mulberry
Street Newark, NJ 07102-4079
khemming@mdmc-law.com
Buildings, Forensics, and Historic Structures
Mr. Brent A. Gabby
Simpson Gumpertz and Heger
41 Seyon Street
Building 1, Suite 500
Waltham, MA 02453
bagabby@sgh.com
