Dr. Bechtel is a world-renowned expert on sinkholes. But not just sinkholes; bedrock conditions, caves, water pollution, and all issues related to "karst" terranes. Dr. Becthel has 25 years of experience in the engineering/environmental industry, as well as faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, and Franklin and Marshall College. Dr. Bechtel has been an expert in dozens of sinkole or karst-related cases - often related to causes of sinkholes and/or water problems. Dr. Bechtel is also a geophysicist with expertise and courtroom experience in seismology, seismic hazards, vibration monitoring and analysis, subsidence, soil creep, landslides, and rockfalls.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A:
B.Sc. Haverford College, 1982
M.Sc. Brown University, 1984
Ph.D., Brown University, 1989
Registered P.G. (Professional Geologist), 1992
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A:
International Karst Commission, appointed member
International Association of Hydrogeologists Journal, appointed Associate Editor
Geological Society of America
American Geophysical Union
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Engineering and Environmental Geophysical Society
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A:
Adjunct Graduate Professor, University of Pennsylvania, 2000-present
teaching in geology, geophysics and geocomputation
Adjunct Full Professor, Franklin and Marshall College, 2009-present
teaching in environmental geology
Visiting Scholar, Franklin and Marshall College, 2009-present
research in geology and geophysics
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:
Over 50 times
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A:
Karst Geology and Hydrology (sinkholes, caves, rock pinnacles, water pollution)
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A:
Approximately 40%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A:
Approximately 60%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A:
Approximately 30 times
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A:
August, 2009
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A:
Over 20 times
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A:
Over 20 times
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A:
18 years
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A:
All of the above
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A:
$100
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A:
$100
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A:
$150
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A:
$150
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A:
travel, reproduction, per diem, etc. at cost plus 10%
References
Dean BatsonFox Rothschild O'Brien & Frankel, LLP
Eagleview Corporate Center
747 Constitution Drive
Suite 100
Exton, PA 19341-0673
DBatson@foxrothschild.com
(610)458-4996
Mark Lovett
Hartman Underhill & Brubaker
221 East Chestnut Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
markl@hublaw.com
717-299-7254
Mary Ann Rossi
MacElree Harvey, Ltd.
17 West Miner Street
West Chester, PA 19382
mrossi@macelree.com
610-430-7885
