John Berninger has over 25 years experience in product liability cases involving hydraulic and pneumatic components/systems. These have included: explosion in tanning factory, regulator bursting on pressurized CO2 bottle, acid spill on railroad siding, fire in vegetable warehouse, hand-held pressurized equipment, machinery injuries, steel mill fire, cement mixer death, amputations on industrial saws, etc. He will travel anywhere.
John has developed industrial standards with the National Fluid Power Association, ANSI, and ISO. He served in several officer positions of the NFPA, is currently chair of the ISO technical committee on fluid power (TC 131), and is a member of the ANSI Board of Standards Review.
John retired from Parker Hannifin after 36 years, last serving as the global engineering manager
See his website at www.AAEconsult.com.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology with a BSME (1958) and an MSME (1966). Registered professional engineer in Illinois and Michigan. Certified Fluid Power Engineer by the Fluid Power Society. Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Examiners.
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: National Fluid Power Association (NFPA).
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Have given papers at several technical meetings over the years. Have been chair and conducted many technical meetings. Have delivered Powerpoint presentations on many technical issues; and also on finances to the entire parish at my church.
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 served as the in-house expert for Parker Hannifin in more than 30 cases. I have had 6 cases as an independent since retirement in 2002.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Hydraulic and pneumatic machinery and equipment, plus mechanical devices on equipment. Some of the machinery included saws, furnaces, presses, automatation equipment, and pressurized gas bottles.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: One case during my carrer with Parker Hannifin, plus 5 cases as an independent since 2002.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: All cases with Parker Hannifin, including one in 2003.
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: About 13 times.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: May 2005.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Once.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Twice.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: About 25.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Consulting, site inspections, reports, analyses, depositions, testimony.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: 170
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: 170
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: 170
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: 170
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: One hour of travel time regardless of destination. In the past I have traveled all over the USA on cases, and would continue.
References
John ShawShaw, Terhar & LaMontagne LLP
707 Wilshire Boulevard, Ste 3060
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 614-0400
jshaw@stl-lawoffices.com
Bill McCandless
DeNardis, McCandless, Miller, & Brennan, PLC
70 Macomb Place
Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
(586) 469-9191 (Michigan)
(941) 390-0450 (Florida)
gpsart@sprintmail.com
