R. Britton Colbert is a 30-year+ experienced hotel operations executive with on-site operations with ITT Sheraton Hotels and Holiday Inns, Inc., with a focus in hotel operations, hotel development, investment, franchising, financing and litigation support nationwide. Mr. Colbert has extensive hotel due diligence experience for both acquisition and financing projects. He has provided assistance in answering interrogatories and discovery, trial and deposition preparation. Formerly with Laventhol & Horwath in NYC and Los Angeles. As partner in the LA office, he directed the hotel and litigation practice from 1985-89, whereupon in 1990 he became EVP of operations of a 9-hotel portfolio.
His case work has included matters involving hotel operating standards; partnership reporting issues; cash flow analysis; and franchisor-franchisee matters, including license agreements, management contract issues, wrongful termination, misrepresentation, security, personal injury, wrongful death and zoning approval matters.
Recent distinguishing assignments include California Court Appointed hotel expert regarding an 11-hotel portfolio dispute, testimony in death and near-death defense cases in Mississippi representing a national hotel franchisor, testimony in Virginia regarding wrongful death cases associated with a hotel fire and fraud, and an embezzlement case in Maryland regarding two hotels and a condo development. Other recent cases include a wrongful death case associated with a swimming pool in Pennsylvania (defense), assault case in New York (plaintiff), standards and control case in the Bahamas (defense), defense case regarding cash flows associated with construction and renovation for a 6-hotel portfolio and plaintiff shooting case in Maryland.
He is certified by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (1991-2006) and holds real estate licenses in Pennsylvania and California.
Hotel asset management and consulting work includes assistance with 92-room Pennsylvania historic hotel regarding cash flows and redevelopment plans; revenue, expense and marketing management for 102-room national chain affiliated hotel in Ohio; and consulting for two resort motels on the Maryland Eastern Shore.
Other areas of expertise include: Hotel financing and hotel development matters, and hotel reporting standards.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: .University of Denver, School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, BSBA
.California Real Estate License, current
.Pennsylvania Real Estate License, current
.American Hotel & Lodging Association, CHA, 1991-2006
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: .American Hotel & Lodging Association
.Pittsburgh Association for Corporate Growth
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: .UCLA Real Estate, Hotel Financing, Evening Curriculum
.Numerous speeches, presentations and television appearances
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: Please contact my office for details
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Hotel industry issues regarding management and franchise contracts, standards of care, fraudulent reporting, wrongful death (fire and swimming pool related), assault and other safety related matters.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Approximately 50%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Approximately 50%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Approximately 25
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Full range of hotel related consulting services including but not limited to, document review, operational assessments for owners, lenders and attorneys, cash flow analysis, capital expenses development, staffing assessment, disposition assistance, report writing, testifying and other litigation-support assistance as required.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Please call the office for details
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: All out-of-pocket expenses billed at cost with major travel items prepaid.
