FORENSIC FIRE EXPERT, LITIGATION CONSULTANT, AND ATTORNEY AT LAW. Retired Chief Randy D. Roxson, Esq., founder of FIRE DESIGN INC. served 30 years in the fire service before retiring from the California State Fire Marshal's Office in 2006, where he attained the rank of Chief of State Fire Marshal Operations. Randy is now a practicing California Attorney at Law and is Principal/General Counsel to FIRE DESIGN INC., a fire protection consulting firm.
While with the California State Fire Marshal's Office, Chief Roxson was a member of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, Chair of the State Fire Marshal's Fire and Life Safety Building Standards Advisory Committee, and a member of the State of California Historical Building Standards Advisory Board. Chief Roxson has authored and processed many regulations and legislation regarding fire and life safety that is law today in California.
Randy began his firefighting career in the United States Air Force, and upon his honorable discharge, became a firefighter in California. In 1982, Randy became a Deputy State Fire Marshal with the California State Fire Marshal’s Office, where he advanced to Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal, Division Chief, and then to Chief of State Fire Marshal Operations.
Randy is a 1997 graduate of a California POST Basic Police Academy and a Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI), and has an Associate in Arts degree in Fire Technology; a Bachelor in Arts degree in Political Science; and a Juris Doctorate degree. Randy is a member of the State Bar of California where he has been licensed to practice law in the state of California and the 9th Circuit of the Federal Court, Eastern District since 1996.
In addition to being Principal/General Counsel to FIRE DESIGN INC., Randy is a solo practitioner with The Law Office of Randall D. Roxson. His practice of law focuses on fire and explosion litigation, and all other legal areas of personal injury and wrongful death, products liability, premises liability, and professional negligence. Randy is also a registered lobbyist in the state of California, and can also be found at www.firelawlawyer.com
Randy is a member of the California State Bar, American Association for Justice, Capitol City Trial Lawyers’ Association, Nevada Justice Association, National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, International Association of Arson Investigators, National Association of Fire Investigators, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, California State Firefighters’ Association, National Code Services Association, International Fire Chiefs' Association, National Association of Subrogation Professionals, and the Forensic Expert Witness Association.
FIRE DESIGN INC. provides forensic fire expert consulting and litigation support in the following:
· Fire Case Analysis and Advocacy (Litigation Consulting)
· Fire and Building Codes and Standards
· Fire Cause and Origin Investigation
· Explosion Investigation
· Fireworks and Special Effects (Pyrotechnics)
· Fire Modeling and Analysis
· Hazardous Materials
· Fire Incident Reconstruction
· Product Failure Analysis
· Flammability Standards
· Fire Department Operations (Standard of Care)
· Fire and Building Code Interpretation
· Fire Investigation and Inspection Standards of Care
· American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Attorney at Law, Member of the California State Bar
California Peace Officer POST Basic Certificate
Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator
Associate in Arts, Fire Technology, San Joaquin Delta College
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, California State Universtiy, Stanislaus
Juris Doctorate, Laurence Drivon School of Law
Registered Lobbyist and Lobbyist Firm, State of California
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: The State Bar of California
American Association for Justice
Capitol City Trial Lawyers' Association
Nevada Justice Association
National Fire Protection Association
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
International Association of Arson Investigtors
National Association of Fire Investigators
California State Firefighters' Association
National Code Services Association
Forensic Expert Witness Association
International Fire Chiefs' Association
National Association of Subrogation Professionals
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Fire Inspector/Fire Marshal Liability in California
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: Ten (10)
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Fire/Building Codes and Standards
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Destructive Devices (Explosives)
Pyrotechnics
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 50% Plaintiff
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 50% Defendant
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Three (3)
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: February 2008
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Two (2)
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Two (2)
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Three (3) years
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Forensic fire expert consultation; provide deposition, arbitration and trial testimony; prepare expert witness reports; on-site inspections and evaluations; litigation consulting (working with legal teams in role of advocate for case--deemed work product); provide written deposition questions; take depositions of opposing experts (Randy D. Roxson, Esq. only); testing and analysis of product failure, such as smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, and other equipment or devices thought to have caused fire; fire incident reconstruction; and much more.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $250.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $250.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $275.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $275.00 per hour
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: CONSULTING
Consulting time, including but not limited to, research, analysis, testing, physical inspection, review of materials, interviews, consultations, telephone conferences, report preparation, reading and correction of deposition transcript, review and signing of affidavits and similar documents will be billed at a rate of $250.00 per hour in six-minute increments plus expenses. Any time related to the case or project which is beyond the scope of an initial free consultation will be considered billable time. The hourly rate includes driving time, but excludes time spent in an airport and/or in-flight. Reasonable estimates of time to be spent working on any aspect of the case may be provided upon request.
Any consulting time expended outside the geographic area of Consultant (West of the Continental Divide within the United States of America, excluding the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska) will be billed at a per diem rate of $2,000 per day plus expenses instead of being billed at an hourly rate.
DEPOSITIONS AND COURTROOM TESTIMONY/APPEARANCES
Consulting at depositions, court appearances, or other legal testimony will be billed as follows: (1) Depositions or other legal testimony taken within the geographic area of Consultant (West of the Continental Divide within the United States of America, excluding the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska) will be billed at $250 per hour at a minimum of three (3) hour increments;
(2) Deposition, court appearances, or other legal testimony taken outside of the geographic area of Consultant (West of the Continental Divide within the United States of America, excluding the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska) will be billed at a per diem rate of $2,000 per day plus expenses instead of being billed at an hourly rate. Irrespective of geographic location, a cancellation fee of $500.00 will be assessed unless at least seven (7) days advanced written notice is given to Consultant canceling or rescheduling date for Consultant to provide legal testimony . Billing is made for time being deposed, courtroom testimony, and waiting time. It is acknowledged that the Consultant will not be deposed or provide expert testimony if any invoices and/or retainer fees have not been paid prior to said depositions, court appearances, or other legal testimony.
EXPENSES
Consultant shall be entitled to reimbursement from Client for all actual out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to lodging, meals, car rental, air fare, photography, overnight express mailing, parcel service fees, audio/visual aids, materials, electronic research fees, laboratory fees, couriers, major document photocopying and specialized commercial services. A flat-rate administrative fee of $40.00 shall be applied per billing period (monthly) for telephone expenses, including wireless, facsimile, minor postage and minor photocopying. Air travel shall be coach class, or the most cost-effective seating available; the Client will arrange and pay for this transportation at travel times convenient to the Consultant. Automobile mileage will be billed at the current IRS allowance.
References
John E. Fischer, Esq.MURPHY AUSTIN ADAMS SCHOENFELD LLP
304 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95812-1319
(916) 446-2300 Ext. 3038
e-mail: jfisher@murphyaustin.com
Daniel S. O'Sullivan, Esq.
Law Offices of Daniel S. O'Sullivan
1505 North Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 558-3800
Mark W. Epstein, Esq.
SEILER EPSTEIN ZIEGLER & APPLEGATE LLP
101 Montgomery Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
(415) 979-0500
e-mail: mwe@sezalaw.com
