Mr. Van Bruggen has over twenty-five years of engineering experience specializing in the use of water resource systems engineering and modeling techniques to define and evaluate surface water resources, forensic hydrology and hydraulics, and alternative flood control measures. He has performed numerous studies of surface water hydrology and hydraulics, meteorology, flood control operations, storm drain systems, levees, reservoirs and the management and statistical analysis of hydrographic data. He has managed both flood control and water supply projects, and has acted as Northern California Chapter President and National Board Member for the Forensic Expert Witness Association (www.forensic.org). He has extensive experience testifying as an expert witness on the causes of, and solutions for, flooding and the evaluation of historic flood events, reservoir operations, levee failures and the hydraulics behind drownings. He has testified in well over fifty cases to date, representing both the defense and the plaintiffs at approximately a 50% split.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Degrees -
* Bachelor of Science, Systems Engineering, UCLA, 1980
* Master of Science, Water Resources Engineering, UCLA, 1981
Registrations - Professional Civil Engineer:
* California, 1986 * Arizona, 1993 * Nevada, 1993 * Oregon, 2007
Accreditations -
* Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer, ASCE, 2006
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: * American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE);
- Global Climate Change Committee (2007-present)
* American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC);
- California State Water Resources Committee (2005-2006)
* Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA);
- National Board of Directors, San Francisco Chapter President (2004-2005)
* American Public Works Association (APWA);
- California State Storm Water Quality Task Force (1989-1997)
* Floodplain Management Association of California (FMA)
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Lecturer:
- Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, 1982
- University of California, Los Angeles, California, 1981
Keynote Speech:
- CalTrans Legal Department Annual Conference, San Diego, California, 1998;
"Hydrology and Hydraulics 101 for the Trial Attorney"
- National Association of Insurance Executives, New York, New York, 2006;
"Perfect Storm: The Science behind Subrogating Catastrophic Flood Losses"
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: Retained in nearly 100 cases.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: * Water resources engineering
* Hydraulic modeling of rivers
* Channels and storm drain systems
* Hydrologic watershed modeling
* Floodplain and flood zone analyses
* Dam, reservoir, channel and levee investigations
* Statistical interpretation of meteorologic and stream flow data
* Operations and Maintenance of Reservoir and Flood Control Systems
* Forensics of flood events
* Design of Highway Drainage Systems
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 50%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 50%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Deposed over 50 times.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: December 2008.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Thirteen times testifying before a Judge or Jury.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Testified in one Arbitration.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Fifteen years experience in Litigation Support as an Expert Witness.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Engineering Consulting, Field Investigations, Numerical Modeling, Report Preparation, Project Design Studies, Technical Investigations, Speaking, Alternative Project and Scenario Analysis.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $250/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $250/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $350/hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $350/hour
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: $200/hour for Travel Time
References
Michael HarringtonCalifornia Department of Transportation
Legal Department
PO Box 7444
San Francisco CA 94120
(415) 982-3130
mike_harrington@dot.ca.gov
****************************************
Danielle Cole
Law Offices of Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, P.C.
1180 W. Peachtree St., Ste 900, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 586-6600
dcole@hbss.net
****************************************
George W. Nowell, Esq.
120 Montgomery Street, Ste. 1990
San Francisco, CA 94104-4322
(415) 362-1333
george.nowell@nowelllaw.com
****************************************
Bradley J. Rorem
Betts, Patterson & Mines
One Convention Place, Suite 1400
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 292-9988
brorem@bpmlaw.com
****************************************
Anthony W. Hawthorne
Law Offices of Anthony Hawthorne
1211 Newell Ave., Ste 120
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 945-7300
hawtone@aol.com
****************************************
John Cowperthwaite
Law Offices of Bennett, Samuelsen, Reynolds & Allard
1951 Webster St., Ste. 200
Oakland, CA 94612-2940
(510) 444-7688
jcowperthwaite@bsralaw.com
****************************************
Margaret M. Farley
165 N. Redwood Dr., Ste 285
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 492-8690
lgleagles@aol.com
****************************************
Joy San Buenaventura Hutson
Law Offices of Joy Hutson
101 Aqupuni Street, Ste. 311
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-2131
joyesq@gmail.com
****************************************
