Shade Tree Meteorology, LLC
Alicia Wasula, PhD, CCM & Dick Westergard, CCM
Cropseyville , NY 12052
Office: 518-831-9374
Fax: 518-374-7743
Introduction
Shade Tree Meteorology, LLC offers clear plain English reports describing the most detailed complex forensic weather analysis possible. Those reports are created by a team of Certified Consulting Meteorologists with over five decades of combined operational and research experience.
Areas of Expertise
- Weather & Meteorology
Expert Background
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: American Meteorological Society Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM)
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, The Weather Coalition, Weather Ready Nation Ambassador
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Dick - Spokesperson for the National Weather Service and Weather Service Liaison to the State of New York, 1994 to 2004. Forensic Meteorologist and courtroom weather expert for dozens of clients, 2004 to present.
Alicia - Meteorology professor at multiple institutions from 2003 to present. Assisted a number of clients in preparing for court, including preparing of affidavits from 2013 to present. - 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 200 for the firm since 2007.
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Ice & snow (including efficacy of ice melt compounds at various temperatures), heavy rain & flooding (including return periods for various rainfall events), winter storms, wind storms, lightning, severe weather.
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: Approximately 60%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: Approximately 40%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: four
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: Summer of 2015
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: Approximately 30
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: Approximately 20
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: Approximately 12
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Quality Forensic Research discovering and presenting all of the available weather facts pertinent to the given case.
Reports as a consultant.
Reports and affidavits as an expert witness. - Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: Contact us for the latest fee schedule.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: Contact us for the latest fee schedule.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: Contact us for the latest fee schedule.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: Contact us for the latest fee schedule.
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Contact us for the latest fee schedule.
References
Peter J. Moschetti, Jr, Esq.
Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC
26 Century Hill Drive, Suite 206
Latham, NY 12110
518-785-4900
moschetti@amtinjurylaw.com
Mr. Christopher K. Mills, Esq.
The Mills Law Firm, LLP
1520 Crescent Rd, Suite 100
Clifton Park, NY 12065-7809
518-373-9900
CMills@millslawny.com
Mr. Mark P. Donohue, Esq
Goldberg Segalla LLP
8 Southwoods Boulevard Suite 300
Albany, NY 12211-2364
518-935-4280
mdonohue@goldbergsegalla.com