NEWS

July 2008

Dale Goudie will be presenting at the Annual Convention of the Canadian Transportation Lawyers' Association in Quebec City, Quebec on September 26, 2008.  Dale will participate in the panel discussion titled "Getting to the Bottom of It: Official Investigations and Data Recorded Evidence."
 
Craig Wilkinson will be presenting at the Canadian Independent Adjusters Association National Conference and Annual General Meeting as a panelist discussing EDRs and their impact on evidence for litigation purposes on September 12, 2008.

MEA research into the effect of rotated head postures on the strain in the facet capsule ligament during whiplash is published in Spine. This research was done in collaboration with Dr. Beth Winkelstein from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Barry Myers from Duke University and Drs. Susumu Ejima and Koshiri Ono from the Japanese Automobile Research Institute.

MEA is sponsoring a hole at the CICMA Golf Tournament at Northview Golf Course in Surrey, BC on July 24, 2008.  Come by and test your swing speed.


June 2008

Brad Heinrichs, Elizabeth Hassan, James Bowler, Jean-Francois Goulet, Mathieu King and Andrea Ho braved the rain for 3 days to complete the British Columbia Safety Council's Motorcycle Skills Course.  This course consisted of control techniques, defensive riding tactics and emergency response techniques including braking and swerving. Lynne Allin with MEA's Vancouver office, assisted with the course.  Lynne is a motorcycle riding instructor and course supervisor. 

Kurt Ising teaches the Human Factors & Traffic Safety course to the RCMP Level III Collision Analysts at RCMP Pacific Region Training Center, Chilliwack, BC.

MEA research on the role that deep neck muscles may play in whiplash injury is published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jean-Sebastien Blouin, Dr. Mark Carpenter and Dr. Tim Inglis at the University of British Columbia.


May 2008

MEA Forensic sponsors the student awards for Best Podium Presentations at the 4th Annual Northwest Biomechanics Symposium held at Boise State University in Idaho.


April 2008

A review of MEA research into the potential role of startle responses in whiplash injury is published in Exercise and Sport Science Reviews. This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jean-Sebastien Blouin and Dr. Tim Inglis at the University of British Columbia.

Gunter Siegmund, Craig Wilkinson, Jean-Francois Goulet, Mathieu King, Elizabeth Hassan and Ryan Fix attend SAE 2008 World Congress in Detroit, MI.

Craig Wilkinson was a guest lecturer at the Toronto Police Service Level 1 Accident Reconstruction course on April 22, 2008. The purpose of the talk was to provide new police reconstructionists some perspective on how engineers approach accident reconstruction and demonstrate advanced techniques such as accident simulation software.

Dennis Chimich presented a training on Injury Biomechanics at the Canadian Defence Lawyers, Boot Camp II on April 17, 2008 in Vancouver. This program was the sequel to CDL's 2007 Boot Camp: Basic Training for New Defence Lawyers, approximately 80 lawyers from the greater Vancouver area attended the session.


March 2008

MEA Forensic was a proud sponsor of the 2nd Annual PI Charity Law Challenge on March 27, 2008. The event raised over $18 thousand for the Canadian Spinal Research Organization. Please see the attached link for photos of the event.

MEA Toronto celebrates their first anniversary and keeps growing...Ismail El Maach, MASc, PEng, joins MEA as a Senior Biomechanical Engineer with the Injury Group

3/19 - Craig Wilkinson will lead the seminar "Forensic Engineering in Practice" at the Insurance Institute of Ontario. This seminar qualifies for RIBO credits.

3/26 - Craig Wilkinson will present "From Black Boxes to Broken Bones" at the Canadian Defense Lawyers' Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is for law clerks and will be held at the Ontario Bar Association. MEA is a proud sponsor and will be exhibiting at the event.


February 2008

Andrea M. Ho, Project Engineer joins the Transportation Group in the BC Office.

Charles Gang, PE joins MEA California as construction defect expert. Chuck brings thirty years of extensive civil/structural design engineering, construction defect, and architectural expertise to MEA.


January 2008

Gunter Siegmund, John Gardiner and Check Kam attend the World Congress on Neck Pain in Los Angeles, CA.

John Brault elected Vice-Chairman of the ASTM International F-13 Committee – Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear.

1/18 - MEA sponsors The Advocates’ Society, Tricks of the Trade Conference at The Carlu, Toronto. MEA exhibits at the conference, and Craig Wilkinson participates as an expert witness in the mock trial.

1/30 - Gunter Siegmund presents a two-hour Injury Biomechanics seminar at The OIAA 2008 Professional Development and Claims Conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. MEA is exhibiting at Booth #1107.


November 2007

11/8 - Mark Bailey and Elvis Cepus teach Forensic Engineering in Practice at the Insurance Institute of BC. The 3 hour course focuses on assisting insurance professionals to understand material and mechanical failure, product litigation, fire, personal injury, human factors & vehicle collision losses through engineering and science

11/9 - John Brault and Check Kam perform research at the USC Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory to investigate and compare the performance of 11 different tribometers on a suite of walkway materials. The results will be used to assist the ASTM F13 committee in drafting a standard to validate tribometers (instruments that measure coefficient of friction for walkway safety).

Time Magazine article entitled "Head Games" (November 29, 2007) references research recently published by MEA Forensic and Washington State University on the difference between head and neck geometry and strength of size-matched females and males.


October 2007

10/29-31 - MEA Injury Biomechanics Group attends the 51st Stapp Car Crash Conference in San Diego.

David King and Ryan Fix participate at the California Association of Accident Reconstructionists, CA2RS Conference 2007. David King presents Night Time Visibility and Understanding Low Speed Impact Collisions seminars. Ryan Fix presents “How to assess high speed offset collisions using NHTSA data.”


September 2007

Kurt Ising teaches the Human Factors & Traffic Safety course to the RCMP Level III Collision Analysts at RCMP Pacific Region Training Center, Chilliwack, BC.

David King 's article “Hanging by a tread: The role of tires in accident reconstruction” is published in the Advocate, The Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California.

John Brault and David King participate at The Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Annual Convention in Las Vegas. John Brault testifies in the Mock Trial as the plaintiff’s expert in a premises liability case. David King co-presents Accident Reconstruction Experts: When Are They Needed and How to Use Them Effectively.

MEA is a proud sponsor of these upcoming industry events:

MEA Toronto: 9/6 - TIWA Annual Golf Tournament, MEA is the golf foursome photographer - we look forward to meeting you.


August 2007

August 3, 2007 - MEA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS!

MEA research into the differences between female and male necks is published in the Journal of Biomechanics. This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Anita Vasavada at Washington State University.

Alyssa DeMarco, Craig Wilkinson and Gunter Siegmund publish "The Right Helmet Helps" in CI, Canada's Insurance Business Magazine.

MEA just keeps growing... Norman Jang joins MEA as Controller.

MEA is a proud sponsor of these upcoming industry events:

MEA Toronto: MEA is the golf foursome photographer for several industry events:

8/10 - OIAA Hamilton Chapter Golf Tournament 
8/22 - Huntington Benefit Golf Tournament 
8/29 - Sean Corner Golf Tournament 

8/20 - MEA California sponsors the First Annual American Board of Trial Advocates Golf Classic at the Marbella Country Club & Golf Course, San Juan Capistrano


July 2007

7/12 - MEA Toronto participates as the Official Photo Sponsor at the Hamilton District Insurance Association Golf Tournament.

7/26 - MEA Vancouver is a hole sponsor at the CICMA Golf Tournament, stop by and say hello.


June 2007

Duane MacInnis and Craig Wilkinson publish "Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction: For the Times, They Are A-Changin'" in WP Without Prejudice, The Official Journal of the Ontario Insurance Adjustors Association.

Craig Wilkinson publishes "Event Data Recorders in Cars - Are You Sitting on Important Evidence?" in The Litigator, The Journal of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.

June 26 - stop by and visit our Vancouver Products, Property & Premises team at the Family Insurance 3rd Annual Charity Fundraiser Golf Tournament & Silent Auction at the Northview Golf Course, Surrey, BC.

We're Growing Again! Check Kam joins the Injury Group in our Lake Forest office. Check recently received his Masters of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

MEA Forensic Toronto participates as sponsors at the OIAA Annual Open Golf Tournament (June 8th) and the CICMA Annual Open Golf Tournament (June 13th).


May 2007

Steve Yamashita attends Basic Fire Investigation training at the 2007 International Association of Arson Investigators/ Northwest Fire Investigators Association Joint Fire Investigation Conference. The IAAI/NFIA coarse certification adds great value to Steve's industry experience in conducting failure analysis and fire investigation.

MEA Forensic sponsors the Best Podium Presentation and Best Poster Presentation Awards at the 3rd Annual Northwest Biomechanics Symposium held at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR.


April 2007

Kurt Ising presents "Digital camera calibration for luminance estimation in nighttime visibility studies" at SAE in Detroit.

MEA research into neck muscle strain during whiplash exposures published in Spine. This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Anita Vasavada at Washington State University.

MEA Forensic continues to provide our clients answers and the latest technology in Forensic Engineering. We have expanded our laboratory and now offer FTIR(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer) capabilities. MEA is one of the few forensic engineering firms to have our own FTIR to identify unknown substances in a wide spectrum of cases and practice areas.  

Dale Goudie PEng returns to MEA after several years working on low emissions heavy-truck engines.  Dale led MEA's skid research in the late 90's and we are excited to have him back.  Dale will specialize in the investigation of heavy-truck accidents.


March 2007

MEA is pleased to announce the addition Steven Yamashita, BS as a Product Engineer.   Steve leads the technical investigation and failure analysis of product defects, system malfunctions, accidents and fires. 

MEA research on the use of tribometers for evaluating slipperiness published in the Journal of Forensic Science. This research project done in collaboration with the USC Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory and J2 Engineering.

Dave King, featured on Discovery Channel's Survive This Series!, examining the evidence from a semi truck vs. train collision at a railroad crossing in Oxnard, California. Mr. King then explains how the structure of the trailer and the massiveness and the speed of the train combined to allowed the female driver to emerge from her cab unharmed.

John Brault, featured on Discovery Channel's Survive This Series!, analyzing the incident during the World Extreme Skiing Championships in Valdez, Alaska, where competitor Garret Bartelt stumbles and falls for 37 seconds down a terrifying chute studded with cliffs and rocks. Mr. Brault examines the amazing feat of Garret's survival and explains how he beat the odds.


February 2007

MEA Is Growing Again! Proudly in our 25th year, MEA Forensic is pleased to announce the opening of our newest office.  With offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles and now the Greater Toronto area, we are able to offer comprehensive opinions, accident investigation, analysis, reconstruction and testifying services nationwide.

Duane MacInnis, Director, Craig Wilkinson, Senior Engineer, Shannon Payne, Marketing and Client Relations and La Firn Brazel, Project Coordinator will be serving our Toronto clients. Give them a call to discuss how MEA can handle the most complex technical cases from start to finish.

Mathieu King, joins the Transportation Group in the MEA Toronto office.

Alan Black, MS joins the Lake Forest, CA as a Safety Engineer.

MEA research on the response of superficial and deep neck muscles to various tasks—including whiplash—is published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering.


January 2007

MEA was featured in the January 2007 Issue of the National Post, Financial Post Business section with the article entitled, A Crash Course In Forensics written by award-winning magazine journalist and sports columnist Kerry Banks.

Kristina Basto, joins MEA as Marketing & Client Relations Specialist in the Vancouver office.

Shannon Payne, joins MEA as Marketing & Client Relations Specialist in the Toronto office.

La Firn Brazel, joins MEA as a Project Coordinator in the Toronto office.


December 2006

MEA research into the interaction of whiplash and startle responses published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

John Brault's article "Why is ice slippery? And other research findings relevant to premises liability cases" was published in the Academy of Trial Lawyers Journal, October 2006 Article, this article was previously published in The Advocate, June 2006.

John Brault and Dave King presented to ICRMA, the Independent Cities Risk Management Association monthly ICRMA University Workshop on Roadway, Lighting and Traffic Signals Liabilities Mitigation.

MEA research on the potential interaction of whiplash and startle is published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.


November 2006

Gunter Siegmund, John Gardiner and Alyssa DeMarco attended the 50th Stapp Car Crash Conference in Dearborn, MI.

Alyssa DeMarco presented “Motorcycle Helmet Impact Response: Comparison of Helmet Type and Impact Severity” at the 34th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research in

Gunter Siegmund presented “Cervical Multifidus Muscle Activity during Whiplash and Startle Responses” at the 34th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research in Dearborn, MI.

Julie O'Brien inducted into Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club as a District 5320 Rotarian.


October 2006

Mark Bailey presents research entitled “Failure analysis of PVC pipe joint separations” at the Materials Science & Technology Conference in Cincinnati, OH.

Mark Bailey is designated a CFEI (Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator) having met the qualification and examination requirements of the National Fire Protection Association.

Kurt Ising completes ED 100, a 3-day lighting fundamentals course taught by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

Gunter Siegmund's research on startle and whiplash is profiled in The Vancouver Sun, The Province, CTV and CBC.

Bill Cliff leads two-day PC-Crash Introductory training as well as two-day Advanced PC-Crash training in Vancouver, BC.


September 2006

Jonathan Lawrence joins CBC's On the Coast broadcast for a discussion of forensics in the Lower Mainland.

Kurt Ising and Jonathan Lawrence teach sections of the RCMP Level 3 Accident Investigation course held in Chilliwack, BC.

The New Scientist, a popular weekly science and technology magazine, features Gunter Siegmund’s research into startle and whiplash responses in their September 2, 2006 issue.

Elvis Cepuš publishes "Electron Microscopy: What is it, What it can do, and Why is it Useful in Claims Investigations" in the Summer edition of Adjuster's Quarterly.

John Brault presented "Using Biomechanical Experts" at the 24th Annual Consumer Attorney's Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) Convention while John Gardiner participated as a Biomechanical Expert in the CAALA Mock Trial in Las Vegas NV.

John Brault presents "Don't Let Key Evidence Slip Through the Cracks" at the 19th Annual Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC) Santa Barbara seminar on September 30th.


August 2006

John Brault publishes "Why is ice slippery? And other research findings relevant to premises liability cases" in the June issue of The Advocate.

David King and Jonathan Lawrence publish "Capturing the Big Bang: Event Data Recorders in Cars" in the American Bar Association's Spring edition of Tort Source.

Gunter Siegmund presents research entitled “Superficial and deep neck muscle activity during isometric, voluntary and reflex contractions” at the 2006 World Congress on Biomechanics in Munich, Germany.

Andrea McCandless, BA joins the LA office as a project coordinator and Isabel Vititpong, BSc joins MEA as a project coordinator in the BC office.


July 2006

Tammy Meyer, BSc joins the LA office as a project coordinator.

Jonathan Lawrence, Craig Wilkinson and Alyssa De Marco provide a presentation on Crash Data Recorders as well as Biomechanics to ICBC North Richmond.

Alyssa DeMarco presents "Brain Injuries and Airbags: The Effect of a Seatbelt" at the ASME 2006 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island FL.

Ryan Fix, BSME and Matt Petros, BSME join the Transportation Group in the MEA LA office


June 2006

Elvis Cepuš attends the 5-day Lehigh University course – Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis – in Bethlehem, PA.

Gunter Siegmund, John Brault attend the University of Southern California’s Tribometer workshop.

Kathleen Costa, PhD, joins the Injury Group in MEA's LA Office.

Gunter Siegmund presents “A Startling Perspective on Whiplash” at the International Whiplash Trauma Congress in Portland, OR.

Dennis Chimich presents the "Effects of Head Restraint Position on Occupant Response in Rear End Collisions" at the CLE BC Personal Injury Conference in Vancouver, BC.


May 2006

MEA Forensic sponsors the Best Podium Presentation and Best Poster Presentation awards for graduate students presenting at the Northwest Biomechanics Symposium hosted by the University of British Columbia.

 


April 2006

Craig Wilkinson and Jean-Francois Goulet attend the SAE International Congress in Detroit, MI. Mr. Wilkinson presents MEA research on the timing accuracy of pre-crash data recorded by GM black boxes.

 

March 2006

MEA research identifying the presence of startle in the neuromuscular response of unaware subjects exposed to whiplash perturbations published in the Journal of Physiology.

Gunter Siegmund presents "The biomechanics of whiplash: The latest evidence surrounding soft tissue injuries" at the Essential Soft Tissue Injury Conference hosted by the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia (TLABC) in Vancouver, BC.

 


February 2006

Craig Wilkinson presents MEA research on the accuracy of crash and pre-crash data recorded by GM and Ford black boxes at a CDR User's Group conference in Dallas, TX.

Duane MacInnis invited to serve on the UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering's External Advisory Committee. The committee is composed of six to ten members, including senior leaders from industry, and provides advice and assistance on the current strategic initiatives and future directions of the Faculty.

Tim Schwab, MASc, EIT, joins the Transportation Group in MEA's Vancouver office.

Julie O'Brien, BA, joins MEA as Marketing Specialist in the Los Angeles office.

Article "Evidence Handling for Claims Investigators" by Mark Bailey published in Adjusters' Quarterly, a trade magazine published by the British Columbia Insurance Adjusters Association (BCIAA). 

 


January 2006

MEA announces a strategic partnership with Dr. Stanley G. Hutton, PEng, of VibeTek Research to conduct forensic investigations in our Property & Premises and Aviation groups. Dr. Hutton is internationally known for his research work in the fields of mechanical vibration and stress analysis. Until recently, Dr. Hutton was Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia.

MEA research into the effect of startle on whiplash injury during rear-end collisions published in Spine.