When products, equipment, or building systems fail, determining the cause is rarely straightforward. Failure analysis investigations often require experts to examine not only the failed component itself, but also the broader context in which the failure occurred and whether the evidence supports the reported sequence of events.
On June 2, failure analysis experts Dennis Turriff, Mathew Smith and Dwayne Toscano will demonstrate how forensic engineers investigate failures across a wide range of scenarios using structured investigative methods. Despite the diversity of applications, failure investigations share a common foundation: understanding how a component or system was intended to function, and evaluating how factors related to design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and operation may have contributed to the failure.
This one-hour CLE-eligible* webinar will provide lawyers, claims professionals and subrogation teams with practical insight into how failure analysis investigations can contribute to claims, litigation, and recovery efforts. We hope you will join us.
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| June 2nd, 2026 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern | On Zoom |
REGISTER HERE
*Our presenters are certified continuing education providers by the California State Bar. Our courses are accredited by the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario. Alberta lawyers, consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your annual Continuing Professional Development Plan.
For more information and to get your name on our mailing list, contact Mireille Maheu.
The presenters
Dennis Turriff, PhD PEng
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With more than 16 years of forensic engineering experience, Dr. Dennis Turriff has testified numerous times as an expert witness in cases involving vehicles, industrial equipment, consumer products, plumbing systems, fire protection systems, and medical devices. Drawing on his background in materials science and mechanical engineering, Dennis investigates failures of metallic and plastic components using metallurgical analysis, fractography, and mechanical engineering principles to identify root causes related to design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and operation. Read Dennis' full bio. |
Dennis' presentation:
- Failure analysis investigations and fault trees
- Evidence collection and preservation
Mathew Smith, PhD PEng
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Mathew Smith holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in aerospace materials, and his doctoral research focused on the repair of in-service jet engine components made of high-performance superalloys. His deep understanding of materials and manufacturing processes supports his investigations into the causes of material, component, and mechanical system failures across a wide range of sectors, including heavy industry, transportation, aviation, consumer products, and residential and commercial buildings.
Read Mathew's full bio. |
Mathew's presentation:
- Wheel separation: an unusual case study
- Fatigue versus overload in an aviation investigation
Dwayne Toscano, MASc PEng
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Dwayne Toscano combines laboratory testing, material characterization, and engineering analysis to identify the factors that contribute to failures and determine their root causes. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in materials engineering and forensic investigations, he examines the role of defects and mechanical failures in a wide range of systems and products, including plumbing and fire sprinkler systems, industrial equipment, HVAC systems, consumer products, medical devices, and automotive components. Read Dwayne's full bio. |
Dwayne's presentation:
- Water escapes in commercial and residential plumbing systems
- Lithium-ion battery fires
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