Michael Troy Richardson, BS, MA, MS

Santaquin, Utah
Michael Troy Richardson, BS, MA, MS Expert Witness
Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Amusement-Adventure-Trampoline Park Attractions

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Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

General Specialties:

Travel & Tourism and Engineering

Keywords/Search Terms:

Zip line, Trampoline Park, Amusement Park, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Risk Management, Aerial Adventure, Challenge Courses

Education:

Masters--Technical Writing & Digital Rhetoric, Utah TECH University; Bachelors in Design Engineering & Technology, Southern Utah University; Applied Physics for U.S. Patent Bar exam, Brigham Young University; Masters--Engineering and Technology Management, Utah Valley University

Years in Practice:

35

Number of Times Deposed/Testified in Last 4 Yrs:

7+

Additional Information

Michael Troy Richardson studied Integrating Engineering and earned a BS in 2014. Ten years later, Troy earned a Master's in Technical Writing. In 2024, Troy was selected for the Engineering & Technology Management (MS-ETM) master's program at Utah Valley University. Before his education, he owned AA Machining, & Welding (1995-2016), Inc. and was National-Board Certified. His company manufactured and built amusement rides. He still supplies the amusement ride industry with safer products. Synopsis Troy owns Momentum Engineering, he has supplied the amusement ride industry with inspections, audits, 3rd party training, and inspections for over 23 years. He votes, writes rationales, and shares his expertise with the industry standards, and his clients' benefit. As a member of ASTM F24 and F15, he influences safety changes in the standards. He has researched over two hundred amusement ride accidents. In 2016, Troy and Rex Bush, Esq. authored a Utah Trial Journal Article, "Zipline Injuries on the Rise", also found on hg.org. Education *MS Engineering & Technology (2024-*2027) – Utah Valley University MA Technical Writing (2021-2024) – Utah Tech University Advanced Physics (2015-2021) – Brigham Young University BS Engineering Technology (2012-2014) – Southern Utah University AS Machine Tooling (1992-1994) – Utah Valley University Roller Coasters From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Richardson built coasters for Intermountain Lift in Springville, Utah, including iconic projects in Nevada such as Wild Bill’s and the coasters at Circus-Circus and New York-New York in Las Vegas. Ziplines With over 35 years of experience, Mr. Richardson has unparalleled expertise in designing and constructing aerial amusement rides. In 2022, he led a major shift in zipline braking systems (friction and spring braking) and influenced industry safety standards (ACCT/ANSI & ASTM) to reduce injuries. Trampoline Courts Mr. Richardson is a retained inspector at "The Hive", Utah’s largest trampoline park. He influenced Utah’s 2019 House Bill 150 and collaborated with Dr. Jon Skidmore to create safety-focused training models, improving staff/patron engagement and operational safety protocols. Work Experience 1983-1990: Certified welder/fabricator 1988-1992: Built rollercoasters 1998-2015: Owned a National Board Certified (R-Stamp) Welding Company 2001-present: Invented friction-braking trolleys for giant ziplines 2002: Built and installed Park City Mountain Resort’s record-breaking zipline 2009: First expert witness case in zipline death at Heavenly Resort 2009-present: Aerial adventure expert, serving over one hundred attorneys in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, & Puerto Rico 2023: Developed training programs during his 2024 master's degree for American Adventure Park Systems (Largest adventure park builder with 107 ziplines in one location). 2023: Educated defense attorneys at IAAPA in Orlando 2024: Designing a 40-hour training program for The Hive Trampoline Park