Elevator & Escalator Expert Witness

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Russ Viciedo has 40 years of elevator industry experience in which he held many roles and responsibilities including managing an R&D team for a global manufacturer. Russ began consulting in 2009 and is well prepared to analyze equipment subject to an injury event, review data/information, and report/present his expert observations/conclusions, impartially, clearly, and concisely. Russ' expert conclusions are professionally supported by detailed exhibits, photographs, drawings, and slides, providing consistency, reliability, and documentation throughout the litigation process. Russ has a great deal of experience working with both plaintiff and defendant teams and is comfortable working with either. ​Causal analysis is essential! The cause of an equipment failure is rarely clear. An expert assessment of the alleged incident can determine true liability. With decades of experience, Russ Viciedo is dedicated to making professional, honest, accurate engineering, installation, usage, and maintenance judgments based on all available site information, historical data, and witness observations. Relying on years of R&D experience coupled with years of practical field experience, Russ will determine the cause, or probable cause, of failure, and support his expert assessment both in oral and written form, and provide you, and your client, with supplemental, documented information as supporting evidence allows. Key Expert Witness Cases: 1. Escalator injury accident investigation. The escalator experienced a freefall incident injuring many riding passengers. Investigated and determined root cause. 2. Elevator riding passenger beheading investigation. The elevator operated with its doors open resulting in the beheading of a surgeon. Investigated and determined root cause. 3. Alleged fraudulent billing investigation. Analyzed several hundred invoices against mechanic time tickets and actual work completed. Determined fraudulent billing had taken place for a period of 3-4 years. 4. Escalator injury accident investigation. 4yr old child lost part of thigh on escalator. Investigated and determined root cause. 5. Represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff experienced sudden stop while riding on an elevator resulting in knee and back injuries. Case settled prior to trial. 6. Represented Defendant. Defendant was accused of breach of elevator construction contract. Case settled prior to trial. 7. Represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff tripped entering an elevator which was not adequately “level” at the landing resulting in severe back and neck injuries. Case settled prior to trial 8. Represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff experienced sudden stop while riding on an escalator resulting in severe back injuries. Case settled prior to trial. 9. Represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff experienced rapid descent while riding on an elevator resulting in a severe hip injury. Case settled prior to trial. 10. Represented Plaintiff. Plaintiff experienced a 3.5-hour elevator entrapment before emergency response. Case settled prior to trial. Deposition and Trial Testimony in Past 5 Years: None – all cases, settlement reached.