Benchmark Investigations
Jim Zimmer, CPI
32158 Camino Capistrano, #A-415San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Phone: (800) 248-7721 Alternate: (949) 683-1911 Fax: (949) 606-8439 Email: zimmerpi@pacbell.net Website: www.benchmarkinvestigations.net/
Specialties
Professional investigations with emphasis on accuracy, detail and expedience. Asset/financial searches. Background investigations. SKIP Tracing. Mergers & Acquisitions. Due Diligence. Database/DMV searches. Process service. Surveillance/photography. Witness location/statements. Workplace Investigations. Northern California agents and correspondents nationwide. Multi-lingual agents. Fully insured.
Degrees/Licenses
CA Lic. PI 012651; BS.
Formal Education
BS, Business Administration, Penn. State, 1971
Registration and Licenses
PI License 12651
Honors/Awards
CALI Distinguished Achievement Award
Prof. Affiliations
CALI, NCISS, NALI, WAD, Intellenet, AWI
Mark Mooring CPP
Proper Authorities, LLC
P.O. Box 1060Ventura, CA 93002 Phone: (800) 994-4991 Alternate: (805) 641-1263 Email: mark@properauthorities.com Website: www.properauthorities.com
Specialties
Security, Security Guards, Training, Tactics, Policies, Procedures, Use of Force, Premise Liability, Employer Liability, Personnel Management, Personal Safety, Workplace Violence, Self Defense, Crime, Arrests, Investigations, Healthcare and Hospital Security.
Degrees/Licenses
B.S.; MPA; P.I.
Formal Education
Bachelor of Science - Business, Personnel Management-Training, U.S.C.; Masters of Public Administration, Personnel Management-Training, U.S.C.
Registration and Licenses
Certified Protection Professional (CPP); Certified Healthcare Protection Administration (CHPA); Baton & OC Spray Instructor; AVADE Instructor.
Previous/Current Position
Chief of Protective Services, Santa Clara County Hospital; Sergeant, Los Angeles Police Department.
Honors/Awards
Los Angeles Police Commission Unit Citation; Los Angeles Police Meritorious Award.
Prof. Affiliations
American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS); International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS); California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates (CALSAGA).
Publications
Personal Safety & Self Defense; Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare.
Prior Expert
Over 25 years experience with Security Assessments, Workplace Violence, Crime Response and Investigation, Expert Witness Case Review, Sexual Harassment, Case Preparation and Testimony for Security Issues.
Brian H. Kleiner PhD
Professor of Human Resource Management 551 Santa Barbara AvenueFullerton, CA 92835-2463 Phone: (714) 879-9705 Alternate: (714) 595-1891 Fax: (714) 879-5600 Email: bkleinerphdmba@gmail.com
Specialties
Evaluating workplace policies/practices concerning: discrimination/harassment prevention (training, interactive process, reasonable accommodation); investigations; corrective actions (discipline, termination); hiring; compensation/wage and hours/benefits; violence, OSHA; CFRA/FMLA, retaliation, RIFs.
Degrees/Licenses
BS, MBA, PhD.
Formal Education
BS, Business Administration, Drexel, 1969; MBA, Management, University of CA, Los Angeles, 1973; PhD, Management, University of CA, Los Angeles, 1977.
Registration and Licenses
Lifetime California Community College Instructor Credential in both Business Management and Psychology.
Previous/Current Position
Human resources manager for Ford Motor Company; Consultant to over 100 organizations concerning how to improve human resource management policies and practices.
Honors/Awards
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011, Received university research award for quality of articles published in the most recent five years. 2008, Favorably featured in Employment Law Verdict Reports. 2007, Profiled in Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin. 2001, Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activity Award. 2000, Faculty Merit Award. 1998, Creative and Scholarly Activity Award. 1997 and 1996 Performance Award. 1996, "Teacher Scholar" Award. 1995-96, Taught first graduate courses on managing human resources and human behavior in organizations ever to be publicly televised. 1993, Nominee for Bradford Outstanding Educator in United States Award. 1992, Finalist for Outstanding Faculty Award, SBAE. 1986-90, Meritorious Performance Award. Selected for Marquis' Who's Who in Business Higher Education, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in California, and Who's Who in the World.
Prof. Affiliations
Society For Human Resource Management; Society For Nonprofits.
Publications
Over 500 including "When it's time to say good-by: How to discharge workers without legal hassles," and "Workplace reduction guidelines," which was reproduced in a college textbook titled "Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Management," published by McGraw-Hill in 2009. Also, "Designing Effective Performance Appraisal Systems," one of the most downloaded articles of all time with over 12,500 downloads.
Prior Expert
Have given trial/arbitration testimony over 80 times for plaintiffs and defense. Have testified in numerous California federal and state courts.
George McLaughlin MBA
J. S. Held LLC
1330 Broadway#430
Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 740-0384 Fax: (510) 740-0190 Email: gmclaughlin@jsheld.com Website: www.jsheld.com
Specialties
Qualified expert in State and Federal Court. Recognized and respected authority in the measurement of economic loss of income resulting from personal injury, wrongful death, employment discharge, medical malpractice, construction defect, and business interruption. Expert in business valuations in shareholder or partnership disputes, and marital dissolutions.
Degrees/Licenses
CVA, CEA, MBA.
Beth Brascugli De Lima SPHR-CA
Principal ConsultantHRM Consulting, Inc.
2050 Gateway Place, Suite 100-177San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: (209) 728-8905 Fax: (209) 728-8970 Email: bdelima@hrmconsulting.com Website: www.hrmconsulting.com
Specialties
ADA, FMLA, FEHA, CFRA, Litigation Support, EEO, Investigations, Retaliation, Wrongful Termination, ADA Job Analysis/Accommodations, Performance Management, Wage & Hour, Policies/Procedures, Medical Leave Management, Labor Market Assessments, Vocational Consultant.
Degrees/Licenses
MBA; BS; SPHR-CA; SHRM-SCP.
Jay M. Finkelman PhD
Professor & Chair, Industrial-Organizational Business Psychology Dept. - Human Resource ManagementThe Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Los Angeles Campus
707 Wilshire BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 361-6106 Alternate: (213) 615-7267 Email: jfinkelman@thechicagoschool.edu Website: www.thechicagoschool.edu
Specialties
Human Resources, workplace investigations, employment discrimination (gender/age/race/disability), sexual harassment, retaliation, ADA, interactive process, reasonable accommodation, wage & hours, independent contractor status, negligent hiring/retention, wrongful termination, performance evaluation, statistical analysis, ergonomics.
Degrees/Licenses
PhD; MBA; Master of Legal Studies (MLS); BA; Licensed Psychologist (CA & NY).
Formal Education
PhD, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, New York University; MBA, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Bernard Baruch School of Business, The City University of New York; Master of Legal Studies, The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law
Registration and Licenses
Licensed Psychologist (California & NY); Board Certified in Forensic Psychology (Diplomate Status); Board Certified in Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology (Diplomate Status); Certified Employment Specialist; Board Certified in Professional Ergonomics.
Previous/Current Position
Department Chair and Professor of Industrial-Organizational and Business Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Previously: Vice President of Academic Affairs, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; Professor and System-wide Director of Alliant International University's California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Organizational Psychology Division; Senior Vice President & General Manager, Kelly Services (Staffing), Metro Markets Division.
Honors/Awards
Award for Excellence in Teaching, The City University of New York, Multiple Faculty Research Awards, The City University of New York; Psi Chi Honor Society in Psychology; Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society in Business; Delta Sigma Rho - Tau Kappa Alpha Honor Society in Public Speaking & Debate; Founders Day Award, New York University; Service Award as Interim Dean, Alliant International University; Presenter to Defense Research Institute; Demonstration to American Board of Trial Attorneys (ABOTA) in San Francisco, 2013; Fellow, American Psychological Association, 2016.
Prof. Affiliations
California Psychological Association, Society of Industrial Organizational Psychologists, Society of Consulting Psychologists, The Industrial Psychology, Consulting Psychology and Engineering Psychology Divisions of the American Psychological Association, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Society for Human Resources Management.
Publications
Over 120 publications, mostly in top tier refereed journals and three books. Special Issue Editor, Legal and forensic issues in management, The Psychologist-Manager Journal, 2005; The Psychologist manager: Success models for psychologists in executive positions. Hogrefe Publishing (2013); How to protect the intellectual property of I-O and consulting psychology interventions and gain a competitive advantage: secrecy, copyright, and patent eligibility through empirical components. Consulting Psychology Journal, 66 (2), 2014; Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: The dysfunctional side of diversity. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research. Vol 59(4), 2007.
Prior Expert
Dr. Finkelman served as a senior manager, consultant and expert witness in employment, staffing and human resources management for over three decades and conducted numerous investigations. He had hundreds of retentions and depositions and testified at trial, as an expert in employment practices, 60 times, equally for plaintiffs and defendants.
Mark I. Levy MD, DLFAPA
Medical DirectorForensic Psychiatric Associates LP
655 Redwood Highway, Suite 271Mill Valley, CA 94941 Phone: (415) 388-8040 Fax: (415) 634-2400 Email: forensics@fpamed.com Website: www.fpamed.com
Specialties
Forensic Psychiatric & Psychological Consultants: 11 Forensic Psychiatrists; 3 Forensic Neuropsychologists, 1 Forensic Autism Psychologist; Mass Tort Litigation; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - accidents, slip & fall, disaster, violence, loss/bereavement, death/divorce, torture, terrorization, sexual abuse/harassment, incest, rape/molestation, pain (PTSD symptoms: anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, flashbacks, extreme moodiness, hyper-vigilance, fearfulness, reduced performance, sexual dysfunction); ADA-Americans with Disabilities Act; Psychotherapy; Psychopharmacology; Boundary Violations; Malpractice; Testimony Cyroby Undue Influence; Child Psychiatry; Custody Issues; Autism; Traumatic Brain Injury.
Degrees/Licenses
MD (CA, HI). Diplomate of the American Board Psychiatry and Neurology, Adult & Forensic Psychiatry; Diplomate National Board of Physicians & Surgeons, Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry.
Formal Education
AB, MD, Columbia University.
Registration and Licenses
MD (CA, HI); DEA, QME (currently inactive).
Previous/Current Position
Assoc. Clinical Professor/Psychiatry, UCSF; Faculty UCSF and San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute; Former Chairman San Francisco Foundation for Psychoanalysis; Media Medical Expert.
Honors/Awards
Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association.
Prof. Affiliations
UCSF, Dept. of Psychiatry, Assoc. Clinical Professor; Distinguished Life Fellow of American, California and Northern California Psychiatric Associations; Member of International Psychoanalytic Assn.; former officer & board member, San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute and Society; American Academy of Psychiatry and The Law; Founder and former Chairman San Francisco Foundation for Psychoanalysis; Psych. lecturer to Bar Association of San Francisco.
Publications
18 publications including "The Use of Forensic Psychiatry in Catastrophic Injury and Multi-Party Litigation" BNA (Bloomberg) Insight, (13:23 Dec. 2013). "Stressing The Point: PTSD - What It Is and What It Is Not" For The Defense, Defense Research Institute, Nov. 1995. "Shrink in the Courtroom," (2000) and "Assessing the Truth," (2000), San Francisco Attorney Magazine.
Prior Expert
More than 500 civil cases involving allegations of psychological injury. Defense: plaintiff 65% - 35%. PTSD, ADA, FEHA, Sexual harassment, psychotic states, incest, depression, drug/alcohol abuse, phobias; Psychiatric malpractice: Wrongful death, sexual or financial impropriety. More than 400 depositions; testified at trial in Federal and State Court 60 times.
Nora Ostrofe MBA, CEA, CVA
Senior EconomistJ.S. Held
San Francisco Headquarters1999 Harrison Street, Ste. 1440
Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 388-4415 Alternate: (510) 740-0376 Fax: (510) 740-0392 Email: nostrofe@jsheld.com Website: www.JSheld.com
Specialties
Professional, affordable economic loss valuation in the following practice areas: business interruption; business valuation; class action (product liability, wage and hour); divorce | marital dissolution; employment (including class action, wage and hour, wrongful termination); personal injury (including maritime and medical malpractice); valuation of life care plans; and wrongful death.
Degrees/Licenses
BA; MBA; Certificate in Accounting, U.C. Berkeley; Certified Valuation Analyst, NACVA; Certified Earnings Analyst, AREA
Formal Education
BA, Economics, UCLA; MBA, St. Mary’s College; Certificate in Accounting, U.C. Berkeley
Prof. Affiliations
American Rehabilitation Economics Association (AREA); Collegium of Pecuniary Damage Experts (CPDE); National Association of Forensic Economics (NAFE); National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)
Publications
Provided upon request.
Prior Expert
Provided upon request.
White, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna, Wolf & Hunt
Barbara Luna, PhD, Partner
Dean Atkinson, CPA CFE ABV, Partner
John Luna, CPA CFE ABV JD MBA, Partner
Venita McMorris, MA, Partner
15490 Ventura Blvd., Suite 300Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Phone: (818) 981-4226 Fax: (818) 981-4278 Email: expert@wzwlh.com Website: www.wzwlh.com
Specialties
Expert witness testimony for complex litigation involving damage analyses of lost profits, unjust enrichment, reasonable royalties, lost earnings, lost value of business, forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and investigative analysis of liability. 500+ times testifying as an expert witness at trial and arbitration. Excellent communications with extensive testimony experience throughout CA and other states. Experts hold PhDs, MBAs, JD's, CPAs, ASAs, CVAs, ABVs, CGREAs, CFFs and CFEs. Prior "Big Four" accounting firm experience. Areas: Accounting, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business interruption, business dissolution, cash flows available for support, class actions, construction defects + economic damages, delays and cost overruns, elder abuse, false advertising, fraud, insurance, intellectual property including trademark, patent and copyright infringement, and trade secrets, lemon law, lender liability, misrepresentations, partnership disputes, personal injury, product liability, professional malpractice, real estate disputes, securities litigation, tracing, trusts & estates, unfair competition, valuation of businesses, white collar crimes, and wrongful termination.
Degrees/Licenses
PhD, CPA, CFE, ASA, CVA, ABV, CGREA.
Formal Education
PHD - Applied Math - Harvard
MBA/JD - UCLA
Allison West
PrincipalEmployment Practices Specialists
446 Old County Road, #100-328Pacifica, CA 94044 Phone: (650) 922-4611 Fax: (866) 858-7775 Email: awest@employmentpractices.net Website: www.employmentpractices.net
Specialties
Workplace investigations/fact finding, harassment/discrimination/EEO prevention, retaliation, wrongful discharge, ADA, HR practices,
policies/procedures, discipline/termination, workplace training, employee relations, at-will/public policy, corrective/remedial action.
Degrees/Licenses
BA; JD.
Mark Cohen
Chief EconomistCohen Volk Economic Consulting Group
1155 Alpine RoadWalnut Creek, CA 94596 Phone: (925) 299-1200 Fax: (925) 482-0824 Email: mcohen@cohenvolk.com Website: www.cohenvolk.com
Specialties
High quality, reasonably priced economic analysis/valuation in business, personal injury, wrongful death, employment discharge and marital litigation. Lost earnings, future care costs, labor/job markets consultation/studies. Develop/broker structured settlements.
Degrees/Licenses
BS, MS, MA, Cert. Earnings Analyst, Lic. Life Agent (CA).
Formal Education
BS, Finance, University of CA, Berkeley; MS, Finance, Boston University; MA, Counseling, St. Mary's College.
Registration and Licenses
Certified Earnings Analyst, Lic. Life Agent (CA).
Previous/Current Position
Vice President, The Udinsky Group. Adjunct Professor of International Investments, Dominican College. Adjunct Professor of Money and Banking, Statistics and Management, European Business School; Board Member, Bay Area Psychotherapy Training Institute.
Honors/Awards
Graduated first in Boston University Master's program. Honor's Student's Society, University of CA, Berkeley.
Prof. Affiliations
American Society of Appraisers (Business Valuation); American Rehabilitation Economics Association; American Economic Association; Career Planning Faculty Committee at Dominican College.
Publications
The Economics of Employment Discharge.
Prior Expert
30+ years experience in analyzing losses in Business, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Employment Discharge, Marital Litigation.
Michael H. Corcoran, Ph.D.
President - Threat Assessment ExpertThe Workthreat Group, LLC
120 Tustin Avenue,Ste. C
Newport Beach, CA 92663 Phone: (949) 951-1316 Alternate: (408) 209-7471 Email: corcoran@workthreat.com Website: www.workthreat.com
Specialties
Determining threat/risk level potentials for violence; Workplace violence prevention programs/training; Domestic violence and stalking issues; Suicidal employees; Insider threats, developing WVP policies & procedures; Assess, develop & train EP programs.
Degrees/Licenses
Ph.D; Masters; Bachelors; P.I - CA.
Mae Lon Ding MBA
PresidentPersonnel Systems Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 28597Anaheim Hills, CA 92809 Phone: (714) 281-8337 Fax: (714) 281-2949 Email: mding@personnelsystems.com Website: www.personnelsystems.com
Specialties
Employment discrimination; Executive and employee compensation; Lost wages/benefits; Employability; Performance appraisal; Personnel policies/procedures; Wrongful termination; Determination of "reasonable employee compensation" in business taxation/divorce cases (spouse working in family-owned business), overtime exemption.
Degrees/Licenses
MBA, CCP.