Chris McCoy is a principal and executive general adjuster with Engle Martin & Associates, based in its New York office. Mr. McCoy graduated from North Texas State University with a B.A. in Business Administration in Finance. Prior to joining Engle Martin & Associates in 1997, he was a property adjuster on the catastrophe team for Aetna Casualty & Surety, a regional reinspector and commercial property internal auditor for Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, and a general adjuster for McLarens Toplis North America, Inc. Mr. McCoy specializes in commercial property (including aviation, governmental entity, hospitality, habitational, manufacturing, retail, and home-owner CAT response), business interruption, builders risk, casualty, farm liability and inland marine.

Dr. John Zolock works in Exponent’s Vehicle Engineering practice. Dr. Zolock’s expertise in the field of engineering includes analytical and experimental evaluation of vehicle crashworthiness and occupant protection, vehicle dynamics, and mechanics. He specializes in automobile, bus, pedestrian, heavy truck, and rail vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction. His experience in photogrammetry, event data recorder (EDR) analysis, full scale rail vehicle testing, and automobile crash, dolly rollover, and handling testing enhances his consulting contributions to the reconstruction of accidents. His work has emphasized study in the areas of materials, applied mechanics, dynamics, vibrations, finite element analysis, biomechanics and occupant injury modeling, and component and full-scale field-testing.

While previously working at the Volpe Center, Dr. Zolock completed a Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. at Tufts University. Prior to that, Dr. Zolock received a Master’s of Science from the in Engineering Science and Mechanics department at The Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Grove City College. Dr. Zolock is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts and several other north-east states, and an accredited and certified ACTAR vehicle accident reconstructionist.

Eugenia Kennedy is a Senior Manager in Exponent’s Mechanical Engineering practice. Her expertise is in the discipline of mechanical engineering, including the fields of mechanical design and the mechanical behavior of materials. Ms. Kennedy has attained specialized competence in industrial and occupational safety including matters such as aerial lifts, cranes, excavators, forklifts, fall protection and slip-and-fall matters. Ms. Kennedy has experience in evaluating worker, equipment, and facility safety. She has also assisted clients by performing safety audits. Throughout her career, Ms. Kennedy has used her expertise in mechanical engineering to solve a broad range of problems related to failure analysis and prevention, vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction, and product design and development.

Ms. Kennedy is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). She has received the Safety and Health Specialist Certificates in Construction Industry and General Industry from the OSHA Training Institute Education Center and has been authorized to teach the 10- and 30-hour Outreach Courses in OSHA’s Construction Safety and Health Standards. She is also the current President of the Greater Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
 

CTG Litigation Controller - Michelle has 19 years of legal and administrative support experience in corporate, commercial insurance, and consulting companies prefaced by seven years in the Armed Forces focusing on regulatory compliance in areas of administration, communications, and personnel. Currently responsible for document preservation, analysis, litigation coordination and response, and identification and preparation of testifying staff at Covenant Transportation Group, Inc and subsidiaries. This experience is combined with an education in paralegal studies, licensure as an all lines insurance adjuster and designation as a PPIA. Member of Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) and CLM’s Insurance Coverage Litigation and Transportation Committees.

Ronna Ruppelt is a dynamic leader with a distinguished career in the insurance industry, now bringing her expertise to Freeman, Mathis & Gary LLP as a Partner and Director of Client Relations. Before joining FMG, Ronna served as the CEO of CLM (Claims & Litigation Management Alliance), the nation’s largest association of claims professionals and attorneys.

Ronna's impressive career spans top 20 insurance carriers, where she held senior roles such as SVP, General Counsel, Secretary, Chief Claims Officer; VP of Claims and VP of Casualty Claims. She has led large teams, sometimes over 300 strong, driving organizational transformations and implementing comprehensive claims, litigation management, compliance, regulatory, and risk reduction programs.

Ronna began her career as a young lawyer in an insurance defense firm and quickly established herself as a thought leader in the industry. She is frequently sought after as a speaker and author and is a nominated member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ronna is a recognized champion for these values in the workplace.

Licensed to practice law in Ohio and Georgia, Ronna is also deeply committed to civic engagement. She has served as the chairwoman of the board of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and was a founding director of another arts organization, highlighting her dedication to the community beyond her professional achievements.
 

A lawyer at Gallagher Sharp since 1980 and a Partner since 1987, Joe Pappalardo is a trial attorney who represents public and private companies, insurance carriers, and individuals in cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, employer intentional torts, industrial accidents, cargo, and property damage.  He has litigated and tried cases in a wide variety of industries, including trucking, automobile, motorcycles, hand and power tools, aviation and automatic pedestrian doors. He concentrates his practice on trucking, motor coach, aviation and product liability matters.  Joe is admitted to all state and federal courts in Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Joe received his law degree from The Ohio State University and his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University. He is Martindale-Hubbell AV rated, listed as an Outstanding Lawyer of America, listed in the 2015-2021 editions of Best Lawyers in America® for Transportation Law (2021, 2018, 2016 Cleveland Transportation Lawyer of the Year), and an Ohio Super Lawyer since 2004. 

Joe is a member of and the 2018 recipient of the John T. Biezup Memorial Service Award from the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) (former Board of Directors, General Counsel), Transportation Lawyers Association, Ohio Trucking Association, (Legislative Committee), Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) (Co-Dean of the Claims College, School of Transportation, Co-Chair Transportation Committee), Federal Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, a Life Member of the Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, and a Master Bencher, Judge John M. Manos Inn of Court.  He serves on the Board of Directors of Themis Advocates and the Cuyahoga Community College Truck Driving Academy Advisory Board.

Joe frequently speaks at national seminars regarding trucking, transportation, and litigation topics and is an author for national publications.

Krista Fowler Acuña is a Partner in the Miami office of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP.   Krista is a highly skilled, veteran litigator representing clients in state and federal court in the areas of admiralty and maritime, transportation, general liability, product liability (consumer, industrial, and marine), construction (commercial, construction defect and contractor liability), insurance coverage, and appeals.   She has tried bench and jury trials in Florida and nationally.  Her coverage experience includes first and third party policies coverage review and analysis, declaratory judgment litigation, bad faith, and breach of good faith and fair dealing claims. Krista also counsels her clients on the drafting of insurance policy language, warranties, contracts, distribution agreements, as well as advertising review and drafting for compliance with state and federal warranty law.

Krista represents clients in a wide range of industries, including domestic and London market insurers and Fortune 100 to 500 corporations in the marine, transportation, hospitality, retail, construction, and manufacturing industries. Krista’s significant experience in a litigation management role with her domestic and London market clients includes oversight of deadline compliance, budget and reserve recommendations, and quarterly file audits.   She is an experienced supervising partner responsible for oversight of case strategies, attorney productivity, budget review, work product and billings.

Krista is a sought-after speaker and author by industry and professional associations and clients in her practice areas.  She is an active member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, where she earned the CLMP designation, and the Defense Research Institute.  Krista is involved and influential in the development of litigation management best practices via CLM.  She is a Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP) ™ and has been awarded the Litigation Management Institute Certificate™.

Wade Loud works as the Vice President of Casualty Claims for Lamarche Associates. LaMarche Associates is a regional independent insurance adjusting firm handling first and third party property and casualty claims in the New England states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as New York City, New Jersey and Eastern New York State.

BROAD EXPERIENCE: Over 18 years of direct management of complex and high-exposure claims and litigation involving medical malpractice, professional liability, construction defect, insurance coverage disputes, construction and motor vehicle liability, first-party property and business interruption.

Currently, Mr. Loud has day to day experience with a full gambit of casualty claims as both claim handler and supervisor of all claims. Lamarche Associates is affiliated with several Automobile and Truck Insurers, which include the investigation of all claims as well as retention of experts and counsel. As an adjuster, Mr. Loud is the first line in the retention of sensitive data and best practices for claim handling. In addition, to the initial on scene investigation, the experience of handling claims from the onset to the conclusion allows for the experience of the entire claim. This allows for the opportunity for proper and thorough handling.

Mr. Loud previously worked for a large Insurance carrier and has an extensive litigation claims handling background. Prior to that, Mr. Loud received a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from Westfield University in Massachusetts.

Brian Veale joined the Norfolk Southern Corporation as a Management Trainee in the Casualty Claims Department in 2006. He was promoted to District Claim Agent in 2011 and is responsible for the investigation and management of personal injury and property damage claims.  He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Psychology.
 

John Pion is a Founding Partner of Pion, Nerone, Girman, Winslow & Smith where he serves as the firm’s President.  He concentrates his practice in the area of transportation law. 
 
Mr. Pion is a member of the Pennsylvania, Ohio and District of Columbia Bar Associations; and is also admitted in New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Arizona, Delaware and Maryland (by pro hac vice).
 
He served on the Board of Directors for TIDA (Trucking Industry Defense Association) for nine years, is the current Chairman of ACTA (American College of Transportation Attorneys), has been named to the Academy of Trial Lawyers for Western Pennsylvania and has recently been nominated to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.  Mr. Pion is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982 and received his J.D. from Duquesne University in 1985.  At Duquesne he was a member of the Order of the Barristers, the Appellate Moot Court Board and was a first-place finisher in Gourley Cup Moot Court Competition.  He is a frequent lecturer at the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, Trucking Industry Defense Association, Safety Management Council, Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, to name a few.
 
Mr. Pion has been accepted into the National Association of Distinguished Counsel in 2015.  He has been named a 2014 Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation Law, in The Best Lawyers in America ® in the field of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants 2018, Who’s Who in American Law®, Who’s Who in America ®, and named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers as one of 2009’s top attorneys in Pennsylvania.  Additionally, he maintains an AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been elected to the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.

Paul Berne joined the Lancer Financial Group in 1992. He has over 38 years experience in the management and administration of property/casualty claims. Prior to joining Lancer, Paul was Vice President of Claims with Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation. Paul is a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) where he served as President and Treasurer during his nine year term on the Board of Directors. He is currently a member of the TIDA Endowment Committee, having initiated the committee and serving as Chair for 10 years. Paul is a member of the Counsel on Litigation Management Bad Faith Committee and Transportation Committee, and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Claims and Bad Faith Committees. He is a frequent speaker and author on a range of subjects relating to Claims management, transportation risk exposure and claims cost control, and risk management. Paul is now Executive Vice President of The Quaker Project, a Claims data and analytics company working with Lancer Insurance Company and other organizations.

Erik Stremke has been in the Risk Transfer industry for more than 35 years. He has worked for large carriers (Allstate, Royal, and with Fireman’s Fund as a claims officer) along with Self-Insureds, Insurers, Captives and TPAs as a service provider and consultant. Erik has been published in the NASP Subrogator Magazine, The Self Insurer Magazine, Rough Notes, and Captive Review. He has the CSRP designation, and has been responsible for claims management, staff management, data mining claims information, subrogation, and budget management from both the insurer side and the vendor side. With the formation of Recovery Concepts & Solutions in late 2014, Erik brings together his knowledge and experience with other seasoned professionals to deliver high quality results in recovery for the industry.   

Fawzi Bayan PE, CSP, director of the Vehicle Accident Reconstruction Group in S-E-A’s Baltimore/Washington DC office, graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He holds a Master of Science from Stanford University which he obtained in 1981. He specializes in the reconstruction of transportation accidents, including trucks, off road vehicles, automobiles, industrial equipment, motorcycles and pedestrians in particular, and has been doing so for over 30 years. He is a registered professional engineer (PE) as well as a certified safety professional (CSP).

Mr. Bayan has participated in the reconstruction of major transportation accidents for S-E-A, Ltd. and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board). He has testified in State and Federal courts of law and arbitrations and has also published in peer reviewed journals in the area of accident reconstruction, computer simulation, night visibility and conspicuity and other topics.

Mr. Doyle received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University. While attending The Ohio State University, heperformed research for the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration(NHTSA), including studies of crash test data and occupant response in vehicle impacts. Hisexpertise lies in forensic analysis of vehicular accident reconstruction, including tractor-trailers,motorcycles, and vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents, as well as automotive component failure analysis. Mr. Doyle also has extensive case experience with manufacturing equipment, machinetools, plumbing and sprinkler systems, HVAC systems, construction equipment, hydraulicsystems, and consumer products as they relate to product liability issues. Prior to joining S-E-A,

Mr. Doyle was employed with a major tire manufacturer where he was involved in the design, testing, and development of tires for original equipment applications; regulatory compliance testing; and tire failure analysis. Mr. Doyle is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). He has provided expert testimony in state, local, and federal courts of law.

Dr. Ashley (Al) Dunn was hired in December 2006 by SEA’s Columbus office as a Project Engineer in Mechanical Engineering. Al’s commercial vehicle expertise includes brake systems, braking and stability evaluations (via testing and computer modeling), and ABS system performance.
Dr. Dunn spent six years at the Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA sponsored Dr. Dunn’s Ph.D. research in Mechanical Engineering (received from The Ohio State University in 2003), focusing on vehicle dynamics. Dr. Dunn received his Master’s Degree from OSU in 1999. Prior to attending the OSU Graduate School, Al worked for ten years at Michelin Tire’s Research and Development facility as a test engineer/test driver and product development engineer. Al received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University (NCSU) in 1986.
Dr. Dunn’s other relevant interests and experience include 10 years in racing and on-track driving instruction. Al has ridden motorcycles (on-road and off-road) since childhood, and currently rides a 1995 BMW R1100RS sport-touring motorcycle. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
 

Joseph J. Golian is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in the areas of bad faith litigation, tort defense, bodily injury litigation, civil litigation, class action, commercial litigation, construction law, FELA, premises liability, product liability law, railroad litigation, and risk/claims management, with a particular emphasis in transportation law. Mr. Golian is a frequent lecturer on transportation matters including driver deposition preparation, transportation trial matters and tactics, claim investigation, and FELA claims handling. In addition, Mr. Golian is active in the Knights of Columbus and serves on the School Advisory Board for St. Matthew School. Mr. Golian is a member of the Columbus Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits. He is also a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Trucking Industry Defense Association, and Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. Additionally, he maintains an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and in 2008 and 2009 was named a “Top Lawyer” in Central Ohio by Columbus C.E.O. magazine. In 1982, Mr. Golian graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a B.A. in Economics. He received his J.D. from Capital University Law School in 1985. 

Tom Dover joined Gallagher Sharp upon his graduation from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1980 and became a partner in 1987. He is the firm’s Managing Partner, Chair of the Transportation Practice Group, and a member of the Executive Committee. He is a trial attorney with considerable experience in the transportation industry. He concentrates his practice defending railway carriers in claims involving grade crossings, condemnation, eminent domain, occupational exposure, property damage, personal injury and wrongful death. He also represents trucking, bus, and insurance companies, freight haulers and airlines, throughout Ohio, in all types of litigation. Tom has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 2003 and is the 2012 Cleveland Best Lawyers Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants Lawyer of the Year. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated attorney and an Ohio SuperLawyer since 2004. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Ohio State Bar Association, and Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys.

Lori Jean Quinn, Esq. – Associate – Lori Quinn is a member of the Marshall Dennehey Maritime Litigation Practice Group, focusing her practice in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, aviation, cargo subrogation, commercial litigation, marine insurance and reinsurance, personal injury litigation, property damage litigation and transportation law. She has represented multiple insurance carriers and their insured's in matters involving cargo recovery/subrogation, property damage, aviation, and maritime related personal injury cases. Lori handles several matters with public agencies in the City of New York and has worked directly with the Coast Guard in some criminal matters pertaining the Freedom of Information Act requests.

Lori began her legal career at McDermott & Radzik in 1995 as a paralegal after obtaining her Lawyer's Assistant Certification with Honors from Adelphi University. During her thirteen-year tenure, Lori worked full time at the firm while attending New York Law School's Evening Division Program earning her juris doctor in 2002. Lori graduated from New York Law School in the top 30% of her class while maintaining a full case workload.

Anthony Cutuli joined Vitran Express, a national LTL carrier headquartered in Gibsonia, PA, as the Director of Risk Management in March 2012. He manages all liability and workers’ compensation programs for the company’s 5,200 employees and more than 9,200 pieces of equipment. Tony was formerly with Pitt Ohio Express in a similar role from 1997-2012, and also has experience as a commercial auto claims examiner. He is a longstanding member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association. A native of Pittsburgh, Tony earned his B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and his Masters in Law from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004.

Partner at Weber, Gallagher, Simpson ,Stapleton, Fires & Newby LLP, Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Wescoe focuses his practice on commercial transportation, contracts, cargo claims and trucking liability defense. Prior to practicing law, he was an Ocean Marine Claims Adjuster and Underwriter. Mr. Wescoe is a member of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, Trucking Industry Defense Association, Maritime Law Association, Transportation Lawyers Association, New Jersey Motor Truck Association, Conference of Freight Counsel, and Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Association.