Weather Expert Verification for Claims and Lawsuits

Good Morning Howard. I am happy to report that the case was able to settle late yesterday evening and, as you know, you played an integral role in the happening of it all. We are indebted to you. Thank you again.

I have worked with Forensic Weather Consultants (FWC) for many years, and have consistently found them to be responsive, accurate, reliable, and exceptionally professional. FWC answers phone calls and emails promptly, treats assignments with urgency, and delivers their work on time. When circumstances require an expedited response, their rush services also have proven extremely valuable.

FWC does not simply produce a cookie-cutter report. Their team takes the time to understand the specific issues involved in each assignment and provides clear, direct answers to the questions that matter. Their site-specific meteorological analyses can address wind speeds and directions, hail, flooding, temperature, timing, and other weather conditions relevant to a particular date of loss. They are also highly capable of evaluating reports prepared by others and producing thorough, well-supported rebuttal analyses.

Their service does not end when the report is delivered. FWC makes themselves available to discuss their findings, answer questions, and ensure that the conclusions are fully understood. I recall one file we had where the assignment, the timing of peak wind speeds by others did not appear to make sense. Kyle reviewed the data and immediately recognized that the time zone shown in the source information did not correspond with the location of the site. Within seconds, he identified and resolved the discrepancy, allowing the file to move forward toward completion.

When the accuracy of weather information is important, I want a consultant whose work I know I can trust. Forensic Weather Consultants has repeatedly demonstrated that level of accuracy, responsiveness, and dependability. I highly recommend FWC to anyone who needs reliable, site-specific meteorological analysis and a team that will stand behind its work.

Howard, Your work on this case was indeed instrumental in obtaining a favorable settlement for my clients after our long seven year legal battle that took us up to the Court of Appeals. Your excellent research, analysis and comprehensive report were most helpful in the formation of my legal theories of liability. Having you present in the courthouse today, prepared and ready to take the witness stand, was certainly a factor in reaching a settlement. I will recommend you highly to fellow trial lawyers , both my bretheran plaintiff's attorneys and my friends in the defense bar, without hesitation.

The wonderful staff of experts at Forensic Weather Consultants have been providing me and my company with professional, pin-point accurate Certified Weather Reports, as well as court testimony, over the last several decades; they are, and will continue to be, my first choice as Weather Expert.

Thanks so much Howard. I will recommend you from now on all weather related cases.

I have found the services of Mr. Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants to be prompt and thorough. His use of computerized weather data is particularly effective in conveying the disparity of weather conditions frequently encountered in the varied terrain of western Pennsylvania. I would not hesitate to recommend his services, and plan to do so as the need arises in the future.

Under a very tight time frame, Howard Altschule was able to collect and analyze literally dozens of NWS reports and warnings and offered a qualitative opinion of the storm event, setting it in its proper historical context. I would recomend his services to anyone involved in litigation where weather conditions may have been a factor.

Dear Howard, This motion was just recently decided and it was denied in its entirety. Your report and affidavit played a big role in that decision.

The best experts are the ones who you can always count on to be honest with the facts and truthful with their opinions. The outcome of their work is the same regardless of who (or which “side”) retains them. That is the type of expert I always looking to hire. I can always count on Howard and his team at FWC to give me the honest facts and truthful opinions.

Howard Altschule made a great expert witness in a complex motor vehicle vs. tractor trailer case where the weather played a critical role in understanding the liability aspect of the case. Howard was easy to work with and quite knowledgeable in the area of forensic meteorology. He also adapted well to some unpredictable rulings received from the Court and developed a good rapport with the jury. I would not hesitate to use Howard again in any future trials!

My client’s beachfront home was damaged by winds and flood waters resulting from a hurricane. My client’s homeowners’ insurance company paid a pittance for the wind damage while claiming that all the remaining damage was from the flood waters home. I hired Howard as an expert witness to help me explain to the jury the wind speeds that impacted the home, when the wind damaged the home, how long the wind was battering the home, and also explain how the flood waters didn’t arrive until after the home was already damaged by the wind. Howard was one of the best witnesses I’ve put on the stand in my 33 years of practice. He explained everything to the jury in simple and understandable terms, helping me prove the home was total loss from wind damage. His demeanor, cadence, intonation and professorial approach with the jury was simply superb. I would hire him again in a heartbeat.

As a trial attorney, knowing an expert is experienced and easy to work with reduces the stress of trial. Forensic Weather Consultants is very qualified, experienced and very easy to work with. I highly recommend them.

In conducting a meteorology review as part of a matter in litigation, the key criteria is to have an experienced and balanced expert – one who relies on sound, verifiable scientific data, and has extensive experience working both with policyholders and the insurance industry.  Howard Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants have consistently taken a data-driven approach, with accurate and testable opinions, sound methodology and comprehensive reports that are professionally prepared, well written and scientifically verifiable.  I highly recommend them to either side of a complex insurance litigation matter.

This case involved plaintiff slipping and falling on ice/snow on a sidewalk abutting defendants building. Defendants were arguing that they are not liable, due to a storm in progress doctrine. At trial in Supreme Court, Kings County, Mr. John Lombardo testified as an expert meteorologist for plaintiff. His testimony was crucial in establishing liability in this matter. At issue was the time that snow ceased prior to plaintiff's accident. Defendant's meteorologist expert, George Wright, testified in opposition to Mr. Lombardo at trial. Mr. Lombardo was professional, composed and tough on the stand. Mr. Lombardo's in court testimony, his data and his analysis was crucial in obtaining a full liability verdict against defendants. The jury unanimously believed every aspect of Mr. Lombardo's testimony and completely disregarded testimony of defendants' expert George Wright – Michael Roitman, Esq., plaintiff's trial attorney.

I have worked with the folks at Forensic Weather Consultants on several matters and will continue to engage them based on their professionalism, diligence, responsiveness, and, of course, expertise. They know weather and understand their role in assisting me with my case. Always a pleasure to work with FWC.

Juries want scientific proof. Good science and meaningful and understandable presentation are essential to presenting any forensic evidence. Howard Altschule and Forensic Weather Consultants provide that service with exceptional diligence and professionalism. In a recent nine year old double homicide case they gave us the proof and showed the jury exactly what it needed to debunk a fantastic story by the now convicted killer. You can’t argue with the weather. In the criminal justice system I believe we will see this proof being presented routinely.

As the challenge of getting insurance claims properly paid becomes increasingly difficult, it is really great to have in our tool kit, a meteorologist that understands what kinds of information and details we need. We have utilized Forensic Weather Consultants meteorological services on several cases that require site specific weather data and find that our claims are treated more seriously not only by the adjusters but also the experts that insurance companies increasingly rely upon.

Thanks to the report you prepared in relation to the accumulation of ice and snow in a parking lot in Queens over the course of nine hours, I was able to negotiate a settlement that surprised the hell out of me. I knew the issue of constructive notice would be a problem and feared a defendant's verdict. After jury selection and before opening remarks, I took out your report and highlighted that the controlling data came from you and the weather service and constituted unassailable evidence as to the temperature. Counsel for the commercial tenant insisted that reports from JFK controlled the issue of temperature and not your report. While arguing the point, counsel for the landlord remarked when the court inquired about you "that Howard knows his stuff and is the real deal." I pushed to have you testify and over the course of six long hours both defendants decided to sweeten the pot to induce a settlement. I can't thank you enough for your professionalism and solid reputation. You saved the day from potential disaster.