It Can Be the Little Things That Count

Abstract

Many technical cases may depend on finding a small, seemingly unimportant fact or circumstance. The small things or subtle facts frequently are the key to the investigation. They are often buried in statements, theories, or a myriad of physical evidence and are overlooked by the parties involved. Six cases are cited in which small, singular items or facts typically overlooked by the pseudo experts and legal counsel were found. Those overlooked facts were the key to their cases. Many cases undertaken by the forensic engineer require gathering many facts and then analyzing the data in conjunction with codes and standards, good engineering practice, and state and federal laws. Then the forensic engineer renders a professional opinion based on his analysis of the information. On occasion, however, our opinions which are based on statements, depositions, drawings, photographs, and test results can be proven or negated by one small piece of evidence-the little thing-that is the key.