Expert Witness Services

Lawyers and others have called upon the knowledge and experience of Wheelwright Consultants to assist them in protecting the interests of their clients in disputes involving hospitality and visitor services businesses. While most of these have involved situations where an individual has been injured in a club, hotel, museum, or restaurant and is seeking compensation for injuries, some have also involved disputes between landlords and tenants or between business partners.

Cases where Wheelwright Consultants has provided guidance in industry standards and practice include the following areas:

• Hot Beverage Spills – thousands of people receive painful, often disfiguring scald injuries when excessively hot beverages are spilled on them, many in commercial settings. Our knowledge of proper safety practices and industry standards have helped multiple people receive compensation for their injuries.
• Furniture Failures – we have been consulted in several cases where guests have been injured as a result of furniture failures including several where the seating collapsed and one where a finger was partially amputated. Our knowledge of proper standards for furniture selection and maintenance helped attorneys prepare their cases.
• Food Borne Illnesses – with extensive experience in food safety training and consulting, Wheelwright Consultants has evaluated the practices of operations alleged to be the source of a food borne illness.
• Improper Alcohol Service – with almost 20 years as a responsible alcohol service trainer, Wheelwright Consultants has been consulted in cases where it has been alleged that improper alcohol service led to a guest sustaining an injury.
• Improper Maintenance – we have been consulted in cases where guests have been injured by falling blinds and other objects; where guests were injured when they fell after being directed away from paved walkways; where guests have been injured exiting or entering a bathtub or shower; or where there have been other allegations on improper maintenance.
• Disputes Between Partners – it is often the case that one partner is the visible and present operator while others are “silent” and distant. Wheelwright Consultants has been consulted when the latter question the accuracy of information provided by the former and in cases where an independent valuation of the business is sought.