Rimkus Consulting Group Inc., a leading forensic engineering and technical consulting firm, has assisted clients across the country and around the world in resolving of a wide range of complex claims and disputes for more than 35 years. With worldwide experience providing single source solutions, Rimkus specializes in consulting on matters involving energy and construction disputes, environmental toxic torts, transportation incidents and accidents, injury biomechanics, product and premises liability, the origin and cause of fires and explosions, professional liability issues, and evaluation of toxic exposures. Rimkus employs more than 500 consulting experts offering their professional services from 61 office locations across the United States, in Canada, and Europe.

Appaji Panchangam, Ph.D., P.Eng., ACTAR
San Francisco-Concord, California 

Dr. Appaji Panchangam is a biomechanical engineer, ACTAR-accredited vehicle accident reconstructionist, and a registered professional engineer in Canada with more than seven years of experience. His areas of consulting expertise include human injury mechanisms, causation, and tolerance; human movement and gait; slip, trips, and falls; and general biomechanical analysis, with testifying experience in injury biomechanics and slip testing. He has extensive work experience involving static and dynamic test design, data analysis, and computer simulations and mathematical models to analyze vehicle dynamics and occupant kinematics. He has conducted significant academic research in the field of skeletal muscle mechanics and injury, and published research articles in national and international journals. He earned a Doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Applied Physics from the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Panchangam also holds a Master’s degree in Physics and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, from the University of Hyderabad and Nagarjuna University, India, respectively.

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Kuba J. Glazek, Ph.D.
Los Angeles-Irvine, California

As a consultant in our Human Factors division, Dr. Kuba Glazek assists clients with claims involving transportation, premises liability, retail, and sports/recreation. He has an extensive background in the investigation of motor vehicle accidents, including reaction and response times, visibility and conspicuity, attention, and driver behavior. His experience also includes examinations of trip/slip and fall incidents, sports injuries, warning compliance, and usability testing and research. He has taught human factors and sensation and perception at undergraduate and graduate levels, and served as a peer reviewer for many scientific journals and conferences. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Cognitive Science Society, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the National Science Foundation’s Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center. Dr. Glazek holds a Doctoral degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from Temple University, where his research focused on how the brain processes visual information under various conditions. He earned Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and English Literature from the University of Connecticut. 

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Chris A. Cope, M.S., P.E.
New Orleans, Louisiana

Based in New Orleans, Chris Cope is a mechanical engineer with more than 12 years of experience. As a Rimkus senior consultant, he conducts vehicle accident reconstruction analysis for accidents involving passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and traffic light timing. He has extensive experience downloading and analyzing data from passenger and commercial event data recorders as well as utilizing simulation and scene mapping software, photogrammetry, and digital photography to conduct evaluations and convey results. Additionally as required, he has also inspected vehicle conditions, performed site inspections, and reviewed additional sources of information, such as police reports, depositions and witness statements. His background includes origin and cause inspections for mechanical failures of components found in vehicles, household appliances, HVAC equipment, and plumbing systems, among others. He is a professional engineer licensed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Mr. Cope holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

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Mark R. Barrow, P.E.
Pensacola, Florida                   

Mark R. Barrow is the Eastern Region Senior Property Division Manager. His areas of expertise include origin and cause failure analysis, investigation, and forensic engineering pertaining to civil and structural systems. Mr. Barrow’s extensive background includes more than 20 years of experience in management and design of wind rated sectional garage doors and hurricane shutters, post-tensioned concrete, reinforced concrete, structural steel, masonry, and wood-framed structures in residential, commercial, industrial, and educational fields. He has been the designated expert in litigated construction defect cases and premises liability cases, and has conducted property assessments of residential and commercial structures for issues related to water intrusion, wind damage, hail damage, impact damage, fire damage, flood damage, vibration damage, and settlement. Mr. Barrow is a Certified XL Tribometrist (CXLT) and licensed professional engineer in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. 

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Timothy K. France, P.E.
Tulsa, Oklahoma 

Timothy France is a professional engineer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and licensed in more than 36 states. His 31+ year engineering background is comprised of structural design, engineering forensics, and concrete flooring expertise, including the evaluation of moisture-related and structural concrete floor failures. He has extensive experience in structural design utilizing reinforced concrete, structural steel, cold-formed steel materials, and timber, which includes heavy, laminated, dimensional, and engineered components. He has performed civil/structural engineering analyses of issues related to property and liability losses with an emphasis on building design, construction, and performance. His structural background encompasses residential, commercial, professional, educational, multi-family, hospitality, and big-box structures, as well as tilt-up concrete buildings. Mr. France also has experience with the design, evaluation, and modification of cellular and broadcast tower structures. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (Architectural Engineering option) from the University of Wyoming. 

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