Sean Moran's Blog, page 13
May 8, 2020
Design and Commissioning of Temporary Treatment Plant : Nitrification and Denitrification
I'm still working on design and construction of a couple of temporary plants for advanced treatment of sewage from a copper mien in the Central American rain-forest.
I've got a couple of expert witness jobs on the side, which are far less technically demanding, though I'm sure in time they will prove demanding in other ways, as expert witness jobs often are.
I've got a couple of expert witness jobs on the side, which are far less technically demanding, though I'm sure in time they will prove demanding in other ways, as expert witness jobs often are.
April 14, 2020
Expert Witness Water : Still Open For Business
I'm lucky enough still to be working, though circumstances are sometimes challenging. That is however true for all of us in these interesting times.
Design continues on sewage treatment remedial works for that central american mining project. I'm collaborating with a team in Australia, so I'm working both ends of the day.
Also picked up a new instruction or two for Expert Witness work, though any travel component of that will have to wait for a while!
Design continues on sewage treatment remedial works for that central american mining project. I'm collaborating with a team in Australia, so I'm working both ends of the day.
Also picked up a new instruction or two for Expert Witness work, though any travel component of that will have to wait for a while!
February 27, 2020
Water and Sewage Treatment Plant Design and Construction Expertise
Unlike a lot of other "expert witnesses", I have long (and current) design and construction experience.
I'm presently about to go overseas to commission a couple of sewage treatment facilities which I have designed. This is how you stay an expert - continue in professional practice.
I have lost count of the number of times my "opposing expert" in legal proceedings hasn't practised in decades, and back when they did, they never personally designed or commissioned anything.
I'm presently about to go overseas to commission a couple of sewage treatment facilities which I have designed. This is how you stay an expert - continue in professional practice.
I have lost count of the number of times my "opposing expert" in legal proceedings hasn't practised in decades, and back when they did, they never personally designed or commissioned anything.
February 13, 2020
Expert Witness Chemical Engineering Dictionary
Things have been slightly less busy this week with real engineering, so I've had time to work on the chemical engineering dictionary I'm writing for Elsevier.
One of the things which inspired this was an expert witness engagement I had which revolved around the meaning of the words "sewage", "sewerage" and "drainage". These words were as it happened defined in British Standards referenced in the bid by the consulting engineer.
Whilst lawyers (who are all about words) were never going to allow themselves to be constrained entirely by the meanings assigned to words by standards, it assisted the court that there were good grounds to argue that a common understanding of these words might have been shared by parties whose contract referenced a document in which they were defined.
This is why I am including in my dictionary references to the standards which define those words which are defined in engineering standards. I had hoped to include the actual standard definition, but the standards-writing bodies pretty much all wanted exorbitant royalties to do so.
People have an odd idea of how much money there is in writing textbooks. Mine are reasonably successful, but I'll be lucky to make national minimum wage for the time they take to write. They are a labour of love.
One of the things which inspired this was an expert witness engagement I had which revolved around the meaning of the words "sewage", "sewerage" and "drainage". These words were as it happened defined in British Standards referenced in the bid by the consulting engineer.
Whilst lawyers (who are all about words) were never going to allow themselves to be constrained entirely by the meanings assigned to words by standards, it assisted the court that there were good grounds to argue that a common understanding of these words might have been shared by parties whose contract referenced a document in which they were defined.
This is why I am including in my dictionary references to the standards which define those words which are defined in engineering standards. I had hoped to include the actual standard definition, but the standards-writing bodies pretty much all wanted exorbitant royalties to do so.
People have an odd idea of how much money there is in writing textbooks. Mine are reasonably successful, but I'll be lucky to make national minimum wage for the time they take to write. They are a labour of love.
February 10, 2020
Expert Witness: Effluent Treatment
Another busy week last week, with the court date for the commercial effluent consent breach prosecution (unfortunately the experts were not called to give evidence and be cross-examined, as the meeting of experts had narrowed opinion sufficiently). Judgement has been reserved, so no outcome until month end.
I've also been working on a number of overseas temporary and permanent sewage treatment plants as a design consultant, trying to progress my dictionary of Chemical Engineering, and booking some training course delivery in the Middle East.
I've not been so busy for years. It's going to be a good year for Expertise Limited.
I've also been working on a number of overseas temporary and permanent sewage treatment plants as a design consultant, trying to progress my dictionary of Chemical Engineering, and booking some training course delivery in the Middle East.
I've not been so busy for years. It's going to be a good year for Expertise Limited.
January 30, 2020
Sewage Treatment Expert Witness: Package Plants
I've had a new enquiry this week about an expert witness engagement to do with package sewage treatment plants. Package plants came up for discussion whilst I was in Panama last week as well. I've doe a lot of troubleshooting and expert witness work to do with package plants which are all too often underspecified, badly installed, and badly maintained, resulting in plants failing to meet consent.
January 24, 2020
International Water Engineering Expert: Emergency Callout
I'm abroad this week, with some interesting emergency sewage treatment issues which will keep me busy for a while
January 17, 2020
Meeting of Experts Industrial Effluent Prosecution
I've had a busy week, preparing for an overseas engagement, and taking part in a meeting of experts with respect of a prosecution under the Water Industry Act.
Though there was much common ground between experts, it's probably going to mean a court appearance as an expert witness next month.
In the meantime, I'll be dealing with getting a stop notice reversed on a site in Central America. It's been a busy start to the year!
Though there was much common ground between experts, it's probably going to mean a court appearance as an expert witness next month.
In the meantime, I'll be dealing with getting a stop notice reversed on a site in Central America. It's been a busy start to the year!
January 11, 2020
Training in Water and Effluent Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance
I've been booked to deliver a training course in Spain at month end based on our longstanding Water and Effluent Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance course. Delivery is to be bilingual. so one of my former students who is a native Spanish speaker will be assisting me.
I've also got continuing expert witness work to do with a prosecution for release of industrial effluent to sewer, so it'll be a while before I can get back to writing my latest book.
I've also got continuing expert witness work to do with a prosecution for release of industrial effluent to sewer, so it'll be a while before I can get back to writing my latest book.
January 3, 2020
Back to Work: Expert Witness CPR Part 19 Report
I'm expecting an expert report for comment today in the criminal prosecution in which I am acting as an expert witness. I'd say the report was from the other side, but there is no other side when you are an expert witness. Neither am I on the side of the people paying me, I am on the side of the court, just as the author of the report I am about to receive should be.
I would however caveat that. In being independent / on the side of the court, I am acting in the interests of those instructing me, to the extent that my report informs the legal team of the technical merits and underpinning of their case. An accurate report should help to prevent the kind of irrational exuberance which might cause a party to spend a lot of money pursing a case without technical merit.
I'm hoping the fact that this is a criminal prosecution involving large entities means that the kind of inexpert "expert" I come across all too often has not been engaged. Perversely, unpicking and correcting an inexpert report, and attempting a meeting of experts with a non-expert are far more time-consuming and expensive than an interaction between genuine experts. I was involved in a previous case where the appointment of someone with no technical knowledge who replied to technical questions with personal abuse appears to have been a deliberate strategy intended to run up the other party's costs.
I would however caveat that. In being independent / on the side of the court, I am acting in the interests of those instructing me, to the extent that my report informs the legal team of the technical merits and underpinning of their case. An accurate report should help to prevent the kind of irrational exuberance which might cause a party to spend a lot of money pursing a case without technical merit.
I'm hoping the fact that this is a criminal prosecution involving large entities means that the kind of inexpert "expert" I come across all too often has not been engaged. Perversely, unpicking and correcting an inexpert report, and attempting a meeting of experts with a non-expert are far more time-consuming and expensive than an interaction between genuine experts. I was involved in a previous case where the appointment of someone with no technical knowledge who replied to technical questions with personal abuse appears to have been a deliberate strategy intended to run up the other party's costs.
