iua presentation- fire & explosions

Krista Fowler AcuñaKrista Fowler AcuñaPartner/Chair Marine Practice GroupEmail: [email protected]: 00+1+305.372.9044Mobile: 00+1+305 778 1640Mobile: 00+1+305.778.1640

OVERVIEWOVERVIEWOVERVIEWOVERVIEW

NFPA 921‐ FRAMEWORKEXPERT SELECTIONUSE OF COUNSEL

EVIDENCE PRESERVATION

Fire & Explosion InvestigationsBy: Krista Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices 2

Claim Example: Airport Fuel Storage Explosion & Fire

Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices 3

Claim Perspective:•On notice well after fire•Do no control scene or access•Urgency to repair facility

• $10 million in PD• Over $20 million claimed BI• 70,000 gallons of Grade A Jet g fFuel• 162 cancelled flights•Reduced capacity temporary jet fuel supply systemfuel supply system


Claim Example: Multi‐Vessel Marina Fire


Claim Perspective:p•Notice within 24 hours of fire•Underwriters control primary fire vessel•Evidence somewhat•Evidence somewhat contained/preservable

• Over $5 million in total damage• Over $5 million in total damage• 5 yachts burned‐ 3 were constructive total loss• PD to the marina• Personal injury to occupants


FIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONSFIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONS

Risks/Problems:Chaos cannot be controlled off‐sightChaos cannot be controlled off sightYou only get one shot at C&OFacts must be gathered so as to be admissibleFacts must be gathered so as to be admissibleEarly timing is everything, delay will cost moneyExposure is high so costs are highExposure is high, so costs are high


GOALS OF F/E INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF THE INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF F/E INVESTIGATIONGOALS OF THE INVESTIGATION

COVERAGE DETERMINATIONDEFENSE OF ASSUREDRECOVERY POTENTIALRECOVERY POTENTIALACCURATE QUANTUM & RESERVES


FRAMEWORK OF F/E INVESTIGATIONFRAMEWORK OF INVESTIGATIONFRAMEWORK OF F/E INVESTIGATION

NFPA 921:

FRAMEWORK OF INVESTIGATION

NFPA 921:• Issued in 1992 (8 revisions)revisions)

• First definitive document of its kind

• Shift from experience‐based to science‐based approachapproach

• Published in multiple languageslanguages


NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?

NFPA 921 US Courts post‐1993

NFPA 921: GUIDE OR STANDARD?

NFPA 921 • “purpose of this document

is to establish guidelines….”

US Courts post‐1993• “The gold standard”• “Bible of arson forensics”

• “this document is not intended as a comprehensive scientific or

Bible of arson forensics• “National standard”• “Generally accepted

comprehensive scientific or engineering text…”

standard in the fire investigation community”

CONCLUSION: IT’S A STANDARD, SO YOUR EXPERT BETTER FOLLOW IT


ANATOMY OF AN F/E INVESTIGATIONANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION/ANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION

Origin Determination

Fire Cause Determination( d f f l )(ignition source, oxidant, first fuel, ignition sequence)

Analyzing Responsibility for Damage, Injury or Death


ANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATIONANATOMY OF THE INVESTIGATION• CAUSE CATEGORIES • DEMISE OF “NEGATIVE

– INCENDIARY– ACCIDENTAL– NATURAL

CORPUS” – Ex: 3 potential causes, 2

ruled out, so the 3rd must b– UNDETERMINED

• “Possible” or “suspected” = undeterminedFi l i i l d

be cause– Not consistent with the

scientific methodCreates un testable• Final opinions only as good

as quality of data• Decision re: level of certainty rests with i i

– Creates un‐testable hypothesis (assumption not fact)

– Results in incorrect investigator Results in incorrectdetermination of the ignition source and first fuel


BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE• NFPA Chapter 13: Public

BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCENFPA Chapter 13: Public sources of photos and videos of the fire sequence can provide evidence relative to:– Timeline– SpreadWitness identification– Witness identification

– Witness credibilityMedia footage sourced by Broadcast Media Monitoring


BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCEBEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

• Media footage lead to gsource of original video

• Original unedited f b dfootage obtained

• Access to meta dataWit t t t• Witness statement taken

• Assisted in establishingAssisted in establishing more certain fire timeline


BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE• azureazimut, Mar 31, 2008

BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Blogs, twitter, youtube and other

• #3• azureazimutNew Member• Joined:Apr 28y

internet postings can lead to additional

• Joined:Apr 28, 2007Messages:33Location:JCI' t th iwitnesses, photos,

and video that can assist investigation

• I'm at the marina on my yacht just one dock over. I have some pretty ridiculous id f th fi th t I'llvideo of the fire that I'll post links to once I upload them. Pretty scary stuff.

i 31 2008• azureazimut, Mar 31, 2008Fire & Explosion Investigations By: Krista Fowler Acuña, The Chartwell Law Offices 15

BEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCEBEYOND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

• Inspection/testing of spec o / es g oexemplars is appropriate methodology under NFPA921921

• Example: after witness statements completedstatements completed, expert re‐created egress

• Helped identify potential p y pcauses of fire

• Verified witness accounts


EXPERT SELECTIONEXPERT SELECTION

• C&O Expert=CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)C&O Expert=CFI (Certified Fire Investigator)– NFPA 1033Most investigations will require other specialties– Most investigations will require other specialties to determine root cause

– CFI opinions re: cause typically limited– CFI opinions re: cause typically limited


EXPERT SELECTION

• Licensed Professional Engineers (PE )

EXPERT SELECTION

Licensed Professional Engineers (P.E.)– ElectricalMechanical– Mechanical

– ChemicalFi S i– Fire Science

– Materials/Metallurgy

f /b h l• Human factor/biomechanical• Toxicology/Pathology


EXPERT SELECTIONEXPERTS: GETTING TO THE ROOT

CAUSEEXPERT SELECTION

Case Study: cause of

CAUSE

Case Study: cause of fire was ruptured hydraulic hosehydraulic hose

Solution: CT Scan of hose revealed it ruptured outward


EXPERTS: GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSECAUSE


EXPERTS: THE INTANGIBLESEXPERTS: THE INTANGIBLES

• Good experts are…Good experts are…– Mute…(observe and selectively speak)– Deferential…(look to counsel for guidance)( g )– Humble…(not focused on being smartest person in the room)

– Creative…(seek alternative avenues)– Assertive…(firm and capable in handling scene)– Kind/Polite…(interaction with experts/assured)– Dirty…


ROLE OF COUNSELROLE OF COUNSEL

• Perspectives “from the office”e spect es f o t e off ce– Timing: early is better

• Experts handle data to determine cause• Counsel and/or Underwriters handle the ultimate goal

– Expert selection/retention• Better faster accessBetter, faster access• Right fit for specific investigation

– Establishing privilege– Documentation

• Demands to preserve evidence• Notice to parties• Notice to parties


ROLE OF COUNSELROLE OF COUNSEL

• Perspective “from the field”Perspective from the field– Value of first‐hand perspectiveAssist and protect the experts– Assist and protect the experts

– Handle other attorneysB t t f– Be an extra set of eyes


EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION

• What is spoliation?– Loss, destruction, alteration

• What legal duties govern evidence preservation?– “reasonable expectation of litigation”

• What are the penalties for spoliating evidence?• Rebuttable & Irrebuttable Presumptions• Admission of Evidence of the Spoliation• Sanctions‐monetary to striking pleadings (“the death knell”)


EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION

When you control the yevidence:

• Preservation/security• Access• When can you dispose?• Solutions for the difficult third party (title transfer courttransfer, court intervention, cost assumption)


EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONEVIDENCE PRESERVATION

• When others control the evidence:When others control the evidence:– Early demand to preserveRenew demands when circumstances change– Renew demands when circumstances change

– Special circumstances:• Need to repair and return to service• Need to repair and return to service• Be reasonable/flexible


CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Ti i i k• Timing is key• Appoint counsel and retain experts early• Team approach to expert identification, evidence gathering, documentation

• Results= goals and cost management can both be achievedbe achieved


Krista Fowler AcuñaPartner/Chair Marine Practice Group

fEmail: [email protected]: 00+1+305.372.9044Mobile: 00+1+305.778.1640

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