Join ESi's Senior Consultant, Gaurav Nagalia, M.S., for Refuting Plaintiff’s Theories through Competent Forensic Investigation - August 5!
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8/5/2026
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When:
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Wednesday, August 5, 2026
12:00 PM
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Where:
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United States
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Contact:
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Sandra Wulf
sandra@IDC.law
800-232-0169
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This presentation will provide examples of how to identify that engineering experts working for counsels representing plaintiffs have offered opinions that are unsupported either due to insufficient examination, non-standard testing, or misinterpretation of industry standards. Recognizing this early in the litigation process provides a benefit and provides an opportunity to develop a technical response based on scientific method that increases chances of a defense verdict.
Through detailed case studies, this webinar will demonstrate the critical importance of obtaining the answers to the following important questions: - Has the available evidence been thoroughly examined?
- Has proper equipment been put to use in data acquisition and is the acquired data properly interpreted?
- Has the expert used proper and applicable industry standards?
- Is the expert opinion based on bias observations?
- Has the expert conducted an investigation that provides a root-cause of a product failure?
Attendees will gain practical insights into evaluating technical work product of engineering experts to assist in identification of analytical gaps in plaintiff expert reports. The objective of the presentation is to develop an understanding of what constitutes a scientifically defensible technical analysis in forensic engineering matters. Featured Speaker
| Gaurav Nagalia is a senior consultant and failure analysis investigator with ESI, specializing in polymer engineering, applying forensic methodologies to systematically analyze and resolve failures in plastic and elastomeric components, coatings, adhesives, and composite systems. His investigative approach identifies failure modes, diagnoses root causes, and provides data-driven recommendations to enhance material performance and reliability.
He conducts service life assessments and chemical interaction studies, evaluating how polymers degrade under mechanical, thermal, chemical, and environmental stressors. With expertise in material chemistry and processing techniques, he applies ASTM and ISO standards alongside advanced characterization methods including FTIR, DSC, TGA, and SEM-EDS to analyze polymer composition, degradation behavior, and failure mechanisms.
Mr. Nagalia's forensic expertise serves manufacturers, insurance claims, and litigation matters involving product liability, personal injury, and patent infringement cases. As an active member of ASM International and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), he contributes to ASM Handbooks, presents at technical conferences, serves as a member of the Failure Analysis Society (FAS) programming committee, chairs the polymer session during IMAT technical conference, and serves as a Board Member of the SPE Chicago Section.
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Continuing Legal Education CreditCredit has been approved with the MCLE Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois for 1.0 General CLE credit. SponsorOur sincere thanks to Engineering Systems Inc. for their sponsorship of this webinar.
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