Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Moose on September 23, 2008 at 10:10am

I was taught that just having your license as a fire/explosion investigator, and a membership in a professional organization like NAFI is good enough to be a expert witness. As long as you hold the credentials and have the experience you are considered an expert witness.

Permalink Reply by Andrew M.D. on September 26, 2008 at 10:23pm

Mr. Jones... not exactly true. When giving courtroom testimony, you will be given a Frye or Daubert test. This test is based upon past cases. During this cases, so called "experts" were called forth. Due to the results of this court cases these tests were developed to test the experience of these "experts." This really isn't a exact, or explained answer to your question/statement. If you would like more information let me know. I have to review a investigation program next week, so I will be dealing with these issues.

Permalink Reply by Moose on September 29, 2008 at 7:55am

Excellent, thank you. I have never been to court and was basing my answer on what my teacher in college told us when I took Fire Investigation for my Fire Protection Technology degree. He was a Chief of a major City Dept in my area. But thanks for the info, and yes, If you could give us more when you can that would be great, thank you.

Permalink Reply by Russ on December 27, 2008 at 1:31am

expeerts are determined in court after and extensive Q&A session...i have never had the pleasure, but have seen it done, once you are declaired an expert, its forever

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Searfoss on March 19, 2009 at 6:34pm

I do not know how many other people have sat through the NFPA 1033. I have taken several PATC classes and I am glad that I did prior to testing 1033. The skill statins were numerous and intense. I took the class two years ago and it was 40 hours. The PATC classes contain much more information that most other classes I have taken in the past. The PATC has a three day class on NFPA 921. All the PATC stuff is good.

Permalink Reply by Carl Freewalt CFEI-CVFI on May 30, 2009 at 8:08pm

CFEI and CVFI from the National Asc. of Fire Invest. is a good start

Permalink Reply by Tom Wheland on November 13, 2009 at 7:05am

Make sure you are familiar with 921 and 1033. You may be asked about these.

Permalink Reply by Jim on November 26, 2009 at 5:37pm

You must qualify and be accepted by the court as an expert witness in each case that goes to deposition or court.
See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993) and Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance vs. Janelle R. Benfield (1993).
In both of these two cases. The investigators were career investigators. Both had testified in numerous cases as expert witnesses. They were each disqualified as expert witnesses because they used flawed methodology in their investigation.
You need to be NFPA 1033 compliant in your training. You must have followed the scientific methodology in your investigation as defined in NFPA 921. You must re-qualify as an expert in each case.

Permalink Reply by Russ on December 4, 2009 at 7:52pm

Certifications equal credibility so i would have to say that earning the CFI from IAAI or CFEI from NAFI are a definate must have. One is not better than the other and both are looked upon as an investigator being trained and worthy of credibility espically by the legal community. Would you want a non board certified lawyer defending you for murder?
FYI...some states who have investigator classess use to put on their certificates the word "certification". In the legal community that supposes that the state has "licensed" an individual as an investigator. In my state (florida) when you finish investgator 1 and take the test and pass, you are issued a "certificate of compleation" not a certification because florida does not certify fire investigators. i was told that some states have gotten into trouble by putting certfied on their papers. i would urge everyone wanting to be considred as a true professional to obtain the training then earn national certification as an investgator