Embalming & Funeral Director Expert Witness

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

I am a Licensed Embalmer and Licensed Funeral Director with a degree in Mortuary Science providing expert witness services in matters involving embalming procedures, funeral home operations, mortuary science standards, and death care industry compliance. My work focuses on evaluating adherence to accepted standards of care in funeral service practice. I have been working in death care for 21 years. For 6 of those years I have owned and operated my own embalming service for multiple mortuaries in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. I have embalmed thousands of decedents, including decomps, bone harvests, oversized cases, homicides, suicides, accident victims, and severely decomposed decedents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I am a restorative artist specialist and embalmed for the University of Southern California in the Anatomical Gift/Willed Body program. I have also taught restorative art through the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. program. I provide expert case review and written opinions in civil litigation involving funeral homes, crematories, and death care providers. My work includes detailed review of funeral home records, medical documentation, chain-of-custody materials, deposition transcripts, and photos/videos to assess whether applicable standards of care were followed. I have rendered formal expert opinions in multiple cases based on comprehensive document review and application of established funeral service and embalming standards. Although every case I've worked on as an embalming expert witness to date has settled prior to trial, I am available and qualified to give deposition and trial testimony when required. In addition to my licensure and funeral service experience, I have professional experience as a legal secretary, transcriptionist, and data entry specialist. This strengthens my ability to accurately analyze complex documentation efficiently, cutting costs while maintaining attention to detail and communicating findings early and clearly in written expert reports. Areas of Expertise Include: Embalming procedures and standard of care Funeral director duties and funeral home operations Mortuary science practices and regulatory compliance Postmortem care and preparation of human remains Restorative art and cosmetic presentation Decomposition assessment and preservation practices Infection control and biohazard handling Chain of custody and decedent handling procedures Cremation and burial preparation protocols Funeral home operational standards and procedures Funeral industry compliance and professional standards Funeral home negligence and deviation from standard of care Litigation Support Experience: I provide expert consulting and case review in civil litigation involving funeral homes, embalming practices, crematories, and death care providers. My services include review of case materials and preparation of written expert opinions regarding adherence to industry standards. I have evaluated matters involving allegations such as improper embalming, failure to follow accepted funeral service procedures, delayed or incomplete preparation of remains, improper storage or handling of human remains, decomposition-related concerns, cosmetic or restorative errors, and funeral home operational deviations from standard practice. I am available for expert case review, written opinions, deposition testimony, and trial testimony. My opinions are grounded in established mortuary science principles, funeral industry standards, and professional practice expectations. I have a solid reputation in the industry and have provided multiple references for your review. I look forward to assisting you.