Engineering Expert Witnesses in California
The SEAK Expert Witness Directory contains a comprehensive list of engineering expert witnesses who testify, consult and provide litigation support on engineering and related issues. Engineering expert witnesses and consultants on this page may form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, and provide expert witness testimony at deposition and trial. The issues and subjects these engineering expert witnesses testify regarding may include: Engineering, Failure Analysis, Plumbing, Product Design, Bicycles, Construction Defect, Construction Defects, Construction Engineering, Energy, Faa, Fire Alarm, Fire Sprinkler, Human Factors, Hvac, and Medical Device.
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Richard K. Pumerantz, PhD
Ammo, Firearm, & Shooting Reconstruction Expert
Guns and Ammo Witness Consulting
Lake Arrowhead, California
Firearms & Ballistics, Accident Reconstruction
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firearm, ammunition, ammo, ballistic, gun, cartridge, bullet, projectile, manufacture, load, weapon, antique, reconstruction, training, design, engineering, forensic, shooting, crime, scene
• Court recognized as an expert in Firearms, Ammunition, and Crime/Shooting Scene Reconstruction.
• Licenses: Type 10 FFL (Manufacturer of Destructive Devices), Special Occupations Tax Stamp, and all Dangerous Weapons Permits available from the State of California, DOJ.
• Ongoing resource/consultant to numerous reloading equipment, projectile, and firearm manufacturers, including the areas of safety, training, and design flaws.
• Designed and manufactured firearms and fire control systems.
• Certified and testified in crime scene reconstruction and shooting accidents.
• Recognized in the firearms industry as an expert in antique and replica cartridge development and manufacturing, including the production of proof loads. “Official” ammunition benchmark for half a dozen firearm manufactures.
• Provide educational opportunities on the ammunition manufacturing process and corresponding toolmarks for law enforcement agencies, specifically for their crime lab and firearm unit techn...
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Bonneau Dickson, PE
Consulting Sanitary Engineer
Bonneau Dickson PE
Berkeley, California
Engineering, Environmental
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water treatment, distribution, storage facilities, sewers, wastewater collection, pumping and treatment systems, stormwater and drainage facilities, septic systems, leach fields, sewage spills and overflows into structures, backwater valves, coliform contamination
Bonneau Dickson, P.E. is a sanitary engineer with forty years of experience in all aspects of potable water, wastewater and stormwater design and construction management. He has provided forensic sanitary engineering expertise and served as an expert witness for 25 years. He has been deposed approximately 100 times and has testified in trials, arbitrations or mediations more than a dozen times.
Civil Engineer -- California # 19491
Water Environment Federation
California Water Environment Association
American Water Works Association
WateReuse
National Onsite Wastewater Association
California Onsite Wastewater Association
Pipe Users Group of Northern California (PUG)
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Carl H. Josephson, PE, SE
Structural Engineering Consulting and Evaluation
Josephson-Werdowatz & Associates, Inc.
San Diego, California
Structural Engineering, Engineering
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Wood, Masonry, Steel, Concrete, Insurance claims, Professional liability claims, Code review, Standard of care, Underpinning, Retaining walls, Foundations, Construction defect, Graphics animation, Tie-backs, Seismic & Wind Design
Josephson-Werdowatz & Associates (JWA), founded in 1988 and with licenses in thirty states, has provided structural design and construction defect investigations/evaluations across the United States and abroad. Structural evaluations included wood, masonry, steel, and concrete structures, with particular emphasis on seismic and wind design. JWA has experience working with specialty materials such as acrylic, aluminum, and glass as well. Evaluations also include code review and analysis, and standard of care analysis. JWA has extensive experience with geotechnical structures such as special foundations, underpinning, retaining walls, tie-backs, and soil nails, among others. JWA strives for a reasoned, accurate, and practical solution to structural engineering problems and deficiencies.
Principal Structural Engineers Carl H. Josephson, PE, SE; Dan R. Werdowatz PE, SE; and Stephen P. Kerr, PE, SE have been retained as expert witnesses in over 1,500 cases for plaintiff and defense cli...
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John R Stauder, P.E.
Professional Engineer - Fire Protection Expert
The Fire Consultants, Inc.
Walnut Creek, California
Engineering, Construction Defects
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Fire Protection, Building Codes, Fire Codes, Fire Alarm, Fire Suppression, Fire Sprinkler, Life Safety, Fire Engineering, Smoke Control, Means of Egress
John R. Stauder is a Principal and Senior Consulting Engineer with The Fire Consultants, Inc. and is registered as both mechanical and fire protection engineer in multiple states. John has over 22 years of experience providing fire protection, building code consulting, and fire protection system designs and evaluations.
John has worked with architects, developers, engineers, owners, and authorities having jurisdiction on the application of the model and state codes to design projects including mixed-use high-rise residential and office buildings, retail, low-rise residential podium projects, distilleries, airport terminal buildings, hotels, atria, aircraft hangars, military projects, and various other project types. He is experienced with the design of fire protection systems, including automatic sprinkler and standpipe, fire detection and alarm, fire pumps, special hazard systems and smoke control systems. John has performed code studies and has developed fire protection and ...
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Mohamed A Younis, PE
Expert Subsurface Tunnel Underground Engineer
Subsurface & Tunnel Engineering, LLC
California
Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering
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Geotechnical, Subsurface, Underground, Tunnel, Substructures, Earthwork, Drilling
Provide expert litigation, arbitration, and mediation support, exclusively focusing on geotechnical engineering for complex, high-stakes subsurface, tunnel, and underground design and construction disputes involving complex projects. Recent engagements include but are not limited to:
Providing expert litigation support and testimony on behalf of a county’s $1.6B transportation project in defense of claims brought by the general contractor (2025; ongoing);
Provided expert litigation support to legal team hired by a top-tier design-build team to defend claims associated with a $1.4B transportation project (2022);
Provided testimony on behalf of a contractor’s defense team in conjunction with a $2.4B transportation project (2018)
Publications:
Elisa Comis, Mohamed Younis, and Robert Goodfellow. Concurrent Segment Lining and TBM Design: A Coordinated Approach for Tunneling Success. Proceedings of World Tunnelling Congress (WTC) 2016, April 22-28, 2016, San Francisco, CA
Moussa Wone, M...
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Jose J. Granda, PhD, PE
Cadsim Engineering
Sacramento, California
Accident Reconstruction, Engineering
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Mechanical Engineering, Auto Accidents, Accident Biomechanics, EDR download, analysis, including TESLA, Work Place Accidents, Heavy Vehicles, Motorcycles, Pedestrians, Bicycles, Failure Analysis, Computer Models, Simulations, Finite Element Modeling (FEA), Human Factors, Vehicle Dynamics and Design
QUALIFICATIONS; Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the California State University in Sacramento, CA with 39+ yrs. experience. Professional Registered Mechanical Engineer (PE License, CA). An expert in accident reconstruction using computer simulations of accidents involving vehicles, trucks, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, biomechanics, pedestrians, bicycles, occupational, workplace, failure analysis impact forces, industrial accidents. EDR (Event Data Recorder) analysis including TESLA vehicles, patents.
EXPERT WITNESS EXPERIENCE: Written reports, depositions & trial experience.
SPECIALIZED TRAINING; Vehicle Dynamics and Design, Vehicle Safety & Crash Reconstruction, Accident Biomechanics, Finite Element Modeling in Computer Aided Design, Advanced Mechanical Design and Failure Analysis (CSUS); Motorcycle Accident reconstruction, (Northwestern University); EDR Certification, Tech 1, Tech II, EDR Analysis Certification (Collision Safety Institute); Applying Automotive EDR Da...
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Joseph Quinn, M.S., P.E.
Metal Failure Analysis - Materials Engineering
Materials FACT
Los Angeles, California
Failure Analysis, Metallurgy
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Automobile, Aircraft, Tools, Appliance, Engineering Expert, Construction, Construction Defect, Corrosion, Maritime, Machinery, Materials selection, Glass, Medical Implant, Medical Device, Manufacturing Design, Plumbing Expert, Products Liability, Fire & Explosion, Product Design, Pipe
Joseph Quinn, MS, PE, is a Forensic Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering consultant. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Metallurgical Engineering and is registered in 7 states (CA, PA, UT, NV, AZ, CO, WA) with the Model Law Engineering (MLE) designation. He has provided over 1,000 Failure Analysis investigations on metallic and non-metallic (glass, plastic, rubber, and composite) materials or products.
Mr. Quinn provides metallurgical and materials consultation, expert witness testimony, and forensic failure analysis in civil litigation matters for defendants and plaintiffs. He has received awards in the International Metallographic Contest and has delivered several presentations on metallurgical engineering and failure analysis subjects at universities, ASM meetings, and industry events. He has served as Past President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in California and remains active in industry standards development, technical societies, and pro...
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Jeff Lewandowski, D. Eng., P.E.
Water, Wastewater, Storm Water, Flooding
Advanced Hydro Engineering
Walnut Creek, California
Civil Engineering, Engineering
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Water related system modeling and construction defect analyses, Design and PS&E, Drinking water flow and pressure, Wastewater and sewer backup, Storm water drainage and flooding, Groundwater and seepage, Tidal hydrodynamics, Water pumping and storage, Hydraulic and hydrologic analyses, Irrigation
Dr. Lewandowski is a registered professional engineer in the State of California, and has over 35 years of engineering experience in water related systems analysis, modeling and construction defect review, including:
Drinking Water Systems – Wide range of project size and experience, from analyzing low water pressure conditions in HOA water distribution systems potentially caused by construction defects to City wide water distribution system master planning of piping, pumping and storage facilities to maintain water pressure and quality.
Wastewater Systems – District Engineer services for a Sanitary District, including Master Plan review and development, modeling of peak wet weather flows, and project management of design and construction. Identified causes and resolutions for sewer backup and overflow conditions.
Storm Drain Systems – Master planning and water quality modeling studies for numerous agencies, cities and districts, including a tidal hydrodynamic model of a natural coa...
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James C. Jeffery III, P.E., PTOE
Carmel Valley, California
Traffic Engineering, Engineering
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Transportation, Roadway design, Design immunity, Construction zone collisions, bicycles, traffic control devices and systems
Roadway design defect review of public, private roadway with determination of possible dangerous condition and liability; Design immunity; Compliance with standards of care;
Construction zone collisions; Investigation of collision site – all roadway types, all land use types, all jurisdictions, all types of vehicles - including bicycles - and pedestrians.
Traffic Engineer (CA Reg. #1179), Civil Engineer (CA Lic. #36644), Transportation Engineer, General Engineering Contractor (CA Lic. #391026), Consulting City Traffic Engineer, Regional Traffic Engineer. Plaintiff/ Defense, Public/Private Sector Clients, Superior and Federal Courts across US and in Canada. ITE Life Fellow
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Michael R. Henderson
Legal Eagles Aviation: No Need to Look Further
Legal Eagles Aviation
Danville, California
Aviation & Aerospace, Engineering
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Aircraft Accident, Aircraft Incident, Aircraft Crash, Plane Crash, Aviation Safety, General Aviation, GA, Aviation, Flight, FAA, NTSB, FSDO, AOPA, Pilot Training, Flight School, Aircraft Maintenance, Crash Forensics, Aircraft Safety, Cessna, Cirrus
Legal Eagles Aviation delivers clear, defensible expert witness support for aviation-related litigation. We work directly with attorneys to break down complex technical issues into precise, courtroom-ready insights that stand up under scrutiny.
When aviation accidents occur, the outcome of your case depends on understanding what actually happened—and why. Our expertise spans aircraft systems, pilot decision-making, maintenance practices, and regulatory compliance.
We analyze events methodically, identify causal factors, and communicate findings in a way judges and juries understand.
We don’t speculate—we determine. Every conclusion is grounded in data, experience, and disciplined analysis. The result is clarity where others see confusion.
Hiring the right expert shouldn’t slow your case down. We streamline the process, reduce uncertainty, and give you a reliable technical foundation from day one.
If your case involves aviation, you don’t need multiple consultants—you need the ...
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Rod W Bergen, PE
Rod Bergen and Associates
Malibu, California
Horses, Engineering
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Equine, Solar Energy, Electrical Contracting, Solar Installations, Solar Design, Equestrian Facilities, Police Horses, Horse Rider Instructor Certification, Horse Accident Reconstruction, Solar Incident Reconstruction, Horse Mounted Patrol, Electrical Construction
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David Shreve, PE
Ivey Engineering
San Diego, California
HVAC, Plumbing
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HVAC, plumbing, construction defects, construction engineering, energy, failure analysis, engineering, refrigeration
Ivey Engineering, Inc. (IEI) is an HVAC, plumbing, process piping, fire sprinkler and energy management consulting firm. The firm performs building system design work, forensic analysis, expert witness consulting, product liability consulting, construction cost analysis and construction claims consulting. The staff is comprised of professional engineers and former construction executives. We are licensed engineers and licensed contractors and have performed consulting work in over 30 states. Our clients include contractors, homeowner associations, commercial building owners, tenants, hotels, casinos, design professionals, manufacturers, law firms, insurance companies and individuals. We know what it takes to design, bid and construct projects.
IEI was founded in 1994 in San Diego, California. We have offices in San Diego and Richmond, Virginia, and provide consulting and expert witness services nationwide. Each of our engineers are licensed as professional engineers in multiple stat...
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Jamie Klopp
Transportation Design: Automotive and Aircraft
Klopp US LLC
Encinitas, California
Automotive, Aviation & Aerospace
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Automotive Design, Car Design, Aircraft Design, Product Design, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Styling, Interface, Intellectual Property, Patent, Manufacturing, Engineering, FAA, FMVSS, Interior, Exterior, Seats, Utility Patent, Design Patent, Design Process
Jamie Klopp owns and operates Klopp US LLC, an Automotive, Aircraft, and Product Design Expert Witness service. In addition to expert work, Mr. Klopp is an active design professional working in automotive and aerospace product development. Mr. Klopp holds broad design expertise with specific focus on Passenger Automotive Vehicles and Part 23 Fixed-Wing Aircraft and Part 27 Rotorcraft.
Jamie Klopp provides litigation graphics services that complement his expert witness work in automotive, aircraft, and product design. He creates 3D animations and renderings for intellectual property cases, including technology tutorials and patent disputes, as well as manufacturing processes, industrial systems, and technical subjects. His work includes visualizations of product defects, engineering failures, design processes, and human factors issues. He also produces 2D trial graphics such as diagrams illustrating design elements, patent claims, manufacturing sequences, and engineering specificati...
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Michael C. Monastra, Captain
Offshore Nautical LLC. Seamanship/Maritime Consultation
San Diego , California
Maritime, Maritime
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Seamanship, Sailing Yachts, Motor Yachts, USCG Navigation Rules, Bareboat Charter contracts and disputes, Racing Rules of Sailing, Jones Act, Injuries, Accidents, Dismastings, Sinkings, Collisions, Allisions, Navigation, Engineering, Boatyard and Insurance Company repairs and disputes
Professional Sailor since 1989.
USCG Licensed Captain since 1990.
World Sailing Group 3 (professional) Competitor since 2004. (retired)
US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea certification 2004-Present
ASA certified Advanced Sailing Instructor 1992-Present
ASA certified Coastal Navigation Instructor 1991-Present
ASA certified Bareboat Chartering Instructor 1991-Present
US Powerboating certified Advanced Powerboating Instructor since 2010. (retired)
RBPA certified Twin Inboard Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present
RPBA certified Single Inboard Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present
RPBA certified Directed Thrust Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present
Owner Offshore Nautical LLC. Seamanship/Maritime Consultation. Established 2008
Owner Privateer Maritime Inc, San Diego Sailing Academy and San Diego Powerboating Academy established 1989.
I retired from on the water instruction in December 2021. I am an expert in seamanship, navigation, boathandling, docking, anchoring, mooring, and man overb...
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Eric P. Rose, NPDP, MBA
Product Design & Manufacturing Expert
Pinnacle Product Innovation, Inc.
Los Angeles , California
Products Liability, Engineering
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Product Design, Plastic Product Design, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), N95 Mask, Earplug, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Protection, Medical Device, Dental Device, Toy, Consumer Product, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Furniture, ISO 9000, Product Development, Design For Manufacturing, Product Liability, Product Defects
◼ BACKGROUND:
40+ years' experience including in product design, product development, and manufacturing in consumer, medical, and industrial product markets. Product innovation part-time academic since 2009, public speaker since 1985. Certified New Product Development Professional (NPDP) since 2008 by the Product Development and Management Association. Member of: Society of Plastics Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, American Society for Quality. Expert witness services to Product Liability, Intellectual Property, and Commercial Dispute litigators.
◼ PRODUCT LIABILTY EXPERTISE
Retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel. Specialize in personal injury cases involving product defects, manufacturing defects, product safety, engineering design, mechanical failures, material failures, product quality assurance, and foreseeable misuse.
◼ CASE EXAMPLES
- Retained in cases involving 3M, Honeywell, Clorox, Ace Hardware, and others.
- 3M Combat Arms earplug case, retained by...
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Matthew Fenton, B.Sc., CEng, FIMarEST, MNI, NAMS-CMS, Captain USN (Ret.)
Marine Engineering Expert Witness
Nicomar LLC
Vallejo, California
Maritime, Engineering
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Marine Engineering Casualties, Personal Injury, Shipbuilding & Repair, Hull & Machinery Damage, Cargo Damage, Protection & Indemnity Surveying, Hull & Machinery Surveying, Marine Warranty Surveying, Offshore Oil & Gas, Marine Salvage, Diesel Engines, Steam & Gas Turbines, Boilers, Marine Insurance & Claims, Dock Damage
Matthew Fenton held an unlimited U.S. Coast Guard Chief Engineer's License from 1990 until 2025 as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering Technology from the California Maritime Academy. He worked in the Far East for twenty-four years before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area in August 2021, where he founded Nicomar LLC and provides expert witness, consultancy and survey services globally.
During his 43-year career in the marine and offshore industries, Matthew has served as a senior officer and Chief Engineer on chemical tankers and roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessels and as a junior officer served aboard bulk carriers, survey vessels, and passenger/cargo ships before coming ashore as a Superintendent Engineer, then moving into marine consultancy in 2000.
Clients have employed him as an expert witness in a range of cases, including stern tube bearing failures, vessel performance and fuel consumption issues in newbuildings, charter redelivery, and floating ...
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Kevin Hastings, P.E., C.F.P.S
Ivey Engineering, Inc.
San Diego, California
Plumbing, HVAC
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HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinkler, construction defects, construction engineering, energy, failure analysis, engineering, refrigeration
Ivey Engineering, Inc. (IEI) is an HVAC, plumbing, process piping, fire sprinkler and energy management consulting firm. The firm performs building system design work, forensic analysis, expert witness consulting, product liability consulting, construction cost analysis and construction claims consulting. The staff is comprised of professional engineers and former construction executives. We are licensed engineers and licensed contractors and have performed consulting work in over 30 states. Our clients include contractors, homeowner associations, commercial building owners, tenants, hotels, casinos, design professionals, manufacturers, law firms, insurance companies and individuals. We know what it takes to design, bid and construct projects.
IEI was founded in 1994 in San Diego, California. We have offices in San Diego and Richmond, Virginia and provide consulting and expert witness services nationwide. Each of our engineers are licensed as professional engineers in multiple stat...
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Daniel . Gottuk, PhD
Gottuk Engineering
California
Fire, Engineering
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Fire Protection Engineering, Arson, Smoke Detection, Fire Alarm, Fire detection, Smoke and CO alarms, Forensic engineering, Fire spread analysis, Fire recreation, Origin and cause investigation, Consumer products, Failure Analysis, Modeling
Dr. Dan Gottuk is the President of Gottuk Engineering after a 30 year career with Jensen Hughes, with which he still maintains a relationship with a team of over 100 experts providing expert witness and failure analysis services for a range of specialties associated with fires and explosions, mechanical, electrical, construction, codes and standards, materials, chemical, metallurgical, process safety and concrete. Other specific service areas include: Arson Investigation, Origin & Cause Investigations; Fire Spread Analysis; Fire Modeling; Fire Testing; Sprinkler Systems; Inadvertent Discharge; Corrosion; Fire Alarm Systems; Smoke Alarms; Carbon Monoxide; Kitchen Hood Suppression; Battery Fires (including Lithium and Lithium Ion); Building Insulation Fires; Spray-Applied Fire-Resistive Materials (SFRM); Structural Fire Protection; Combustible Dust Hazards; Dust Explosions; Laboratory & Evidence Examination.
Dr. Gottuk is a recognized expert in fire detection, fire dynamics and fo...
You can also find Engineering Expert Witnesses in:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington
