Transportation Safety
Transportation Safety Expert James Lewis has been an expert witness in the trucking & transportation industry for over two decades. He specializes in FMCSA and DOT compliance and training, towing and recovery operations and policies, general transportation operations, and safety policies and procedures.
James obtained his Class A commercial driver’s license in 1987 and boasts more than two million no-fault accident-free miles for his efforts. He has served as a transportation terminal manager, safety director, truck driver trainer, and owner/operator and founded his own full-service freight brokerage.
James’ expertise extends to the automotive industry, where he has consulted on cases involving lemon law, vehicle financing and leasing, dealership fraud, breach of warranty, diminution in vehicle value, automotive repair and maintenance, dealership service and sales policy, and the appraisal of automobiles, recreational vehicles, medium and heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and watercraft.
James’ extensive industry experience has seen him qualified as an expert witness in both federal and state courts. He has produced hundreds of written reports and has given expert testimony over 200 times.
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Expertise
- Towing and Recovery operations and policies
- DOT/FMCSA-governed trucking/transportation
- General transportation operations and safety policies and procedures
- Vehicle financing and leasing
- Dealership fraud
- Lemon law
- Breach of warranty
- Diminution in vehicle value
- Automotive repair and maintenance
- Dealership service and sales policy and the appraisal of automobiles, recreational vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, electric, compressed natural gas (CNG)), motorcycles, and watercraft
Testifying Experience
Qualified to testify in the United States Southern District (Federal) Court of Florida, United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Federal), United States District Court (Federal) for the Northern District of Illinois, United States Southern District (Federal) Court of Indiana, United States Southern District (Federal) Court of Iowa, United States Eastern District (Federal) Court of Pennsylvania, United States Eastern District (Federal) Court of Tennessee at Knoxville, United States District (Federal) Court, Northern District of Texas, State Court of Arizona, Superior Court of the State of California, State Court of Colorado, State Court of Connecticut, State Court of Georgia, State Court of Illinois, Maryland Circuit Courts, State of Michigan Third Judicial District, State Court of Mississippi, State Court of Missouri, District Court of Nevada, State Court of New Mexico, Superior Court of New Jersey, New York State Unified Court System, District Court of Oklahoma, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, State Court of Utah, and the State Court of Texas as an Expert Witness in the fields of DOT/FMCSA-governed trucking/transportation, freight brokerage operations, policies, and procedures, towing and recovery operations and policies, general transportation operations and safety policies and procedures.
In that process:
- Over 12,000 written opinions; more than 800 appearances in trials, arbitrations, and mediations; 803 depositions
- National-level cases for Evidence Solutions, Inc. Expert Witness Consortium
- National-level cases for the Round Table Group (formerly Thomson Reuters Expert Witness Services, formerly Westlaw Round Table Group Expert Witness Consortium)
- National-level cases for the Premier Medical Experts (PME) Expert Witness Consortium
- Primary expert witness in certified class action lawsuit, Brian and Veronica D’Angelo v Rosado Auto Group, Eastern District (Federal) Court, 2003 (142 plaintiffs)
- Primary expert witness in certified class action lawsuit, Haddadin vs Mitsubishi, Eastern District (Federal) Court, 2002 (490 plaintiffs)
- Primary expert witness in certified class action lawsuit, Samuel-Bassett vs Kia Motors of America, Eastern District (Federal) Court, 2001 (366 plaintiffs)
Certifications
- FMCSA Subject Matter Expert (SME)
- FMCSA Subject Matter Expert (SME)
- Certified Director of Safety
- OSHA General Industry Safety Certification
- Certified Instructor, Smith System Safe Driving Program
- Certified Instructor, FMCSA/DOT Hours of Service
- Certified Instructor, FMCSA/DOT Hazardous Materials
- Certified Instructor, “QUICK CLEARANCE”
- Certified Drug and Alcohol Testing Technician
- Certified Drug and Alcohol Reasonable Suspicion Testing Supervisor
- US Army Criminal Investigation Command Trained Hostage Negotiator
- Department of Defense Joint Police Group Accident Investigator/Incident Reconstructor Certification
- (DC) Wreckmaster One Week Light/Medium/Heavy Recovery Course, Dallas, TX September 1989
- Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) Level 3 Certification
- Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) Incident Management Licensee (2010)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR) Vehicle Storage Facility Licensee
- San Antonio Police Department City Towing Badge Licensee
- National Automotive Technicians Education Foundations (NATEF) Certified Instructor
- ASE-Certified Automotive Technician, also certified as a Service Consultant/Manager (C-1)
- Southwest Towing Operators Certified Tow Driver
Education
- Masters of Education (M.Ed.) with Specialty in Curriculum Development 1994
- Masters of Education (M.Ed.) with Specialty in Curriculum Development 1994 University of Maryland
- Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS), Criminal Justice1991 University of Maryland
- Bachelors of Applied Medical Science (BAMS), Psychology/Sociology 1990 University of Maryland
Speaking, Teaching & CLE
- Certified Instructor, Smith System Safe Driving Program
- Certified Instructor, Smith System Safe Driving Program
- Certified Instructor, FMCSA/DOT Hours of Service
- Certified Instructor, FMCSA/DOT Hazardous Materials
- Certified Instructor, “QUICK CLEARANCE”
