This case involves a man that was crushed by a live oak tree branch in South Carolina. The man was walking through a field at a large university-owned arboretum. According to the university, the trees in this area of the campus had been checked within the past 3 months. As the man was standing underneath the live oak tree in question, a large branch broke off and pinned him to the ground. The man suffered massive internal bleeding from the impact. It was alleged that the tree had been rotting for a long time and was not being properly maintained. An expert in forestry was sought to opine on the condition of the tree and proper industry maintenance practices.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please describe your experience in tree maintenance and urban forestry.
Expert Witness Response E-061657
I am capable of discussing the issues and rendering an opinion related to the subject tree. My firm has assessed and inventoried 1.5 million+ trees and I have evaluated hundreds of species of trees specifically for risk. I have seen a case involving a large branch that fell on a subcontractor working on a residential home construction site.
Expert Bio:
This expert has been an urban forestry consultant and arborist for 30+ years. He received his bachelor's in forest resources and his master's in urban forestry. He is an internationally board-certified master arborist and instructor for tree risk assessment qualification. He has overseen projects across North America, South America, and Europe and presents internationally on topics of tree risk and urban forestry policy development. This expert has served as a regional urban forester for a state department of conservation, a superintendent of parks, and currently serves as president and owner of an urban forestry consultancy.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
