2024 SAFE International conference

The 2024 SAFE international conference is almost here. The conference starts at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time. Here is a preliminary speaker list for September 20.

Date: Time
20-September-2024 9:00 PDT
20-September-2024 12:00 EDT
20-September-2024 17:00 (5:00 pm) BST
20-September-2024 18:00 (6:00 PM) SAST
21-September-2024 00:00 HKT
21-September-2024 4:00 NZST

Non-member registration link. After registering, make payment.

Speakers

9:00 – 10:00 PDT

George Reis – An Overview of Image Analysis – Image Authentication and Clarification Tools and Methods

Abstract

This overview will cover two primary topics.

First is an exploration of the methods and tools for clarifying images, such as photographs of documents. This will include deblurring, sharpening, tonal adjustments, color contrast adjustments, and distortion correction.

Second is an overview of the tools and methods for authenticating images, such as photographs of documents and other subjects. This will include tools available for analyzing AI generated and AI altered images.

Bio

George Reis is the owner of Imaging Forensics, providing training and expert witness consulting in the fields of photographic and video analysis. He has testified over 90 times in depositions and in state courts, federal courts, and in military court. He has provided training throughout the US and internationally. Reis is certified in Forensic Photography and Imaging by the International Association for Identification and in Forensic Video Analysis by the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association. He is a member of OSACs VITAL subcommittee, and on the editorial board of the Journal of Forensic Identification.

10:10 – 11:10 PDT

Speaker – James Bi – The Convergence of AI and Forensic Document Examination Revolutionizing Check Fraud Detection

Abstract

Topics:

  • Overview of Check Fraud in the USA
  • Understanding the types of Check Fraud
  • How Check Fraud is Perpetrated
  • What Forensic Document Examiner Should Look For
  • Image Forensic AI – How the Principles of Forensic Document Examination Shaped the Technology

Bio

James is a seasoned Marketing and Sales professional with more than 15 years of experience in the financial services and healthcare industries. James joined OrboGraph in February of 2015, and currently serves as their Marketing Manager and Fraud Detection Specialist — contributing to the strategic planning and execution of marketing, lead generation, and product development for the organization. James played a pivotal role in the development and execution of the go-to-market strategy for OrboGraph’s OrboAnywhere suite of check automation and fraud detection solutions and its underlying OrbNet AI and OrbNet Forensic AI technologies.

James holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication – Advertising Concentration, from the University of Hartford, and a Master’s of Business Administration — Marketing concentration, from Bentley University.

11:20 – 12:20 PDT

Marie McDonnell – Industry-Wide Mortgage Fraud: A Well-Hidden Secret

Abstract

Is it possible that the mortgage servicing industry has been using the foreclosure process to defraud both consumers and investors in ways that are virtually undetectable?

In this presentation, you will learn how a Forensic Document Examiner and a Mortgage Fraud and Forensic Analyst teamed up to examine their clients’ Mortgage Note

  1. Physically,
  2. Financially, and
  3. Legally.

This collaboration has provided their clients’ attorneys with the tools, technologies, and evidence needed to prevail in court.

Bio

Marie McDonnell is a Mortgage Fraud and Forensic Analyst, a Certified Fraud Examiner®, and a Master Analyst in Financial Forensics®, with over thirty-six (36) years of experience in transactional analysis, mortgage auditing, and mortgage fraud investigation. She is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of McDonnell Property Analytics a litigation support and research firm headquartered in Brewster, Massachusetts.

Over the past three-and-a-half decades, Marie has developed, extensively tested, and reliably employed a proprietary set of mortgage auditing tools and protocols that enable her to track with precision a lender’s loan servicing system and determine with particularity whether a problem is the result of borrower failure, lender malfeasance, or whether it is technology and policy related.

Marie provides expert witness and litigation support services to consumers and attorneys nationwide. She also advises and performs services for county registers of deeds, attorneys general, courts, and other governmental agencies.

1:00 – 2:00 PDT

Zachary Kelley – Detecting real time deep fakes

Abstract

“The use of real-time deep fakes, where fraudsters use video or audio generated with artificial intelligence to replicate someone’s voice, image and movements as the scheme is happening, is the latest way that fraudsters are perpetrating a host of frauds.” Fraud Magazine, Vol 39:4.

Bio

Zachary Kelly is a lecturer in the Department of Information Systems and Analytics at Texas State University in San Marcos. He is a 20+ year executive with a background in Information Technology and its application within the business environment. His career spans transportation and logistics (domestic and international), manufacturing, and education. During that time he oversaw IT departments for four organizations, and was a senior executive (up to, and including President) at three more, with revenues ranging from 5 million to 700 million annually. He was also heavily involved in the deployment, maintenance and modification of ERP systems built for industry-specific applications (SAP, Innovative IES, Infor XA (Mapics), and one in-house logistics system).

Faculty Profiles (txst.edu)

2:10 – 3:10

To be confirmed

SAFE Conference Day 2

Date: Time
25-October-2024 9:00 PST
25-October-2024 12:00 EST
25-October-2024 17:00 (5:00 pm) BST
25-October-2024 18:00 (6:00 PM) SAST
26-October-2024 00:00 HKT
26-October-2024 4:00 NZST

Speakers

9:00 – 10:00 PST

Quentin Brogdon, Esq. – Beating the Expert

Abstract

The cross-examination of an adverse expert witness should not be an intimidating experience for either the cross-examining lawyer or the expert.  Understanding some fundamental truisms can help mitigate unforced errors during the cross-examination.

Bio

Quentin Brogdon is a partner with Crain Brogdon, LLP in Dallas. He is a Fellow of the invitation-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the invitation-only American College of Trial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the invitation-only International Society of Barristers.

Quentin is board certified in personal injury trial law and in civil trial advocacy.
He served as President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Dallas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.

He is listed in the publication, The Best Lawyers in America, and Best Lawyers chose him as a “Lawyer of the Year in Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation” for Dallas and Fort Worth in 2023.
Texas Monthly selected him as a Super Lawyer every year since the inception of the list in 2003, and it has selected him as one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Texas more than once, including in 2024, when Texas Monthly selected him as the number 3 Super Lawyer in the State of Texas.

10:10 – 11:10 PST

Jim Robinson – Expert Witnesses and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Expert witnesses are used in virtually every litigation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way that law is practiced, including the use of expert witnesses. Through this webinar, you will discover how attorneys use AI to research experts, prepare for their depositions, and evaluate their credibility. You will also learn the role that expert witnesses will play in an emerging AI legal environment.

Agenda:

  • Introduction
    • The role of expert witnesses in litigation
    • What is artificial intelligence?
  • How AI Is Changing the Practice of Law
    • The advantages of AI
    • Challenges of AI
  • How To Use AI To Research Experts
    • Traditional ways to research experts
    • GPT to research experts
    • The limits of using AI to research experts
    • Paid AI tools to research experts
  • How to blend traditional research with AI
    The Future of AI and Expert Witnesses

    • The use of AI by judges
    • Could AI replace expert witnesses?

Bio

Jim Robinson is an attorney, and past education chair for the California State Bar, Law Practice Management and Technology section. He wrote the first chapter of the California Expert Witness Guide, and was a contributing writer to the American Bar Association’s book “Litigators on Experts.”

He was the co-author of the Expert Witness White Paper “Finding and Researching Experts and their Testimony,” and a contributing author to “The Expert Witness Marketing Book.”

He co-founded Expert Witness Profiler, which prepared background reports on experts, and is the President of the JurisPro Expert Witness Directory, the #1 website on Google for “Document and Handwriting Expert Witnesses.”   JurisPro is offering a $50 discount to those who have not yet listed with JurisPro, by going to JurisPro.com/SAFE.

Nick Rishwain – Artificial Intelligence for Expert Witnesses

Abstract

  • Report Writing (First Drafts)
  • Deposition Questions (Direct and Cross Trial Preparation)
  • Discovery Assistance

Bio

Nick Rishwain is the Vice President of Client Relations & Development for Experts.com, and primary author of the company blog. Formerly a local government employee, Nick was frustrated with the inefficiency that plagues bureaucracies and decided to venture into the private sector. With a passion for law and technology he took a position with a legaltech company, Experts.com, where he has been able to apply his passions to make litigation more efficient and cost effective. Having been in the legaltech field for nearly 15 years, Nick has a deep desire to and lower the cost of legal services through the use of technology. Nick is fully immersed in legal technology professionally and personally. He is an Executive Committee member of the California Lawyers Association, Law Practice Management & Technology section.