richardnelson

Personal Injury
Product Liability
Sports Injury
Industrial Accidents
Slip and Fall
Sports Equipment
Automobile Accidents
Football Helmets
Softball Bases
Trainmen Associates
Diving Accidents
Boxing Headgear
Ladder Falls
Tractor Rollovers
Motorcycle & Bicycles
Sledding Accidents

A variety of biomechanics consultation services have been provided to educational, sport and private organizations. These included the U.S. Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, Ministry of Education of Taiwan, Redlake Company, Acushnet Company, National Olympic Committee of Uruguay, All-China Sports Federation - Beijing, China, Owens Illinois Company, National Hockey League and the New York and Buffalo City Fire Departments. These activities have included professional advice, planning research activities and programs, construction of performance testing and training devices and conducting directed research.

Biomechanics has become increasingly more important in the settlement of product and personal injury liability cases. Since 1980 I have provided expert witness consultation and testimony in over 600 cases in 16 states and the District of Columbia. These cases have involved a variety of accidents in which persons have been injured or allegedly injured. Included have been accidents involving swimming, diving, softball, sno-tube sledding, slips and falls, industrial movements, boxing headgear, forklifts, bulldozers and farm tractors, step and extension ladders, coal mining, bikes and motorcycles and automobiles. In the latter category, the mechanics of the vehicular impacts and the location and severity of the injuries to the occupants are combined to produce a biomechanical reconstruction of the accident. In eleven cases the question of who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident has been successfully answered using this technique. I have participated in over 50 depositions and testified in court on more than 30 occasions. Of all the cases to date, 30% have been on the side of the plaintiff and 70% on that of the defense.

Professor Emeritus of Biomechanics
Founding Director, Biomechanics Laboratory
Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802

	Murray v. Dimich, Deposition / Trial Testimony, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1996.
	Marcon v. K Mart et al., District Court Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, Minnesota, June 28 - July 1, 1996.
	Citino v. Toyota Motor Sales, Inc., Deposition, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, July 3, 1996.
	Potochnick v. Perry, Court of Common Please, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, October 4-7, 1996.
	Sample, et al., v. J.C. Penny et al. Western Pennsylvania District Court, Johnston, PA, November 20, 1996.
	Garcia v. Rogers Sports Corporation, Telephone Deposition, State College, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1997.
	Danner v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., Deposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1997.
	Ruff v. Honda, Deposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1997.
	Carter v. Intex, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, New Haven, Connecticut, April 9, 1997.
	Cuccurullo v. Benedicks, Middlesex District Court, New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 29, 1997.
	Cobbs v. Inzelbuch, Deposition, Freehold, N.J., August 13, 1997.
	Boone v. Devcon, Deposition, State College, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1997.
	Garcia v. Rogers Sports Corporation, Superior Court of the State of Arizona, County of Pima, Tucson, Arizona, October 30, 1997.
	Jovanov v. Darrough, Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1997
	Citino v. Toyota Motors, Superior Court of New Jersey, Burlington County, Mt. Holly, New Jersey, January 13, 1998.
	Sackman v. Horvath, Middlesex District Court, New Brunswick, New Jersey, January 21, 1998.
	Stutts v. Fluor Daniel, Deposition, Columbia, South Carolina, January 26, 1998.
	Picklesmier v. General Motors, Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 26-27, 1998.
	Kowalski v. Condona, Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, Morristown, New Jersey, March 5, 1998.
	Irvin v. Amtrak, Superior Court of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, April 23, 1998.
	Schwartz v. Door to Door Fitness, et al., Essex County Court, Morristown, New Jersey, May 7, 1998.
	Cresseman v. Bensalem High School, Bucks County Court, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1998.
	Hickman v. McCulloch Corporation, Court of Common Pleas, Chester County, West Chester County, West Chester, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1998.
	Brownlee v. SEPTA, Trial / Deposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1998.
	Lopez v. Geek, Deposition, Asbury Park, New Jersey, August 3, 1998.
	Nagle v. Gongloff, Court of Common Pleas of Blair County, Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1998.
	Falls v. King Limousine Service, Inc., Alternate Dispute Resolution / Binding Arbitration, Media, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1998.
	Haines v. Hildick, Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1998.
	Todd v. Manella, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1999.
	Struble v. Ward, Union County Superior Court, Elizabeth, New Jersey, January 19, 1999.
	Henry v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1999.
	Cataldo v. Lutz, Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County, New Brunswick, New Jersey, January 29, 1999.
	Rios v. Town of Colonie, District Court, Albany, New York, March 4, 1999.
	Defelice v. Van Pool, Inc. Deposition, Kearny, New Jersey, March 22, 1999.
	Brazeale v. Bentz, Deposition, State College, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1999.
	Guiles v. Friendly's Restaurant, Court of Common Pleas, Lehigh County, Allentown, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1999.
	Rosenthal v. Jack LaLance, Chester County Court of Common Pleas, West Chester Pennsylvania, April 8, 1999.
	Vitaioli v. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., Court of Common Pleas, Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1999.
	Myers v. Allstate Insurance, Anne Arundel Ciruit Court, Annapolis, Maryland, September 10, 1999.

Regular Appointments
1995 - Present	Emeritus Professor of Biomechanics, Penn State University
1990-1992	Head of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science
1970-1994	Professor of Biomechanics, Penn State University
1964-1970	Associate Professor, Penn State University
1961-1964	Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
1960-1961	Instructor, Michigan State University,
1957-1964	Navigator, U.S. Air Force Reserve
1957-1960	Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University
1954-1957	First Lt. U.S. Air Force, Navigator, Ellington A.F. Base, Texas
Visiting Professorships
1981	Visiting Scholar, Workshop on Biomechanics, Hangchou, Peoples Republic of China
1978	Guest Professor and Consultant, Ministry of Education, Taipei, Taiwan
1978	Visiting Scholar, University of Tsukuba, Japan
1977-1978	Visiting Scientist, University of Nagoya, Japan, sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1973	Guest Professor, University of Glessen, Germany
1971	Visiting Professor, Federal Technical University of Switzerland, Zurich

	Named Distinguished Alumnus, St. Olaf College, 1979.
	Awarded the Philip Noel Baker Research Prize of 1977 by the Research Committee of the International Council of Sport Science, UNESCO.
	Selected as Alliance Scholar for 1982-83 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance.
	Appointed Honorary Member, International Society of Biomechanics, 1983.
	Appointed, Member of the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee, 1985.
	Presented the Citation Award by the American College of Sports Medicine, 1989.
	Named Distinguished Alumnus, College of Education, Michigan State University, 1999

Over 100 papers have been published in scientific and professional journals and congress proceedings. In addition, over 35 project reports have been completed and submitted to granting agencies. Included among the various journals are the Journal of Biomechanics, International Journal of Sports Biomechanics, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, Military Medicine, Swimming Medicine IV and Archives of Physical Medicine. A full list of publications will be made available upon request.

Over 195 papers have been presented at professional and scientific meetings since 1960. Included are annual national meetings of the American Society of Biomechanics, American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, American College of Sports Medicine and conferences and meetings on specialized topics. Invited and regular papers have been presented at numerous international seminars and congresses. Among them are biennial Biomechanics Congresses sponsored by the International Society of Biomechanics, Olympic Scientific Congresses held in Quebec City, 1976, Tbsili, USSR, 1980, Eugene, Oregon, 1984, Dan Kook University, South Korea, 1986, Colorado Springs, 1989, Barcelona, Spain, 1991 and Atlanta, 1995.

Since 1960, over 120 presentations have been made in the U.S. and in 42 foreign countries. A number of these occurred during sabbatical leaves in Switzerland in 1971 and Japan in 1978. In most instances the visits to foreign countries were by invitation of the host organizations. These have included ministries of sport and education, National Olympic Committees, universities, sport science institutes, National Sports Medicine Societies, National Sport Committees, Academies of Science and private corporations. These presentations focused on the emerging science of biomechanics and its role in improving human performance and reducing injuries. Included were seminars, lectures, workshops, in-service training sessions and informal discussions with scientists and administrative leaders. Many of these visits were completed while I was serving as the President of the International Society of Biomechanics and served to enhance international communication among biomechanists.

Since 1966, over $2,000,000 in outside funding has been generated to support research and graduate students in the Biomechanics Laboratory. Included among the sources are: U.S. Office of Education, National Science Foundation, Schutt Manufacturing, Washington Redskin Football Team, U.S. Olympic Committee, Dallas Cowboy Football Club, Eastman Kodak Company, U.S. Army, N.I.H. Biomedical Sciences Program, International Olympic Committee, Protective Sports, Inc., Easton Aluminum Corporation and others. This work has included testing and evaluation of military and sports equipment, studying elite performers in competition including the Olympic Games, impact tests of baseball, football and hockey helmets, developing performance tests for the National Hockey League, development of speed tests for football and soccer players and testing of protective netting for ice hockey arena applications.

Since 1961 the following university courses have been taught at least once and some as many as forty times. Kinesiology, Research Techniques, Statistics, Tests and Measurements, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Sport Biomechanics, Advanced Sport Biomechanics, Forensic Exercise Science and Forensic Biomechanics. Over 3,000 students have received instruction in these courses and seminars. A total of 65 Master of Science students have completed their degrees under my advisement, ten of whom went on to complete the Ph.D. degree. Of major importance has been my advising of 33 Ph.D. students who completed their degrees since 1969. This is the largest number of Ph.D. students in Biomechanics produced by a faculty member anywhere in the world outside of the former Soviet Union. The impact of these graduates on the young field of Biomechanics in academia as well as the government and private sectors had been of major significance. Those working in universities have produced over 400 M.S. and 50 Ph.D. first generation graduates, while many of these have advised additional graduate students, thereby continuing the multiplicative effect. Those who have entered the private sector have established Biomechanics as an integral component in the research and development of new products such as sport shoes, bicycles, ski poles, ski boots, tennis rackets and many others. Some graduates have been successful in applying their science in rehabilitative medicine in a variety of orthopedic and sports medicine clinics.

Research and professional activities with the IOC Medical Commission began in 1984 during the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. I served as a member of the biomechanics research team that conducted scientific studies of performers in gymnastics, weight lifting and track and field. This work led to my appointment in 1985 to the Sub-Commission for Biomechanics of the IOC Medical Commission. The L.A. Games project established the importance of biomechanics in improving performance and reducing injuries in sports. Since that time biomechanical studies have been carried out in every Winter and Summer Games. I have participated in each of these Olympic Games conducting research in gymnastics, cross country skiing and swimming. The results of these projects have been published in the scientific and professional literature in countries throughout the world. An Olympic Biomechanics Archives has been established by the IOC which will serve to preserve the films and video tapes obtained in these studies for future study and analysis. In addition to the Olympic projects the Sub-Commission has been instrumental in the development of the Olympic Congress on Sports Sciences, the first meeting having been held in Colorado Springs in 1989. Subsequently, Congresses were held in Barcelona in 1991, Atlanta in 1995 and Sydney in 1999.