Embedded Files
Jennifer Ann Wagner, Ph.D.
Founder, Expert Witness, Microbiologist
925-727-2703
An attorney once asked me for a narrative of my work history so she could better understand my qualifications as an expert witness on the topic of microbiology in the built environment as it relates to water intrusion and construction defect.
Work history narrative:
I started working in the field of mold and bacterial evaluations with Block Environmental Services in 2003. Between 2003 and 2011, I conducted approximately 300 residential/commercial/
commercial-residential mold inspections per year, with approximately 70 percent of those in residential, including single family homes, apartment complexes, town homes, and entire communities. A few notable cases include a single family home in Yuba city with multiple mold issues due to construction defect; a multi-million-dollar single family home in San Francisco with whole house mold damage due to a pipe burst, several communities of condos in San Pablo, Sacramento, San Jose, Pleasant Hill, with extensive mold damage due to construction defects; many simpler projects with isolated mold issues due to water leaks, elevated humidity (especially in coastal cities).
In 2011, I opened PrismEHS in order to branch out into critical environments in the hospital, a direction Block Environmental was not interested in pursuing. While cultivating healthcare connections, I continued to work in the mold and microbial field. From 2011 to 2016, I conduced approximately 100 to 150 mold evaluations per year for a select set of clients ranging from property management, home owners' associations, insurance companies, independent adjusters, forensic consultants and attorneys. These inspections included primarily residential and commercial-residential properties.
In 2016, I joined forces with OnSite-LLC, a company already established in the healthcare niche. At this time, Prism retained primarily attorneys and forensic consultants as clients. From 2016 to present, I conduct approximately 4 mold evaluations per month, most of these are large projects that are ongoing for months to years, and half are litigation. A few current examples: a multi-million-dollar residence in Calaveras County, CA with non-disclosure of multiple water intrusion events throughout the residence; a condominium complex in Sacramento with construction defects that led to water intrusion into the exterior siding of the buildings; additional single family homes in Dublin, Pleasanton and Oakland all with either water intrusion and/or construction defects. I have also worked with attorneys on projects involving extensive mold and microbiological contamination in high rises, including casinos and hotels.
Additionally, I also often work with legal counsel to review testing and evaluation conducted by other consultants and opine on the results, laboratory data and recommendations. In 2017, I was retained by legal counsel for 3M to review environmental contamination data and provide written rebuttal with respect to a medical devise. I also work with counsel to review reports submitted to insurance which include mold, mycotoxin, endotoxin, bacterial and dust reports, and ERMI for fraud cases.
I have been deposed 20+ times, attended several mediations and arbitrations, and I have testified in three jury trials (see CV for additional information).
925-727-2703
Curriculum Vitae:
Education:
Ph.D. University of California, Davis: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (2002)
B.S. University of California, Davis: Genetics (1996)
Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of South Carolina: Microbiology/Immunology (2003)
Professional Experience:
Microbiologist:
Founder, Expert Witness - Prism Environmental Health and Safety – June 2011 to Present
Principal Microbiologist and Consultant, Block Environmental Services – October 2003 to June 2018
- Project manager for 2,000+ mold/bacterial related projects from 2003 to present. Residential (single and multi family), commercial, high rises, hotels, casinos, laboratories, and healthcare. Responsible for site inspection, sample collection (surface, air, water), data analysis and interpretation, report preparation, remedial recommendations, clearance testing, site monitoring, ERMI, microvac, mycotoxin.
- Litigation Support, Deposition and Trial Experience, 20+ years. Microbial contamination (mold, bacteria) of materials including but not limited to wood, OSB, drywall, fabrics, and air (indoor air quality).
Recognized expert in three superior courts:
*Sonoma County, Single family home (plaintiff) – Attorney, Scott Williams Esq.
*Sacramento County, West Wind Estates Mobile Homes (defense) – Attorney, James Allen Esq.
*Contra Costa County, Abella Home Owners Association (plaintiff) – Attorney, Scott Williams Esq.
*Retained defense expert for international class action lawsuit involving a medical device manufacturer and microbial contamination of operating room environments – Greenburg Traurig, LLP
Laboratory Director, QA/QC for BES Microbiology Laboratory (BESML) – 2009 to 2018
Established and directed AIHA accredited microbiology laboratory for Block Environmental Services. Developed protocol and procedure for analysis of air and surface samples. Directed and maintained quality control procedures including AIHA round robins, certification exams and audits.
Professional Societies:
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)
International Association for Aerobiology (IAA)
Committees:
Scientific Advisory Board, SLD Technologies, Inc. (2015-present)
Scientific Advisory Board, Aerobiotix, Inc. (2017-present)
President, Designed 4 Zero (D4Z) Collaborative (2019-present)
Secretary, Association for Professionals in Infection Control, N. Cal (APIC) (2006-2008)
Secretary, Northern California Society of Risk Analysis (2005-2006)
Select Teaching/Lecture:
-Berding and Weil Law, Alamo, CA. Title: Mold 101 for Litigation Support.
-Village Investments, San Jose, CA. Title: Everything The Property Manager Needs to Know About Mold, Lead and Asbestos in Occupied Residential Buildings.
-Fairfield Rental Property Association, Fairfield, CA. Title: Mold: What’s the “Big Deal”?
-California State Automobile Association Insurance, Pleasant Hill, CA. Title: Potential Impact of the “Renovation, Repair and Painting” Law on Non-Lead Based Remediation Projects (Including Mold) in Pre-1978 Buildings.
-Central Coast Claims Association, San Jose, CA. Title: Potential Impact of the “Renovation, Repair and Painting” Law on Non-Lead Based Remediation Projects (Including Mold) in Pre-1978 Buildings.
-East Bay Claims Association, Pleasant Hill, CA. Title: Potential Impact of the “Renovation, Repair and Painting” Law on Non-Lead Based Remediation Projects (Including Mold) in Pre-1978 Buildings.
-Four Star Restoration, Fremont, CA. Title: Environmental Monitoring During Remediation; Mold, Bacteria, Asbestos and Lead.
-Restoration Management Company, Martinez, CA. Title: Techniques for Environmental Microbial Monitoring and Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality.
925-727-2703
Follow Prism on Linked In
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse