Expert Toxicologist: Toxicology Consultants and Assessment Specialists

Dr. William R. Sawyer, Expert Toxicologist — Dr. William R. Sawyer is an expert forensic toxicologist

For more than 34 years expert toxicologist Dr. William R. Sawyer has been providing forensic toxicology consulting services and expert testimony. Dr. Sawyer has extensive experience in public health and forensic toxicology, specializing in causation analyses (plaintiff and defendant, criminal prosecution and defense), exposures and risk assessments involving dioxins, solvents, heavy metals, crude oil, alcohol, drugs-of-abuse, pharmaceuticals, herbal products, radionuclides/NORM and many other substances. Clients range from individuals to multi-national Fortune 500 companies with a historical ratio of approximately 45% to 55% defendants and plaintiffs respectively.

Toxicology Background

Dr. Sawyer routinely provides impartial toxicological evaluations involving chemical exposures, alcohol ingestion, intentional poisonings in homicides, carcinogens, pharmaceuticals, pyrolysis products, heavy metals, organic chemicals and drugs of abuse in civil and criminal litigation. With more than 23 years of laboratory experience and 14 years of experience as a licensed environmental and clinical laboratory director in New York State, Dr. Sawyer has directed forensic laboratory analyses, sampling protocols and chain-of-custody documentation in numerous criminal and civil investigations. He is also a recognized specialist in forensic petroleum analyses (including LNAPL) as well as environmental and clinical analyses involving crude oil and petroleum-related exposures.

Mass Toxic Torts

As a scientist and public communicator in the area of toxic torts, Dr. Sawyer provides services to select plaintiffs and defendants, corporations, local law enforcement and governmental agencies. He has testified in trial or deposition in 34 states (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI and WV) as well as in foreign countries as far away as Hong Kong. He has been frequently interviewed by news media and has broad experience in matters involving public scrutiny. A recent case study illustrates how the causative methods applied by the lead toxicologist in a well-publicized mass toxic tort matter can have a pivotal impact on the case outcome.

What is a Forensic Toxicologist?

Toxicologists study the effects of exposure to harmful chemicals and substances. The application of scientific knowledge and medical principles to solve legal problems is carried out by the forensic toxicologist. The Latin root word for forensic is forensis meaning forum or public debate. Historically, the term was used in ancient Rome with respect to business, governmental debates and actions by courts of law.

Today, the expert toxicologist is responsible for determining what adverse effects and at what dosage a given substance has on humans, animals, biological systems and/or the environment. An expert toxicologist must have extensive knowledge and experience in biology, chemistry and the medical sciences with specialized training in toxicology, generally through a medical school. The expert toxicologist is able to apply these disciplines effectively to a broad spectrum of forensic matters.

Toxicology Consultants & Assessment Specialists

For more than 34 years, Toxicology Consultants and Assessment Specialists, LLC, (TCAS) has been providing professional toxicological consulting and expert opinions to legal firms, corporations and governmental agencies. TCAS offers a full range of expert toxicological evaluation specialties with final reports or affidavits as requested. We routinely work throughout the United States and Canada including the Virgin Islands, Bahamas and Hong Kong with offices in Florida and New York.

TCAS provides comprehensive forensic and environmental exposure analyses, risk assessments and causation determinations. Dr. Sawyer performs the initial research, testing and exposure and dose calculations necessary to assess potential or alleged toxic exposures in criminal homicide matters, accidental poisonings, alleged alcohol intoxication matters, medical malpractice involving pharmaceuticals and chemical exposure causation determinations.

Toxicological Expertise and Specializations

Causation analyses and written reports based upon scientific, peer-reviewed methodologies
Expert toxicology reports, affidavits of merit (including forensic toxicological assessment and toxicological cause of death or disease)
Community health risk assessment preparation and mass toxic tort evaluations
Environmental exposure evaluation, testing and assessment reports
Chemical exposure and morbidity/mortality causation assessments
Industrial health safety and material safety data sheet (MSDS) assessments
Occupational exposures
Analytical forensic and environmental laboratory expertise (licensed director for 14 years)
Crude oil toxicology and petroleum product toxicity
Alcohol toxicology, dram shop litigation, drugs-of-abuse
Pharmaceutical medical malpractice
Carbon monoxide exposure and toxicity evaluations
Petroleum spill analyses (source, age, analytical I.D., etc.)
Herbal products
Carcinogens, birth defects, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, dermatological and renal toxicity
Dioxin toxicology
Adverse health effects from mold and fungi
Asbestos toxicology
Extensive experience with janitorial product chemical safety
Toxicology of drugs-of-abuse including marijuana/cannabis/THC, heroin, morphine, methadone, all opioids, cocaine, etc.
Expertise with heavy metals, dioxins, volatile and semivolatile organic chemicals
Cosmetic, hair and beauty products safety
Emergency telephone consultation with an expert toxicologist with respect to chemical spills or public health emergencies
Medical marijuana fuungicide/product safety

References

Routine clients include defendants and plaintiffs in both public and private matters, nationally-recognized plaintiff and defense law firms involved in criminal and civil litigation, several state attorney general offices and the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Dept. of Justice). Other toxicological clients include municipalities, district attorney criminal prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys as well as private industry clients engaged in health and safety assessments. Referrals from past clients are available upon request.

A Message from Dr. Sawyer

Dr. William R. Sawyer, Expert Toxicologist, during an on-site investigation — Dr. Sawyer during an on-site investigation

"Some professionals in my field routinely delegate tasks to others. I prefer to be directly at the center of the information gathering, exposure and causation assessment process. In some cases, this information may be only partially available or even missing entirely. In such cases I take proactive investigative steps to gather evidence and develop data as part of an exposure reconstruction, particularly if a case involves demonstrating or refuting causation."

"Toxic exposure investigations include analytical protocols, referral of autopsy material for analysis, environmental and occupational health risk assessments, site assessment and causation determination. With deposition and/or trial expertise in more than 30 states, I am mindful of the need for the judge and jury to understand scientific concepts. Final work products include comprehensive demonstratives, citation and validation of scientific methods, forensic documentation and written reports used in both forensic and routine (non-judicial) assessments for multiple nationwide clients."

"Through education, training and hands-on experience, I have gained extensive expertise in forensic toxicology (such as petroleum analyses involving LNAPL) as well as environmental and clinical forensic analyses. With more than 23 years of laboratory experience and more than 14 years as an environmental and clinical laboratory director in multiple states, I have directed a wide range of forensic laboratory analyses, sampling protocols and critical studies in criminal and civil matters. I have also provided petroleum spill assessments to multiple clients including governmental environmental agencies (such as NYSDEC), departments of justice, various state attorney general offices, defense and plaintiff law firms and industry including major oil companies and refineries. Rest assured your case will reside in the hands of an expert who insists on thorough and accurate results."

Areas of Expertise	Click on any area to view additional information
Forensic Toxicology Environmental Testing Toxic Exposures Risk Assessment Causation Evaluation
Hazardous Substances Heavy Metals Alcohol Toxicology Drugs of Abuse Pharmaceutical Toxicology Consumer Products