Flashover Fridays Live Burn at AEI – May 17, 2019

Register here.

Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) are ubiquitous. Nearly every powered product contains Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) populated with electronics. Given the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), the number of products that contain electronics and PCBs will likely grow exponentially. When designed, assembled, and used properly, PCBAs can be used to improve the quality of life for human beings across the globe. However, improper design, assembly, or use of PCBAs in products can lead to product failures, fires, electrocutions and shocks, physical injuries, and death. Even if the product failure does not cause an injury, the loss of revenue due to product downtime or cascading failures can be staggering. This presentation will help to develop a basic understanding of legal case file management for product failures, electronics and PCBs,  and PCBA failure modes. A live demonstration of a PCBA failure and ensuing fire will be presented.

Mr. Raszeja is a Project Engineer with AEI Corporation.  He is a product specialist with experience in reverse engineering, market certifications (UL, CE, etc.), Printed Circuit Board design, electronic design, system-level design, and battery-operated devices.  Mr. Raszeja also analyzes various electrical power equipment and systems including compliance with the National Electrical Code and the National Electrical Safety Code, and conducts site visits and laboratory examinations to determine the root cause of product or electrical system failures.  Mr. Raszeja has designed and installed residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems that comply with the National Electrical Code and has conducted over 400 investigations of product and equipment failures, electrocutions, shocks, and fires. 

 

Angel A. Darmer is a shareholder with  Carr Allison in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office.  Angel’s litigation practice is primarily focused on the defense of local, regional and national manufacturers, distributors, retailers and restaurants in personal injury, premises liability, products liability, transportation and workers’ compensation matters.  She has experience providing insurance coverage opinions and defending uninsured and under-insured motorist carriers. Angel has successfully defended her clients by obtaining summary judgments and pre-trial dismissals, as well as defense verdicts resulting from bench and jury trials.  She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama, as well as the Alabama State Courts.