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EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS TO HANDWRITING EXPERT ANDREA McNICHOL
“Andrea, you can add another
win to your resume and another notch on your belt. We won our case. The jury thought your testimony was
very important and persuasive and did not believe the other expert at
all. Congratulations and thank
you so much!” (Expert testimony
February 27, 2008, Rofeh v. Soumekh,
Case No. BC 354765, Judge Jane Johnson, Los Angeles Superior Court, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, California,
Department 56).
--Robert W. Woods
ISAACMAN, KAUFMAN & PAINTER,
P.C.
“Ms. McNichol,
we just received the ruling from the Court on our case (E&N Financial
Services v. Anderson, LASC Case No. LC 074590, Expert testimony 4/20/07,
Judge Stanley Weisberg) and the Court awarded our client, E&N
Financial a judgment against Mark Anderson in the amount of $953,125.00,
the entire amount we sought. Your
expert testimony was very helpful in our case and I believe was an
important factor in our obtaining the favorable judgment. (In the written decision, Judge
Weisberg stated that after going over the two experts’ testimony he found
yours more credible and accepts it.) We were very impressed with the way
you handled yourself on the witness stand and the way you deflected the
cross-examination. Many thanks
again for your contribution.
Should I need an expert in the future, you can be assured that you
will hear from me.”
--William F. Raff, Esq.
Calabasas, California
“Andrea, we just got the decision—we won
on the slander of title cause of action and they have to pay our
attorney’s fees plus the diminution of value to the condo! Thank you again for your good work in
this case!” (Hrieche vs. Miller and Holzer, LASC Case No. BC 334 751, expert testimony
before Judge Victor Chavez, October 31, 2007, Los Angeles Superior Court,
111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, California, Department 96, 5th
Floor, Room 531)
--Helen Wong, Martin Simone Esqs.
SIMONE & ROOSE, Los Angeles, California
December 11, 2007. “Andrea, I
want to inform you that we just received a favorable opinion from the
Immigration Review Judge in the Marquez matter that you worked on for us.
(Executive Office for Immigration Review, 606 South Olive Street, 15th
Floor, Los Angeles, California 90014) Our Motion to reopen on Mr. Marquez’s
behalf was granted to a large extent thanks to you and the two very
persuasive reports you wrote.
Thanks so very much for your work on this case.”
--Larry Katcher, Law Clerk
LAW OFFICES OF STEVEN R.
ESPINOZA, Whittier, California
November
28, 2007. “Andrea, just a quick
note to tell you that my client and I thought you were great!! Your testimony was quick and to the
point. I feel pretty confident
we’ll prevail….” December 13,
2007, “Good News! We won the
case! I have another one for you
as soon as you return from your trip.
Thanks again for everything!”
(Thee Aguila, Inc. & Thee Aquila, LLC v Stavros Tscheridis, November 26, 2007, Orange Superior Court,
700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, Department C31, Judge Frederick
C. Horn)
--Cynthia Puertas,
Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF CYNTHIA PUERTAS, Arcadia, California
January 6, 2008, “Try Andrea McNichol at Graphology Consultants
International. I have used her on
a rush basis, and although she was very busy, she made herself available
and provided excellent results.
She has extensive experience working with law enforcement.” (email letter in response to an
attorney request for a respected document examiner). January 11, 2008, “Happy New Year
Andrea! You did such a great job
for me. I would recommend you to
anyone. I hope we can work
together again soon.”
--Christopher R. Doyle
DOYLEMILLER LLP, Beverly Hills, California
September 17, 2007 “Andrea,
many thanks for your prompt response to our request for your assistance
in this very important matter.
Your report looks great and we are most grateful.”
--John Nyhan,
Esq.
FREDERICKS PEEBLES & MORGAN
LLP, Sacramento, California
“Andrea, thanks again for
traveling to UCSD
Medical Center
to testify in our medical malpractice case. (UCSD Thornton Hospital, La
Jolla, California before Judge Cary Miller & Medical Panel,
4/30/07.) After 14 grueling
evenings of medical testimony, the members of the Judicial Review Committee
found your testimony both interesting and enlightening.” “Andrea, we won our case! The Committee found the defendant was
not being truthful and with your testimony concluded that the doctor
amended his records after the fact.
Thank you!”
--J. Robert Liset,
Esq.
MUSICK, PEELER & GARRETT LLP,
Los Angeles, California
July 12, 2007, “Andrea, I am
delighted to advise you that the parties in the above-entitled matter (
LASC Case No. BD 426818) have reached a global settlement of their cases
(i.e. the one in the family law court and the one in federal court). On behalf of my client, I want to thank
you for your invaluable assistance and professionalism during the time we
worked together.”
--Berna Lynn
Warner, Esq.
Beverly
Hills, California
“Ms. McNichol: We
were victorious in the arbitration (9/18/06) in large part thanks to
you. The Arbitrator agreed that
the policy was properly rescinded because the signature of the insured
was proved to be a forgery. It
goes without saying that your testimony on the subject was critical to
that finding. I want to thank you
for reviewing our handwriting samples on such short notice and being so
quick to provide us with your opinions.
Your testimony at arbitration was a pleasure, as your background
experience came across very impressive (which it obviously is). It was clear that you were more than
qualified to render the opinions that you did and that no one was going
to be able to poke any holes in that.
Also, your degree of certainty was way beyond what I expected
possible and you were very strong (yet balanced) in testifying about
that. I wanted to share with you
my appreciation and let you know that it will be a pleasure to work with
you again in the future.”
--James P. Lemieux
Esq.
DEMLER, ARMSTRONG, ROWLAND, LLP,
Long Beach, California
“Andrea, Commissioner Slawson found your
testimony to be wholly convincing and ruled the disputed contract to be
without credibility. His ruling
was completely in our favor and we want to express our gratitude and
thanks for all your help.” (Le v.
Le, YD 046 380, April 21, 25 and May 3, 2006 Los Angeles Superior Court
SW Division at Torrance Superior Court 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA
90503, Department H, Commissioner John A. Slawson)
--Bill Kiefer, Esq.
Riverside,
California
October 4, 2007. “Andrea, I
have reviewed your Declaration and it looks great. Thanks again for making time on such
short notice to complete this work for us. We are very pleased.”
--Karen L. Rogan, Esq.
BOOTH, MITCHEL & STRANGE
LLP, San Diego, California
Ms. McNichol: The trial scheduled for September 13,
2006 in the above-referenced matter has been vacated. Ms. Hamann
agreed to our terms for settlement.
We believe that it was your report that resulted in Ms. Hamann agreeing to our terms. I will also leave you a voicemail
message to this effect so you may clear your calendar for September 13th
for another matter. Thank you for
your professionalism & assistance in this matter.”
--Becky Rasmason,
Esq.
Windsor, California
“Andrea, the jury came back
with a verdict of $244,027 in our client’s favor. Thanks for all your help.”
(Watson v. Moore, February 27, 2006, Los Angeles
Superior
Court 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, California, Department 20, 3rd
Floor, Room 310, Judge Haley J. Fromholz)
--Joseph L. Golden, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
“Andrea, the Judge ruled entirely in our favor on all counts. He singled out your testimony as being
terrific and completely persuasive.
He was really impressed with you.
My client and I want to thank you so much for all your help.” (Kaly Investments, Inc., v. Rafie
Fattal et al.
Los Angeles
Superior Court, NW District Case No. LC071283, December 13, 2005, before
Judge Richard George Kolostian, Jr., Department
H, 3rd Floor, Van Nuys Superior Court located at 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91410)
--Bruce Kokozian,
Esq.
KOKOZIAN & NOURMAND, LLP, Los Angeles, California
“Andrea - -Attached please
find the Trials Digest report for the Lewis v. Appling Case. Please note the entry under Comments
regarding the Court’s statement about you. I can’t thank you enough for your
help.”
May 30, 2005 from Trials
Digest: Los
Angeles Superior Court Bench
Trial No. BC297415, Joseph R. Kalin,
Verdict/judgment: 2/25/2005
$227,000 for Plaintiff. The court
stated: “Plaintiff called Andrea McNichol, a questioned documents examiner with
lengthy and excellent credentials.
She testified that the signatures on the letter dated January 29,
2002 and the stock certificates were forged. She believed the signatures were a
result of a cut and paste procedure.
She was positive these signatures were forged and her reasons were
logical and not impeached by the defendant. She said all of the signatures were
identical which was critical in that two signatures by the same person
are never identical.”
--
Joel J. Loquvam, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
“Andrea-I just wanted
to thank you for all your help with this case. You were wonderful today (July 8, 2005,
Los Angeles Superior Court, Department 54, Judge Ernest M. Hiroshige, Allred v. Chuang). I
hope to have the pleasure of working with you again. Take care.”
--Nazy Danesh, Esq.
AUGUSTINI & WHEELER, Los Angeles, California
“Again, my heartfelt thanks for
your supreme dedication, and interest.
You were by reason of your consummate professionalism, charm,
intelligence, and more, the perfect expert in this case that we won so
resoundingly. (Michael A. Quero vs. Rosalinda
Lopez Quero, et. al., case no 1158934, related
to Estate of Angel G. Quero, case no. 1157391 Santa Barbara
Superior Court 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa
Barbara, California 93101, before Judge James W. Brown, Department 4, October 11,
2005).”
--A. GEORGE GLASCO, Esq.
Pasadena, California; London, England;
Paris, France
“We are writing to thank you for your incredibly prompt assistance and
testimony that was instrumental in the Judgment in favor of our client.
As you will recall, our client was sued by an attorney based on various
breach of contract theories as a purported guarantor of an
"Employment Agreement" for services related to the practice of
law.
"With little more that forty-eight (48) hours notice before trial
we noticed an issue raising a question whether signatures had been forged
on the contract. We were lucky enough to contact you since on receipt of
the contract at issue you pointed out additional issues not considered.
Since ours was a trial de novo, discovery was virtually
non-existent such that the purported original contract was not available.
Nevertheless, you agreed to act as our expert remaining flexible in the
event an original contract was introduced by the attorney Appellant.
"As it turned out, the original trial date was continued for
approximately thirty (30) days. On the first day of trial before the Los
Angeles Superior Court Judge, the Appellant introduced what was supposed
to be the original contract. Our request that your testimony be taken out
of order was granted and with only a ten (10) minute break for you to
review the "original" contract. Your superior skill and
knowledge allowed you to testify not only about the inconsistencies
between the photocopied contract and what was newly introduced as the
"original" how the "original" had been signed and
dated by the same person and how all of that was entirely inconsistent
with the testimony of the attorney Appellant. Your testimony was devesting as reflected not only in the faces of our
opponent and his counsel, but also during the cross-examination, which
you handled as a seasoned professional.
"Your fee was very reasonable and the adjustment made for our
client's benefit both generous and appreciated. We certainly feel
fortunate to have contacted you. Little did we know in our initial call
that we had reached the finest profession who is plainly at the top in
her area of practice.
"We look forward to working with you again and will recommend you
to others with confidence. Thank you again for helping us achieve a
judgment in favor of our client."
--
J. Bruce Robertson, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
"This is to advise you that the jury in the above matter returned
a unanimous verdict in our favor in under 40 minutes! The jury was
fascinated by your testimony concerning the plaintiff's signature on the
Informed Consent documents as well as the other documents bearing the
plaintiff's signature in the doctor's chart. They concluded very quickly
that she was being less than honest in her stance that she did not sign
one of the Informed Consent documents."
--
David J. Weiss, Esq.
Santa Monica, California
"The court found that there was a 'battle of the experts' and
that 'after reviewing the testimony, the reports, and the exemplars
produced' that the signature was that of the decedent. In short, the
court found in our favor. Again, I wish to thank you for your assistance
and professionalism on such short notice. I will call on you again should
I need an expert in the field of questioned documents or handwriting
analysis."
-- Steven A. Simons, Esq.
Granada Hills, California
"Your designation as a Diplomate, is
limited to a select group of professionals who, by virtue of their
extensive training and expertise, have demonstrated their outstanding
abilities in regard to their forensic specialty. The rigid requirements
for recognition attest to your personal integrity and professional
accomplishments."
-- Dr. Robert L. O'Block
Executive
Director and Life Fellow
The
American College of Forensic Examiners
"My clients and I have truly enjoyed working with you and believe
that you were the key to developing our case and settling this matter in
such a favorable fashion."
-- Kirt J. Hopson, Esq.
Downey, California
"Once again, I wish to thank you for your assistance and help
throughout this trial. Your guidance and insight while we were preparing
for trial helped me understand the nature of what you do so that I could
effectively cross-examine the adversary's expert. Observing how well
prepared you were at trial, leaving no room for much cross-examination,
made it only easier to find the best places to attack our adversary's
expert. I look forward to working with you again."
-- Angela D. Robledo, Esq.
Beverly Hills, California
"Your services were absolutely invaluable in my having won this
very difficult dental malpractice case. If there ever was a doubt about the
doctor and his staff's credibility, it was clearly resolved by your
outstanding and very thoughtful analysis and testimony in court. Without
too much hesitation, I can honestly state that you were one of the best
witnesses I have ever called to testify during my 18 years as a trial
lawyer."
-- Joseph L. Shalant, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
"Your professionalism, preparedness and extensive knowledge and
understanding of the subject matter, as reflected by your testimony, make
you an outstanding expert witness. I feel that your testimony proved to
be the key factor to our successfully defending this matter."
-- Wendy L. Slavkin, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
"On behalf of Mr. Brent Lesjak and
myself I extend to you my sincerest thanks for your professional
expertise given in the above referenced matter. The report of your
findings and conclusions served as the most significant factor in
obtaining the dismissal of the case against Mr. Lesjak."
-- Michael C. Carney, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
"I'm speaking for all of us at TIME when I say that we
appreciated your joining us last Wednesday evening in Hartford to meet with some of our
customers and their wives. I was particularly interested in your
observation that your TIME articles in our Behavior Section tended to
build your "credibility." This kind of reaction has broad
implications for our many advertisers. Thanks again for making last
Wednesday a memorable evening for our friends in Hartford."
-- John M. Keefe
TIME
INC. NEW YORK, NY
"Your presentation to the International Association of Law
Enforcement Intelligence Analysts was informative, entertaining, and
thought-provoking. The feedback we received from all our participants was
so positive, they only wished you had had an eight-hour time slot. We
truly appreciate your time and expertise in helping make our meeting such
a marked success."
-- Thomas A. Barrett
Special
Agent, FBI
Sacramento, California
"We wish to thank you for the excellent work you have done for us
in the authentication of the signatures in Republic Bank vs. Simpson et
al. Your report to us was professionally done and presents the facts in
the case in a very clear manner."
-- George B. Warsaw
Vice
President, CONSOLIDATED GENERAL CORP.
Los Angeles, California
"Thank you very much for your expert services in this litigation
and I will keep you in mind in the future. Place me on your list of
satisfied attorneys."
-- Lawrence R. LaPorte, Esq.
LYON
& LYON, Los Angeles,
California
"We are extremely grateful for your assistance with the case.
Your assistance is the determining factor in this case."
-- Thordie Ashley
NAACP,
Emeryville, California
"The educational program at our conference in Hawaii last month was a whopping
success as evidenced by the evaluation sheets and hearing discussions by
attendees. Thank you for participating and making it one of the best
attended programs ever."
-- Beverly Halpern
Executive
Administrator
AMERICAN
BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES
"On behalf of the American Society for Industrial Security, I
would like to extend our deepest appreciation for your support and
contributions at the ASIS 32nd Annual Seminar and Exhibits. Thank you for
your efforts in helping make this our most successful Seminar to date. I
look forward to working with you again on future educational
endeavors."
-- Lewis C. Schneider
CAE,
Director Education & Seminar Programs
Arlington, Virginia
"Your presentation at Law Guild of Beverly Hills' Membership
Luncheon this afternoon at Mountain Gate was exciting, dynamic and
educational! We have had many speakers, but never one that was so
organized and entertaining."
-- Natalie H. Aran
President,
LAW GUILD OF BEVERLY HILLS
"It was with much enthusiasm that I first heard someone describe
your speaking abilities -- energetic, interesting, informative, and
stimulating. And you certainly lived up to that description!
-- Cheryl Lantz
State
Representative
CALIFORNIA LAW
AUXILIARY
"We would like to thank you for your analysis of the handwriting
samples of Mary and Ann Previtera. Your
findings brought important information to our attention of which we were
previously unaware. We are quite fascinated by the detail which only the
expert eye can see."
-- Sidney Starkman, M.D.
Prof.
of Medicine/Emergency
Medicine,
Neurology
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (UCLA)
"Wanted to say how much we appreciate your help with the recent
thefts at our dealership. The guilty person has been dismissed, and we
feel our organization will be much stronger thanks in large part to your
efforts. Your quick attention to our problem is most appreciated as we
were able to put a fast end to the speculation and rumors."
-- Victoria Gunning
Manassas
Dodge/Daihatsu.
Manassas, Virginia
"I'm very grateful for your help...but under no circumstances are
you even allowed to peek at my signature! God knows what it says!"
-- Jim Hayes
FORTUNE
MAGAZINE
"In a confused sea of accusations, denials, conter-charges
and stalemates, your statements brought insight and clarity to the
current circumstances and focused a number of vague impressions and
unconscious hints into coherent comprehension. Thank you so much."
-- Beth Mackenzie
Producer,
KNBC-TV
"Thank you once again for the immediate attention you paid to
this most crucial matter. Should I, or anyone else, ever need the services
of a questioned document examiner you can be assured that your name will
be at the top of my list."
-- Scott J. Corwin, Esq.
Los Angeles, California
"Our firm would like to thank you again for your expert testimony
and assistance in the above-entitled case. In discussing the case with
the jurors, it was clear that your testimony was very persuasive in
determining the invalidity of the financial documents resulting in the
substantial verdict for my clients."
-- Marc Smith, Esq.
Encino, California
"I wanted to report back to you on the above noted matter in
which you served so ably as my client's expert witness. Judge Gafkowski
reached his decision on August 19th, 2004. At that time, Judge Gafkowski
noted that there was a natural affection between the decedent and
respondent and that the descendent had on a number of occasions indicated
her desire to pass her property to respondent upon her death. However, based almost entirely upon
your expert testimony, the court concluded that on the date she executed
the deeds, the descendent did not have adequate mental capacity to
lawfully perform that act. As a
result, he ordered the property transferred into the estate, where it
will be passed through in testate succession.
During his decision, Judge Gafkowski, though
he only had your transcript to work with, repeatedly praised your
education, background and experience in dealing with questioned
documents. Without your
significant expertise, I strongly suspect that he would have ruled
against us.
Needless to say, I am extremely pleased with your work and
professionalism. If I may be of
any future assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me."
-- Thomas M. Davis, Esq.
WILSON, BORROR, DUNN & DAVIS
San Bernardino, California
My Client brought an action against another party for forging a deed
We selected our own expert, who agreed the signature on the document was
a forgery. Opposing counsel
selected you to examine the document and our expert forwarded the
documents to you. I researched
your office and your curriculum vitae.
I had read the testimonial section of your website and was
preparing for the usual "battle of the experts". About a week before trial, opposing
counsel called me to concede the document was
"non-authentic". This
statement came about three years after the document was "found"
and after the start of the trial.
I write this letter because I have an extremely strong suspicion that
you gave an evaluation that the document was fictitious to opposing
counsel. At the very least, you
did not make an evaluation that favored the opposing party, which is
evidenced by the fact that the opposing attorney stipulated that the
document was "non-authentic" shortly after you received the
document.
As an attorney you have to face the reality experts will have opposing
views on the same issue. There is a
perception that some experts can be purchased (or rented) for the right
price to say that which will aid in the client's case. It is a credit to your integrity that a
party may (desperately) want you to make an evaluation in their favor,
but you give them the truth.
There is no doubt that the case would have continued longer than
necessary and made the decision of the court uncertain had you given the
opposing counsel even the slightest hint that you could have testified to
the document being authentic or inconclusive. As a legal provisional I appreciate
your integrity and honesty. It's a
credit to you and the professionalism of your field."
-- James T. Raetz, Esq.
COULTER, VERNOFF & PEARSON
Pasadena, California
"I am pleased to inform you that today, the Honorable Emilie H. Elias granted defendants Avaya Inc, and Larry Holt's motion for summary
judgment and dismissed the above-referenced action in its entirety. Thank you so very much for your
assistance at the deposition. We
will maintain your information in our expert files in case we require
your services in the future."
-- Sara N. Trivedi, Esq.
WOLDT
& ASSOCIATES APLC
Torrance, California
"Thank you for your assistance in this matter. We kept NatureWell
in a tough game long enough to accomplish the objective. The case settled today."
-- Benjamin Pavone, Esq.
LAW
OFFICES OF BENJAMIN PAVONE
San Diego, California
"Andrea, you did an AMAZING job on our case! Just wanted to say a huge thanks to
you."
-- Judy Orbach
MARATHON ENTERTAINMENT
Los Angeles, California
"Andrea, just wanted to let you know that as a result of your
analysis, we took another look at (name omitted here). Last night we set up a sting to see if
she would steal money that was "found" and turned in to her by
a customer (actually our agent) in the store. We caught her leaving the store with
the money at the end of her shift and she admitted that she stole it and
was going to use it to pay bills.
She was arrested last night.
Thanks again for your excellent work!"
-- Moe McKnight
Chief Security Officer
LOWES FOODS
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
"Andrea, guess what? I am
the Chairman (again) for what is now called the American Society for
Industrial Security's Retail Security Council...I still recall, with
pleasure, how you wowed them (especially all those CIA, NSA and FBI guys
and gals) with your presentation."
-- Michael S. Magill, CFE, CPP
MAGILL & ASSOCIATES
Colorado, Springs, Colorado
Copyright 2008 Andrea McNichol
-Forensic Handwriting Expert, Examiner of
Questioned Documents
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