The S.C. Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (SCIAAI)
proudly announces the
2026 1st Quarter Training Seminar.
Your instructor will be David E. Bridges, Esq., IAAI-CFI®, IAAI-CI®
Meagher + Geer, P.L.L.P.
David E. Bridges is a technically trained attorney in Meagher + Geer, P.L.L.P.’s
Catastrophic Loss Practice Group, operating out of the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas Metroplex.
His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including fires, explosions, structural failures, fire protection system failures, product failures, and other catastrophic losses and construction-related incidents across the United States. His assignments
include forensic investigations of first-property and other catastrophic losses, including fires and explosions involving industrial, commercial, and residential facilities, agricultural and commercial equipment, passenger and commercial motor vehicles, including tractors, trailers, and semi-trucks, motor coaches, and passenger buses, and marine vessels.
David brings science and law together to investigate those incidents and provide
representation from the outset of the incident through trial.
David also represents and consults with private and public-sector fire and explosion origin and cause investigators,
forensic engineers, and other specialists around the country who are faced with Daubert - or Frye-related challenges to their qualifications, methodology, and opinions.
David is an International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator (“IAAI-CFI®”) and Certified Instructor (“IAAI-CI®”).
Before law school, David performed fire and explosion investigations in conjunction with his work as a special agent, certified fire investigator, and accelerant detection K-9 handler with the North Carolina Department of Justice (“NCDOJ”) / State Bureau of Investigation (“NCSBI”).
David served on the IAAI-Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the IAAI’s Training & Education (“T&E”) Committee from 2017 to 2023.
He served as IAAI-Second (2nd) Vice President from 2023 to 2024 and
IAAI-First (1st) Vice President from 2024 to 2025.
David has served as IAAI-T&E Committee Chair since 2023.
In 2025, he was sworn in as the IAAI-President for the 2025-2026 term.
David also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (“ATF”) and the National Fire Academy’s (“NFA”) fire and explosion training programs.
Outside the office, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and daughters, Rowyn and Rylee.
This training is scheduled for a minimum of 8 contact hours.
Furthermore, testing options will be discussed at the training event.
The fee will be $35. to attend the course for members.
A fee of $100. will be for non-members.
The chapter has elected not to utilize cafeteria services at the academy, so 90 minutes will be allotted for lunch on your own.
Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.sciaai.org.
The cut-off date for registration is Monday, February 16, 2026.
Any non-member attendance must be preapproved by the SCIAAI Board. Pending applicants are to pay a "Member fee" to attend.
Those wishing to apply for SCIAAI membership can download an application from the website at www.sciaai.org.
Basic Presentation Outline:
I. Training Objectives
II. Framing the Issues: Public- and Private Sector Expert-Related Challenges
a. Admitted, Limited, and/or Excluded: Why Does it Matter to You?
b. Potentially Diverging Interests: Third-Party Subject Matter Experts & Real
Parties at Interest
c. Participants to the Expert-Challenges
i. The Investigators
1. The Survey to Fire & Explosion Professionals Challenges to
Qualifications
a. Challenges to Methodology
b. Challenges to Opinions
c. Counsel’s Involvement in the Challenge
ii. Counsel
1. Offensive
2. Defensive
3. Prospective
iii. The Courts
III. Court’s Procedures & Analytical Framework for Expert-Related
Challenges
a. Procedural
i. Pre-trial motions in limine
ii. Testimonial hearings
b. Substantive
i. Frye Jurisdictions
ii. Daubert Jurisdictions
IV. Looking to the Courts for Guidance on Expert-Related Challenges
a. Select Case Studies
i. Missing the Mark
b. Select Case Studies
i. Defending Against the Preliminary Analysis
c. Select Case Studies
i. A Refusal to Follow the Appropriate Methodology
ii. The Scientific Method
d. Select Case Studies
i. An Awareness of Guidelines and Standards of Care
e. Select Case Studies
i. Too Early, Too Little Data Known
f. Select Case Studies
i. The Second Look is Always Easier
g. Select Case Studies
i. Asleep at the Wheel
h. Select Case Studies
i. Educating Counsel
i. Select Case Studies
i. A Critique of Conclusions
V. Reinforcement that the Courts Resolve Challenges to an Expert’s
Qualifications, Methodology, and/or Opinions
VI. Review of Training Objectives
VII. Questions from Audience
Presentation Overview: During both criminal and civil litigation, an expert’s
qualifications, methodology, and/or opinions may be challenged. The goal of the
challenge is to exclude the expert and/or their opinions from the trial. These challenges
may occur at a Daubert or Frye hearing or in other motions to exclude the expert or their
opinions/testimony.
The consequences of the exclusion could affect the case and the expert’s future viability.
Not surprisingly, counsel, experts, and Courts throughout the country are making such
expert challenges a hot topic in the industry.
This interactive block of instruction examines the framework for the expert-specific
challenges that arise in both public- and private-sector fire and explosion cases, litigators’
arguments to advance them, the public- and private-sector experts’ involvement in them,
and the Courts’ analytical framework for resolving them. We will address all of the
participants’ knowledge and application of scientific methods. We also address
guidelines and standards of care applicable to public and private sector fire and explosion
origin and cause investigations, including National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”)
1033, Standard for the Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator (2022 Ed.), NFPA
1321, Standard for Fire Investigation Units (2025 Ed.), and NFPA 921, Guide for Fire
and Explosion Investigations (2024 Ed.), and their abilities or inabilities to meet those
guidelines and standards of care. We will also take participants through a whole host of
public- and private-sector case studies to illustrate the Court’s decisions to admit,
exclude, or limit expert testimony following the challenges in fire and explosion matters.
