Michael S. Morse,
Ph.D.
(619) 847-3336 Office
(619) 374-1947 Fax
(Updated:
May 2019)
EXPERTISE
•
Electrical injury
•
Electrical safety
•
Effects of electricity on the human
body
•
Electrical accident reconstruction based on burn pattern
•
Human factors as associated with human interaction with electrical systems
•
Failure at the human/machine interface
•
Design of Electrical Systems
•
Designing for Electrical Safety (Design Triad)
•
Biomedical device failure
(electro-mechanical)
•
Symptomatology of Disproportionate and Remote Response
to Electric Shock (Diffuse
Electrical Injury)
EXPERIENCE
•
Consultation in over 400
electrical contact/injury, electric
shock, electrocution, and electrical
safety cases.
•
Consultation regarding design and manufacturing defects of electrical products.
COURTROOM TESTIMONY
• U.S. District
Court (Mobile, AL): Qualified as both a Biomedical and Electrical Engineering Expert. Permitted to testify
as to the effects (physiology and pain) of electricity on the human body. (D)
• U.S. District
Court (Orlando, FL): Qualified as a Biomedical Engineer and as an expert
in "Electrical Technology." Permitted
to testify to the effects of electricity on the human body. (D)
• U.S. District
Court (New Orleans,
LA): Qualified and permitted to testify to the effects
of electricity on the human body. (D)
• U.S. District
Court (Portland, OR): Testified
regarding electrical
product failure and
resultant injury from an electrical
connector. (P)
• California Superior
Court: Testified
regarding electrical
injury incurred while installing traffic lights. (P)
•
U.S. District Court - (Los Angeles, CA): Testified regarding injury from an electric arc.
(D)
• Florida State Court - (Jacksonville, Florida):
Testified to the effects of electricity on the human body
with particular emphasis
on pain and suffering. (4/97 and 7/97) (D)
• California Superior
Court - (Riverside CA) Testified regarding failure
of a "man-lift" with emphasis on design, human factors, and electrical circuitry. (6/97) (P)
• California Superior
Court (Alhambra, CA) Testified
regarding contact with a high voltage power line. (8/97) (P)
• New Jersey
State Court (New Brunswick, NJ): Testified
regarding diffuse injury distal
to presumed current
pathway resulting from a 110/220v contact.
(7/99) (P)
• California Superior Court (Stockton, CA):
Testified regarding an alleged electrical injury at a wall switch controlling a compressor in a dentist’s office (12/99)
(D)
• California Superior Court (San Diego, CA): Testified
regarding design and accuracy of Red Light Camera System.
Qualified as an expert in Electrical Engineering and computer design.
(8/2000) (D)
• Georgia State Court (Forsyth, GA): Testified
regarding effects
of electricity on the human
body with emphasis on pain and suffering. (3/01) D
• Georgia State Court (Elbert,
GA): Testified
regarding effects of electricity on the human
body with emphasis on pain and suffering. (4/01) D
• U.S. District Court – (Chicago, IL): Testified regarding fibrillation death
in swimming pool from electrical
accident involving submersible sump pump. (1/02)
P
• Canadian Court, British Columbia: Testified
regarding 7200V power
line contact during
line clearing. (2/02) P.
• California Superior Court (Los Angeles): Reconstruction of high voltage
power line contact
by child climbing a tree based on burn pattern analysis.
(4/02) P
• California Superior Court (Santa
Ana): Diffuse injury from high voltage
contact between jack hammer and submerged
power line. (7/02)
P
• California Superior Court(Santa Ana): Electrical Injury in bathroom
following water leakage
– Low voltage Diffuse Electrical Injury (10/03) P
• Illinois State Court: Death from contact between
ladder and power
line while preparing a building to be painted – Pain/suffering and human factors
(01/04) P
• California Superior Court (Vista): Electrical Injury
from contact with mis-wired electrical pedestal. (8/05) P
• U.S.
District Court (Los Angeles): Testified regarding
electrical effects and current distribution during E.C.T. (10/05)
P
•
U.S. District
Court (Los Angeles):
Stun Gun Case (11/2006)
(p)
•
Florida State Court (Daytona): Electric shock contact with power line via tree 11/2007 (p)
•
New York State Court (Brooklyn): Power line contact
in train substation 12/2007 (p)
• California Superior Court (Vista): Contact with Power Line while installing greenhouse roof (p) 03/2008
•
New York State Court (Brooklyn):
Power line contact in train substation 11/2008 (p)
•
Missouri State Court: (Independence): Power line contact with roof of house 6/2010
(p)
•
California Superior
Court (Lancaster): Injury
from novelty shock pen 10/2010(p)
•
New York State Court (Buffalo): Injury from stray current 4/2012 (p)
•
California Superior
Court (San Diego):
Window Washer contact
with power line 05/2012(p)
•
New York State Court (Brooklyn): Contact
with 24 volt door circuit
(05/2013) (d)
• Maryland State Court (Baltimore): Crane Power Line Contact
pain and suffering and accident reconstruction (07/2013) (p)
•
California Superior
Court (San Bernardino) 74 volt DC contact
in a locomotive (07/2014) (p)
•
U.S. District
Court (Seattle): Electric
shock on a freighter (12/2014) (p)
•
California Superior
Court (San Bernardino): 74 volt DC contact
in a locomotive (07/2014) (p)
•
US District
Court – (Seattle) Injury from miswired light on a vessel (12/2014)
(p)
• California Superior Court (San Bernardino) Retrial in 74 volt DC contact
in a locomotive (03/2015)
(p)
•
Ohio Court – Meigs County Death from power line contact while installing gutters
(08/2015) (p)
•
NY Supreme
Court – Manhattan Shock claimed from standing on an
extension cord (10/2017) (d)
DEPOSITIONS
Medical Device
Failure (electropapillotome) (p)
Electric Shock
Injury from an improperly wired
vacuum pump (p)
Accuracy of an IVAC infusion
pump (p)
Operation and design of infant apnea
monitors (p)
Failure of a Cincinatti Sub-Zero
heating/cooling blanket. (p)
Failure of membrane switches
on a Hill Rom hospital
bed. (p)
Failure of an alarm on a respirator (d)
Electrocution on a scissor
lift. (p)
Electric shock
injury while using
a household pump (p)
Electric shock injury in an industrial environment
Electric shock injury from an outlet
near a swimming pool (p)
Electric shock injury -- mis-wired 220v outlet (p)
Electric shock injury -- industrial (construction site)
Electric shock injury -- static discharge from treadmill (p). (1996)
Electric shock injury -- contact with overhead power line (p) (1996 and 1997)
Failure of a man-lift
hoist for the handicapped. (p) (1997)
Electric shock injury -- child contact
with a transformer (p) (12/97)
Electric shock
injury -- contact
between a loader
and a submerged power
line (p) (7/98)
Electric shock
injury -- sump pump (p) (6/99)
Electric shock
injury -- carousel
ride (p) (6/99)
Electric shock injury -- feed to a buffet table(d)
(9/99)
Electric shock injury -- dental office compressor switch(d) (10/99)
Electric shock
injury -- contact
with downed power
line (2/2000)
Electric shock injury -- 110V contact
with frayed power cord in hotel (p) (3/2000)
Electric shock
injury -- injury at power supply
pedestal at a mobile home (p) (1/2001)
Electric shock
injury -- 110V contact
with frayed cord. For adm. Miss. Court (p)
(10/2001)
Electric shock
injury -- power line contact
by child in tree(p) (1/2002)
Electric shock
injury -- burn and compressive wave injury from arc (p) (3/2002)
Electric shock
injury -- Diffuse injury
following jack hammer
- power line contact (p) (6/02).
Electric shock injury -- Pain and suffering
following v-fib after power line fell on a combine.
(p) (8/02)
Electric shock injury -- Symtomatology following 110 volt electrical injury in a bathroom. (p) (2/03)
Electric shock injury -- Symptomatology following
electrical injury caused
by gas cooktop (p). (2/03) Electric shock injury – Electrical injury in mobile
home park from underground wiring (p) (4/03)
Electric shock
injury -- Pain and suffering: v-fib from induced
current in a 345KV
transmission line (p)(8/03)
Electric shock injury -- Contact with power line while picking
avocados using an aluminum pole (p)
(12/03)
Electric shock
injury -- Pain and suffering associated with induced current in a transmission line (p) (03/04)
Electric shock injury -- Reconstruction of electrical accident
involving lighting system/power line contact. (d) (4/04)
Physiological effects
of electricity on the human
body (d) (4/04)
Electric shock
injury -- Power
line/ladder contact – Pain, suffering and human factors
(p) (7/04)
Electric shock injury -- Power cord short to metal door (d) (9/04)
Electric shock injury -- Electrical contact
(worker’s comp)
(3/05)
Electric shock
injury -- Contact
with mis-wired electrical pedestal (p) (4/05) Physiological Effects of electric current and current pathway during
E.C.T. (p) (8/05)
Electric shock injury -- Defective trouble/drop light (p) (1/06)
Stun Gun Case -- (p) (3/06)
Electric shock
injury -- Power line contact
by a cement pump (p) (3/06)
Electric shock injury -- Oven (p) (4/06)
Electric Shock Injury -- V-Fib 120 volts (p) (5/06)
Electric Shock Injury -- Roofer contact with overhead power line (p) (6/06)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Power
line contact while
moving a building
(p) (11/06) Electric Shock
Injury -- Power line contact
with trailer (p) (11/06)
Electric Shock
Injury -- 480 volt contact
(p) (2/07)
Electric Shock Injury -- Fatal contact
with temporary power delivery system
(p) (4/07)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Contact
with downed power line (p) (7/07)
Electric Shock Injury -- Injuries secondary
to contact with fence energized by downed power
line (p) (10/07)
Electric Shock Injury -- Fatality following
power line contact
with truck on farm (p) (11/07)
Electric Shock Injury -- Contact with power line while installing greenhouse roof (p) (11/07)
Electric Shock Injury -- Injury in truck following downing
of power line (p) (04/08)
Electric Shock Injury -- Injury from power line contact
on church roof (p) (4/08)
Electric Shock Injury -- Injury from contact
with energized plumbing (p) (5/08)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Fatality
on manlift (p) 6/08)
Electric Shock Injury -- Electrical injury
in office environment (p) (10/08)
Electric Shock Injury -- Power line contact with house/effects of electrical contact
(p) (11/08)
Electric Shock Injury -- Power line contact while
removing debris from roof (p) (4/2009)
Electric Shock Injury -- Head contact
with bus in 480V switch gear (p) (08/2009)
Electric Shock Injury -- Damaged power line leading
to injury in a shower (p) (09/2009)
Electric Shock Injury -- Stun Gun Case -- (p) 11/2009
Electric Shock Injury -- Death resultant from power line contact by person in manlift (p) (02/2010)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Novelty
Shock Pen (p) (07/2010)
Electric Shock Injury-- Stun Gun Case (p) (09/2010)
Electric Shock
Injury -- (p) (10/2010)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Power
line contact by worker carrying
a ladder in an orange
grove (p) (10/2010)
Electric Shock Injury -- Death resultant
from contact between
power line and construction equipment (p) (10/2010)
Electric Shock Injury -- Cement pump contact with power line (p) (12/2010)
Electric Shock
Injury -- Contact
with downed power line (p) (01/2011)
Electric Shock
Injury -- 277 volt contact
by construction worker
(p) (04/2011)
Electrocution - Power line contact with climbing wall (p) (09/2011)
Electric Shock Injury -- Mule tape contact with 60KV line (p) 11/2011
Electric Shock Injury -- 480 volt (p) 11/2011
Electric Shock Injury -- Window
washer contact with power line (p) 2/2012
Electric Shock
Injury -- Plumber
contact with 277 volts (d) 2/2012
Electrocution -- Homeowner ladder contact with power line (p) 7/2012
Electric Shock
Injury -- Engineer
on Locomotive - 74 Volts DC (p) 10/2012
Electric Shock
Injury – Electrical burn injury (p) (2/2012)
Electrocution – Crane Power Line Contact (p) (06/2013)
Electrocution – Step voltage
death accident reconstruction (p) (03/2014)
Electric Shock Injury – Electric shock on freighter
(p) (04/2014)
Electric Shock Injury – Electric shock injury in a locomotive (p) (6/2014)
Electric Shock Injury – Burn injury
following power line crane contact
human factors while changing
out a conveyor motor (p) (08/2014)
Electrocution/Electric Shock
– Roofer contact with power line – human factors and reconstruction (p) (09/2014)
Electric Shock Injury – Issue of internal injury
even with lack of burns.
(p) (01/2015)
Electric Shock
Injury – Accident
Reconstruction (d) (02/2015)
Electric Shock Injury – Accident reconstruction shock alleged from energized
canopy at gas station (d) (04/2015)
Electric Shock
Injury – (p) (08/2015)
Electric Shock Injury – Contact with energized
service drop (p) (08/2015)
Electric Shock Injury – Arc blast following electric
meter explosion (d) (01/2016)
Electric Shock Death – Contact with mis-wired dryer blower (p) (02/2016)
Electric Shock Injury – Arc blast in switch gear at a refinery
(p) (03/2016)
Electric Shock Death – Person electrocuted in energized
shower (p) (04/2016)
Electric Shock Death – Child electrocuted by exposed wiring
on air conditioning unit (p) (10/2016)
Electric Shock
Injury – Shock
injury in train
restroom (p) (01/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury – Accident reconstruction based on burn pattern (d) (2/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury – Contact with electric rat trap ((p) (4/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury -- Low voltage (120 v) contact with exposed wire (p) (5/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury – Death from contact with pump (p) (5/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury – Burn Pattern reconstruction following power line contact (p)
(10/2017)
Electric
Shock Injury – Contact with submerged wire while installing a fence (p) (2/2018)
Electric
Shock Injury – Contact with aircraft by mechanic (d) (2/2108)
Electric
Shock Injury – Contact with electric fence at a stable (d) (3/2018)
Electric
Shock Injury – Reconstruction/symptomatology worker using cement cutter severs
HV line. (p) (7/2018)
Electric
Shock Injury – Worker contacts power line while on top of truck (p) (10/2018)
Electric
Shock Injury – 277 volt contact via exposed wires (p) (10/2018)
Electric
Shock Injury – Welder on Ship (p) (2/2019)
Electric
Shock Injury – Contact with energized guy wire (p) (2/2019)
Electric
Shock Injury – Shock claimed in swimming pool (d) 4/2019
Electric
Shock Injury – Power line contact (death) Burn pattern reconstruction (p) (5/2019)
Electric
Shock Injury – Shock while contacting mobile restroom trailer (d) (5/2019)
INTERNATIONAL
CONSULTATION
Power line contact (England, 2015)
Electrical injury
from overhead power
line while line clearing (Canada,
2002)
Electrical injury
from static discharge (Dublin,
Ireland, 1999.)
POSITIONS
Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of San Diego, (September 1990 - Present)
Tenure granted: 5/93, Associate (1996), Full (2004)
·
Research into symptomatology and nature
of electrical injury, current
pathway during electrical contact, Diffuse Electrical Injury (DEI), and
electric shock drowning. (ESD)
·
Courses subjects include: Forensic
Engineering, Engineering and the Law, Product Design and Safety, Engineering
Design Process
Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn,
AL, (September 1987 - September 1990).
·
NSF and IEEE initiation grant
·
Conducted Speech and Electrical Stimulation research.
Senior Engineer,
General Dynamics, Electronics Division, San Diego, (October 1985 - June 1987)
Lecturer, Electrical Engineering, San Diego State University, (January
- May 1987)
EDUCATION
J.D.: University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 1999 (Admitted to CA Bar: 12/99)
Ph.D. in Engineering, Clemson
University, Clemson,
SC, 1985.
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Tulane
University, New Orleans, LA, 1982.
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 1981.
HONORS
Tenure Awarded
, 1993.
H.K.N. -- Electrical Engineering Honor Society,
1990.
Sigma Xi -- Research
Honor Society, 1986.
Tau Beta
Pi -- Engineering Honor Society
1981.
Edwards Fellowship - Clemson University, 1983.
MEMBERSHIPS
IEEE Member
(Past and/or present: Engineering
in Medicine and Biology Society, Product Safety Group)
Sigma Xi
PATENTS
Multichannel Stimulator for Tuned Stimulation (No. 5041974 - August 1991).
PUBLICATIONS
•
The Case of the Telecom Technician
Electrocution, ECM Magazine, M.S. Morse, May 2019
•
Examining the Risk of Electric Shock
Drowning(ESD) as a Function of Water Conductivity, IEEE ESW Conference,
Jacksonville, April 2019.
•
The Science Behind Electric Shock Drowning,
ECM Magazine, M.S. Morse, November, 2018
•
The Case of the Mysterious
Construction Site Electrocution, ECM Magazine, M.S. Morse, April 2017
•
The Case of the Electrified Railing, ECM, M.S. Morse, May 2015
•
A Report
on the Current State and Understanding of Human Response to Electrical Contacts,
M.S.
Morse, Presented at the IEEE Electrical Safety
Workshop (ESW),
Dallas, TX, March,
2013
•
The Case of the Fish-tape Fiasco, M.S. Morse, EC&M, April 2012
• The Case of the Ladder and Line Collision, M.S. Morse, EC&M
(The Magazine of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), September, 2011.
•
Designing for Optimal
Electrical Safety, M.S. Morse, EC&M (The Magazine
of Electrical Design
Construction and Maintenance), July, 2010.
•
The Case of the Engine Room Electrocution, M.S. Morse,
EC&M, (The Magazine
of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), July, 2010.
•
Improving Electrical Safety Through
Forensic Analysis
of Failure, MS Morse, IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop
(ESW), Memphis, TN, Feb. 2010.
•
A Study
of Long Term Symptomatology Reported in Non-Head-Involved Low Voltage
Electrical Contacts, MS Morse, IEEE EMBC, Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 2009.
•
The Case of the Imperfect Bird on the Wire -ECM, M.S. Morse, April 2009.
•
Designing for Electrical Safety
that can withstand Legal Scrutiny,
Michael S. Morse, IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop, St. Louis, MO, Feb. 2009.
•
Risks and Injuries Associated with Low Voltage Electrical Contacts - Traditional Theory,
Modern Theory, and Pervasive Myths, (Invited
Paper), M.S. Morse,
International Electrical Safety Congress, Bogota,
Columbia, November,
2008.
•
How Much Damage Can A Low Voltage
Shock Do? -- Traditional Theory, Modern
Theory, and Pervasive Myths, (Invited/Keynote Speaker), Michael S. Morse,
IEEE, Electrical Safety Workshop, Dallas,
March, 2008.
•
Novelty Shock Pens – Harmless Toy or Injurious Weapon? Only a Proper Design Analysis Can Tell, MS Morse,
G Tolchinsky, IEEE PSEN Newsletter, , Vol 4, No 1, March 2008, pp 20-30.
•
The Undetected Trauma -- Low Voltage Electrical Injuries (Poster Only) -- Chris Gilyard, MS
Morse, W Mohr, D Ahrenholtz, American Burn Association Meeting,
Chicago, April, 2008.
•
The Undetected Trauma -- Low Voltage Electrical Injury (Presentation Only) -- Chris
Gilyard and
Michael Morse, Midwestern Regional Burn Conference, Minneapolis, September,
2007
•
The Case of the 120 Volt Electrocution Mystery, M.S. Morse, EC&M (The
Magazine of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), October, 2007.
•
The Case of the Misguided Move, M.S. Morse, EC&M
(The Magazine of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), May, 2007
•
Defining and Designing for the Reasonable Person, M.S. Morse,
G. Tolchinsky, IEEE PSEN Newsletter, Vol 3, No 1, March 2007.
• Product Design and the Reasonable Person – Nature versus
Nurture, M.S. Morse, R. Raney Presented at the IEEE Product Safety
Engineering Conference
in Irvine, CA, October 23-24, 2006.
• Use
of the Finite Element Method to Assess Impact of Current
on Wrist and Forearm During an Electrical Accident, M.S. Morse, J.S. Morse, Presented at the 26th IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, New York,
September, 2006.
• Don’t Discount the Danger of 120 Volts, Michael S. Morse, EC&M (The
Magazine of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), May 2006.
•
The case of the Shocking Scaffolding Mystery, Michael S. Morse, EC&M (The
Magazine of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), June 2006.
• ELECTRIC SHOCK, Michael S Morse and Jennifer S. Morse, Chapter in Wiley Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, April, 2006.
• Diffuse electrical injury: Comparison of physical and neuropsychological symptom presentation in males and females, Jennifer
and Michael Morse,
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol 58/1 pp 51-54 (2005).
•
Diffuse Electrical Injury, Study
of Sequelae as a function
of Gender, Jennifer
Morse, Michael Morse, Presented
at the 26th IEEE
Engineering in Medicine
and Biology Conference, San Francisco, September, 2004.
• Diffuse Electrical Injury, A Study of 89 Subjects Reporting
Long Term Symptomatology that is
Remote to the Theoretical Current Pathway, Michael
S. Morse, Jennifer
S. Berg, Rachel Tenwolde, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, August, 2004, Vol 51, No. 8, pp 1449
– 1459.
•
A Shocking
Neurological Rarity, Jennifer S. Berg and Michael
S. Morse, Practical Neurology, August, 2004,
Vol 4, No 4, pp. 222-227.
•
The Risk From Above, Michael S. Morse, EC&M Magazine, February, 2004.
• Analysis of Current Density in the Carpal Tunnel Region During
an Electrical Accident
by way of the Finite
Element Method M.S. Morse,
J.S. Berg, R.L.TenWolde (Presented at: The 25th
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Cancun,
September, 2003.)
•
Diffuse Electrical Injury – A Study of 136 Subjects M.S. Morse, J.S. Berg, R.L.TenWolde (Presented
at: The 25th IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Cancun, September,
2003.)
•
Diffuse Electrical Injury
Presenting as Chronic
Pain: Systemic and Neuropsychological
Symptomatology, Berg JS, Morse MS, J. of Psychosomatic Research, vol 55 No 2, August
2003
, pg 151. (Presented at the 17th World
Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine, Waikolao, HI, August 2003.)
• A Study of Carpal Tunnel Injury Following Electrical Trauma, M. S. Morse (Presented at IEEE EMBS Chicago, July 2000)
•
An Evaluation Protocol For Electric Shock
Injury Supported By Minimal Diagnostic Evidence
M.S. Morse, D. Weiss, University of San Diego,
Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110 (Presented at IEEE EMBS San Diego,
1993)
Other
Contributor to electrical safety video – Iowa One Call 2015 Electrical Safety –Call before you dig.
Webinar: Designing for Electrical Safety
the can Withstand Legal Scrutiny,
Eaton Corporation, June 3, 2009
Invited participant and presenter
at “Stun Devices:
Uncertainties & Gaps In Knowledge Conference”, Potomac
Institute for Policy Studies, Arlington, VA, February
23rd and 24th.
Contributing source to an article on diffuse electrical injury entitled “What Happens When Electricity Doesn’t
Play by the Rules?” by Matt Halverson, EC&M (The Magazine
of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance), June 2004.
Contributing source to an article on electrical injury entitled “A Little Time and a Lot of Pressure” by Matt Halverson, EC&M (The Magazine
of Electrical Design Construction and Maintenance),
June 2003.
Contributing source to Maxim Magazine (October
2003, page 48) Provided
an answer to that age-old question of what happens
when you stick a fork in an electrical outlet.
Media
BBC (Gladiators 2015)
Discovery Channel:
Machines of Malice
(Appearance and technical consultation)
2009
NCIS -- (Technical Consultation) Episode Airdate: 4/28/2009
Bones -- (Fox Network)
-- (Technical Consultation) Episode: Player
under pressure.