Richard L. Benson Summary: 28 Years experience and training in the fire service: Firefighter, Arson Investigator, Latent Fingerprint Technician, Senior Arson Investigator, Senior Insurance Fire Investigator. Court qualified fire and arson investigation expert. CFEI - NAFI (Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator - National Association Of Fire Investigators) Certificates Held: Fire Training Course - Houston Fire Department (640 hours) (1970), Arson and Criminal Investigation - Houston Arson Bureau (440 hours) (1976), Fire and Arson Investigation- National Fire Academy (80 hours)(1980), Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Fire Fighter Certification - Texas Commission on Fire Protection (1972, 1976, 1980), Basic & Advanced Peace Officer Certification - Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education (1981, 1986), Fingerprint Classification - Federal Bureau of Investigation (40 hours) (1992), Advanced Latent Fingerprint Course - Federal Bureau of Investigation (40 hours) (1992), Advanced Palm Print Symposium - Mississippi Crime Laboratory (20 hours) (1992), Gang Crimes Symposium (8 hours) (1992), Arson Investigator Certification - Texas Commission on Fire Protection (1976, 1980-1995), ASP Baton (8 hours) (1993), Fire Dynamics: Scientific Insights For Investigators (16 hours) (1996), Hazwoper Training (40 hours) (1996), IAAI Arson Investigation Seminar (16 hours) (1996), Fire Investigator Procedures (6 (hours) (1997), Hazwoper Refresher Course (8 hours) (1997, 1998, 1999), Hands-On Electrical Fire Investigation (24 hours) (2000), Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator - National Association Of Fire Investigators (1998), Member - International Association Of Arson Investigators (1995) 1995 - Present: Senior Investigator for Premier Claims Investigations, Inc. Duties include fire origin and cause determination, case follow-up and case consultation for insurers, attorneys serving primarily the insurance industry December 1993-April 1995: Senior Arson Investigator - Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau. Responsible for the supervision of the Data Entry Division, Latent Fingerprint Lab, Fire Department Photography Lab. Also served as Arson Bureau Training Officer and as Liaison Officer for the Juvenile Arson Investigation Division. January 1990 - December 1993: Latent Fingerprint Technician - Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau: Responsible for processing all evidence submitted to the Arson Bureau Lab by all agencies. Responded to multiple fire alarms and all fire fires involving fatalities. Collected evidence, took photographs and video footage to preserve fire scenes for possible criminal prosecution. Assisted other law enforcement agencies such as the Houston Police Department Bomb Squad, Homicide Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in processing fire scene evidence. January 1980 - January 1990: Arson Investigator - Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau: Responsible for origin and cause investigation of fires in Houston, Texas. Conducted complete investigations including evidence collection, photography, scene diagrams, and witness interviews. Prepared reports for possible criminal prosecution. Testified in many criminal proceedings involving arson related fires and participated in numerous homicide investigations. Civil testimony also. January 1977 - November 1979: Military Service - United States Navy: Assigned to the Weapons Division of the U.S.S. Ainsworth as a Gunners Mate Technician. March 1976 - January 1977: Arson Investigator - Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau: Responsible for origin and cause investigation of fires in Houston, Texas. Conducted complete investigations including evidence collection, photography, scene diagrams, and witness interviews. Prepared reports for possible criminal prosecution. Testified in many criminal proceedings involving arson related fires and participated in numerous homicide investigations. Civil testimony also. November 1973 - March 1976: Engineer - Houston Fire Department: Responsible for driving and maintaining apparatus. Assisted in the supervision of numerous fire incidents. Directed fire scene operations in the absence of company Captain, which included fire cause opinions. March 1970 -November 1973: Pipe and Ladderman - Houston Fire Department: Basic responsibilities included fighting fire, overhauling fire scenes, and maintaining fire fighting equipment and apparatus. Education: January 1970 - Graduate of John H. Reagan High School - Houston, Texas. Numerous courses at San Jacinto Jr. College, Houston Community College, North Harris County College, and University of Houston
Testimonial Listing Criminal Testimony
The State Of Texas vs. Samuel Salinas
Padilla
The State Of Texas vs. Johnny Lee Savell
The State Of Texas vs. Jerry Wayne Watts
United States Of America v. Jeet Singh
Civil Depositions Civil Action No. H-89-2025; Allen Center v. Azcon, Inc., Indiana Lumberman's Insurance Company, and Williams Service Group, Inc. / Azcon, Inc. v. Law Engineering, Inc., ABMI Security Services of Texas, Inc. d/b/a ABM Security, Century Development Corporation, and Fischbach and Moore, Inc. / Cigna of Texas v. Azcon, Inc.; In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division Deposition Given: 06-07-91 @ Law Offices of Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill, and LaBoon, 3400 Texas Commerce Tower, Houston, Texas - Given to Rob L. Wiley
No. 97-45966 ; Multani Corporation, Individually, and d/b/a/ Bombay Cuisine vs. Century Surety Company; In the 61st. Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas Deposition Given: 08-10-98 & 08-19-98 @ Office Of Wayne Adams(Houston) - Given to Allen D. Russell, of Wauson & Associates, P.C.
No: 98-37638; Humble ISD Vs, Square D Company in the 55th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas Deposition Given: 07-14-99 @ Brad Irelan's Office(Houston) - Given to Stephen Edmondson, of McFall, Sherwood, Sheehy
Cause No.: 98-45590; Weingartens Realty Investors & Walgreen Company vs. Mid-West Electric Co. of Houston & AFC Cable Systems, Inc. 215th Judicial District Court Deposition Given: 11-22-99 @ Law Office Of Samuel E. Dunn - Given to William Cozort, of Manning, Gosda & Arredondo, LLP. & Laren Mattiuzzi, of Samuel E. Dunn
Cause No: H-99-2057; Winston Wilmot v. General Electric Company, In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division Deposition Given: 04-10-00 @ Law Office Of Manning, Gosda & Arredondo, L.L.P - Given to Robert Arredondo
Cause No. 99-08531 : DV Partners, LTD. And Highland Park Drug Stores, Inc. d/b/a Northwest Hills Pharmacy & Florist v Sign Builders Of America, Inc., In the District Court, 98th Judicial District, Travis County, Texas Deposition Given: 09-27-00 @ Esquire Deposition Services, 3401 Louisiana, Houston, Texas, Suite 300 Given To John Curney, of Curney, Garcia, Wise & Farmer, P.C.
Cause No. 99-05-03084-CV: Hanover Insurance Company v. TCP Security Company LLC d/b/a The Woodlands Security Co., In the 284th Judicial District Court Of Montgomery County, Texas Deposition Given: 10-18-00 @ Law Offices Of Ogden, Gibson, White & Broocks, L.L.P., 2100 Pennzoil South Tower, 711 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002 Given To Joseph R. Larsen, Of Ogden, Gibson, White & Broocks, L.L.P.
Cause No. H-01-0047: Clifton Hall Vs. GE Plastic Pacific Ltd. Et al - In The United States District Court, Southern District Of Texas, Houston Division - Deposition Given: 5/2001
Cause No. H-01-0047: Clifton Hall Vs. GE Plastic Pacific Ltd. Et al - United States District Court - Southern District Of Texas, Houston Division - Deposition Given: 9/2001
The above list is not all inclusive. A listing from the Houston Arson Bureau records regarding testimony is not kept. Mr. Benson has testified on other criminal and civil cases and the file identities are not known.
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