MICHAEL PANISH'S
Published Articles
The following are some of Mike Panish's most popular articles that have appeared in a variety of legal publications across the country:
The Ins and Outs of Automatic Door Operation
A basic primer in how they work, what to look for, and how to analyze
defects vs. deferred maintenance. Expert witness for automatic doors,
Michael Panish, takes you through the basics for your case.
By Michael Panish
Automatic Doors - The Importance of Checking your Doors Daily
Daily safety checks for automatic doors.
By Michael Panish
Automatic Doors & Daily Safety Inspections - Why they are important
& How they Protect Pedestrians
An explanation of automatic door sensors and how they work, why it is
important to check them daily, and how they protect pedestrians.By Michael Panish
OVERHEAD DOOR INJURIES - Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Trucks
Injuries sustained from overhead door malfunctions include amputations,
bodily force trauma, and death. Knowing who is responsible for maintenance
and inspections of these doorways is essential.
By Michael Panish
HIGH SPEED OVERHEAD DOORS
A brief discussion comparing these products to standard overhead door
systems. Injuries from these products are generally due to installation
deficiencies or usage protocols.
By Michael Panish
COMMERCIAL OVERHEAD DOORS - Worker Injury Claims
A worker is performing a duty near the ceiling within the path of travel
of an automatic door. Without warning, the door begins to move and the
top edge of the door collides with the worker or what he is standing on,
causing the worker to fall to the ground. This article addresses many
case scenarios and responsibility.
By Michael Panish
REVOLVING DOOR INJURIES
Automatic Revolving Door Injuries - Their functions and limitations. Pedestrian
obligations when using these door systems.
By Michael Panish
SAFETY COMPARISON - Automatic Doors & Manual Doors
A basic comparison of the differences in the safe function and usage of
automatic and manually operated doors of all kinds.
By Michael Panish
LOW ENERGY DOOR SYSTEMS - A Basic Primer for your next Door Injury Case
How low energy doors work. Low energy doors vs high energy doors. Intended Usage.
By Michael Panish
AUTOMATIC DOOR INJURIES - High & Low Energy Automatic Doors
Basic information that you need to know about industry wide standards
and how they apply to your next automatic door case.
By Michael Panish
MAGNETIC LOCKS THAT FALL FROM OVERHEAD
Why they fall and cause injuries / Injury Case Examples
By Michael Panish
THREAD LOCKING AGENTS
Why no heavy door hardware should be installed without it
By Michael Panish
MANUAL SWING BARRIER GATE INJURIES
More dangerous than you would think. Why have so many injuries occurred?
What are the reasons why these innocuous common devices have become life
changing instruments of despair?
By Michael Panish
GATE & FENCE - Accidents and Injuries
Malfunctioning gates and fences can cause catastrophic and traumatic bodily
injury and death. Parking garage gates, pool fences, property fences,
drop down doors.
By Michael Panish
DEFECTIVE GATE DESIGNS - Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
Gate injuries are often caused by improper design and fabrication. From
the very inception of a new gate project, an improperly crafted gate is
inherently the beginning of a future serious injury or even deadly claim.
By Michael Panish
AUTOMATIC GATE OPERATORS
The Relevance of UL 325 Standards.
By Michael Panish
The Ups & Downs of PARKING CONTROL ARMS
What every attorney needs to know about how they function, why they fail,
and why someone got injured. Who is at fault, who is to blame, and what
the industry standards are that affect the claim?
By Michael Panish
AUTOMATIC ENTRY GATES - Personal Injury & Damage Claims
A comprehensive look into automated entry gates, gate injuries, gate maintenance,
and gate service providers. How to determine responsibility of involved
parties and understand what leads to a claim.By Michael Panish
AUTOMATIC DOOR SERVICE PROVIDERS - How to Limit your Liability
If you run an active automatic door service company it is not a matter
of IF you will be sued, it is a matter of WHEN ! What every door service
provider can do to proactively protect their business. By Michael Panish
Door Defects & Door Related Injury Claims
A Guided Tour to Manual Doors & Door Hardware. Expert door contractor,
Michael Panish, takes you through the basics of door operation and how
to understand the aspects that may help win your case.
By Michael Panish
MANUAL DOOR CLOSERS - Do you have an open and shut case?
Manual door closers are ubiquitous. We take advantage of their service
on a daily basis without usually noticing that they are in place or that
they are doing their job correctly. It is when something is seriously
wrong with these closers that they become blatantly noticeable and potentially
dangerous.
By Michael Panish
CONCEALED DOOR CLOSERS
The overhead or floor mounted concealed door closer is a very common type
of door closer mechanism which is normally unseen and unnoticed. In the
majority of installations, these concealed closers are used on aluminum
glazed storefront doors, hollow metal stand alone, or structural framed
window systems.
By Michael Panish
GARAGE DOORS - A Brief Tutorial on Garage Doors Safety & Installation
I have been involved in numerous garage door cases where many different
reasons for an injury have occurred. Having been retained as an expert
witness for both plaintiff and defense, several common factors have been
observed.
By Michael Panish
RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOORS - Personal Injury Claims
Garage door injuries pertaining to rental properties, maintenance and
safety, basic components of a garage door system, available safety devices,
and landlord responsibilities.
By Michael Panish
CRUISE SHIP INJURIES
Many cruise ships have fallen short on the maintenance and inspection
of many elements that are within reach of the general public and passenger
guests. Mike Panish outlines examples of injuries that have occurred on
cruise ships where he has offered his expert opinions, working for plaintiff
and defense.By Michael Panish
DOOR INJURY CASES - Pertaining to the Insurance Carrier
One of the most important elements of any new door case is to thoroughly
understand all aspects of that case. Depending on the situation surrounding
the claim, it is critical that your expert be a direct part of your defense
from the beginning.
By Michael Panish
DOOR PANIC HARDWARE - Getting to know the Basics
Injuries resulting from door panic hardware are more prevalent than you
might think. Injuries can be due to lack of maintenance on these devices
and/or installation of spurious parts or components.
By Michael Panish
DOOR INJURIES & "The Eggshell Plaintiff"
As discovery has often shown, people in poor physical or mental condition
who are left unattended or unassisted in doorways are often the genesis
of their own injuries.
By Michael Panish
HOTEL ROOM BARN DOORS; Dangerous by Design & Best Left on Barns
Designer’s concept is an accident waiting to happen. Poor design
choice for hotel rooms and these type of doors can cause serious personal
injury and death.
By Michael Panish
INCREASING SCHOOL SECURITY - Concepts to Keep our Students Safe
The need for increased security in the schools of our country is real.
Michael Panish, Door, Lock & Security Equipment Expert Witness &
Consultant, shares his ideas to help develop safer school environments
for the nation's children.
By Michael Panish
M.O.A.T. A New Approach to School Safety
M.O.A.T. is an acronym created by Michael Panish in December of 2012,
in order to promote a higher level of school security systems and student safety.
By Michael Panish
CONTRACTOR FRAUD SERIES (Part 1) - Beware of Unscrupulous Contractors
Construction Expert Witness, Mike Panish, Many homeowners are regularly
taken advantage of by unscrupulous contractors. How to check out your
contractor prior to hiring him.
By Michael Panish
CONTRACTOR FRAUD SERIES (Part 2) - Don't Become a Victim - Home Renovation Projects
Construction Expert Witness, Mike Panish, uses examples from three different
contractor fraud lawsuits to demonstrate how homeowners can be influenced
and easily deceived by building contractors.
By Michael Panish
FINDING A SPECIALTY EXPERT
The best expert is someone that has a lifetime of practical experience
in his or her field of work.
By Michael Panish
Expert Witness - Plaintiff or Defense
It is possible that a good expert witness could be valuable to both sides
of the claim. Both the plaintiff and defendant could seriously consider
the services of the same expert, and achieve a resolution to their dispute.
By Michael Panish
PATIENT ABUSE & RAPE - Daycare, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care Facilities
Rape and patient abuse are more prevalent and common place in daycare
and long term skilled nursing facilities than anyone would think possible.
By Michael Panish
Elder Abuse - It Isn't Always About Physical Abuse
Today, even more so than in the past, older people appear easy targets
to unscrupulous contractors and salesmen. They are quick to react with
their wallets and easily satisfied even though the work may not be as
promised.
By Michael Panish
ELOPEMENT FROM FACILITIES - Common Cases / What could have been done to
avoid the Elopement?
Legal expert, Michael Panish, explains and outlines anti elopement hardware
and egress requirements for life safety of long-term care facilities,
mental healthcare facilities, dementia wards, psychiatric facilities,
and residential care facilities. He describes common elopement cases.
By Michael Panish
CABINETRY & MILLWORK - Defective Design or Workmanship, Who is Responsible?
Generally, there is a question as to what entity is responsible for the
monetary loss sustained. The usual course of action by attorneys is to
sue all parties in the chain of events, from design through installation.
By Michael Panish
PLASTIC LAMINATED PRODUCTS - Fabrication & Installation Problems
This article outlines fabrication and installation problems that can cause
personal injury and defects. Formica is probably the most recognized product
name for plastic laminate material. Mike touches on some of the fabrication
and installation problems that can occur, common lawsuits involving laminate
products, and when it is appropriate to hire a laminate expert witness.
By Michael Panish
Discussion on Wood Finishes
With the constant changes in formulations of finishes and paint products,
modern methods for application and preparation have become very challenging.
By Michael Panish
Mechanical Fasteners
Reasons why products become detached and dangerous, leading to severe
personal injuries
By Michael Panish
MODULAR CABINET SYSTEMS & RETAIL STORE FIXTURES
Injuries from Improper Installation
Injuries created from improper installations of office furniture, modular
furniture and retail store displays and fixtures. Case examples of improper
casework anchorage.By Michael Panish
LADDER SAFETY & LADDER INJURIES - What Factors Contribute to Ladder Injuries?
Ladder injury claims and user responsibility, manufacturer's labeling,
ladder materials, different types of ladders, ladder rentals, why ladders
fail, proper usage, ladder defects, and jobsite safety requirements.
By Michael Panish
Safety Equipment & Protective Gear - The Right Equipment Can Save Your Life
Properly protecting yourself from serious personal injuries. This article
is designed to inform every user of tools about the importance of using
safety products for any project.
By Michael Panish
