Brooks Hilliard has been qualified as an expert and served as a consulting and testifying expert in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitrations, mediations and formal governmental hearings.

Mr. Hilliard has handled matters in the following areas:

• Computer systems that were alleged not to have performed as promised (over 30 matters), such as "E.R.P." and other business computer systems. Expert knowledge of computer industry customs and practices was a key factor in many of these assignments, which often involved allegations of negligent and/or fraudulent misrepresentation.
• Intellectual property matters (over 10 matters) relating to the ownership and/or alleged misappropriation of intellectual property involving patents, copyrights and trade secrets on software, hardware and confidential business knowledge/information.
• Matters involving missing, destroyed and/or fraudulently created data (over 20 matters), i.e., forensic data recovery, often relating to business split-ups or alleged wrongful termination.
• Matters requiring valuation of computer assets including computer systems, software and related equipment for matters dealing with business dissolutions, insurance, bankruptcies and allegations of arson.
• Computer crime.
• Regulatory and procurement irregularity issues.

• Review of actions, documents, issues and system performance
• Production of opinion letters and affidavits
• Recovery and analysis of forensic evidence on computer systems
• Preparation of interrogatory and deposition questions
• Deposition testimony
• Trial/arbitration/hearing testimony
• Assistance in settlement negotiations

Biographical information:

Brooks Hilliard is a Certified Management Consultant and president of Business Automation Associates, Inc., an independent management consulting firm based in Phoenix, Arizona and specializing in computer system selection and problem resolution. In his consulting capacity, Mr. Hilliard has been engaged by firms in a wide variety of industries and professions. Although he has no affiliation with any supplier of computer-based systems of any kind, he has recommended systems using computers from every major computer system manufacturer and software from most of the industry's largest developers. In order to maintain its objectivity, Business Automation does not provide programming services or sell computer products of any kind.

Mr. Hilliard has worked in the computer industry for over 30 years. Prior to founding Business Automation in 1980, he worked in programming, marketing, sales and management positions with several major hardware manufactures and software developers. He is a graduate of M.I.T. and the Harvard Business School and has been active in the Institute of Management Consultants, the Arizona Harvard Business School Association, the Arizona M.I.T. Alumni Club, the Arizona Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, Devereux Foundatio (Arizona), Junior Achievement of Central Arizona and the Phoenix 100 Rotary. He is also a member of the State Bar of Arizona Technology Task Force.

Further information is available at Mr. Hilliard's web site.