Katherine Puffer, CPA/ABV, CPCU, MBA
— VH Valuation Services, Inc.

Katherine provided services as an expert witness in connection with a claim I brought on behalf of a dealer of material handling equipment. The dealer had been terminated and litigation was initiated to recover the damages suffered as a result of that termination. An assignment of this sort has two distinct parts: the written report, and testimony. While many damage experts are good at one or the other, Katherine excelled at both.

The written report was thorough and thoughtful. It was based on a solid investigation and understanding of the facts and applicable damage theories. Katherine worked closely and comfortably with me, as counsel, and with the key officers of the terminated dealership to gain the knowledge necessary to generate a first class report. Katherine was able to coalesce the factual,legal and financial components of the report in a way that was not just technically sound, but was persuasive and accessible to the nontechnical audience to whom it had to be presented for the ultimate resolution of the case.

The strength of the report was equaled by the strength of Katherine’s testimony – both in her deposition and at the evidentiary hearing. Her testimony at the hearing was particularly impressive. Under both direct and crossexamination, Katherine was cool and calm. She was informative and convincing. Most interestingly,Katherine truly engaged in a sincere conversation with the arbitrator to answer his questions and explain the theories underlying the report. It was very impressive and it was apparent that the arbitrator was turning to Katherine not just as the claimant’s expert but as a bone fide expert capable of giving him the knowledge and understanding he needed to arrive at a just result. I was impressed.