Independent RV Expert Witness | RV Defects | RV Lemon Law | Insurance Claims | Warranty Disputes | Failure Analysis
Retaining the right RV Expert Witness can play a critical role in legal matters involving RV manufacturing defects, warranty disputes, Lemon Law claims, insurance claims, repair negligence, structural failures, water intrusion, electrical failures, and other complex RV-related issues.
An experienced RV Expert Witness provides independent technical analysis, professional reports, inspections, and expert testimony to help attorneys, insurance professionals, manufacturers, dealerships, and the courts understand complex RV systems, construction methods, repair standards, and industry practices.
At California RV Specialists, Dustin Simpson provides independent RV Expert Witness services backed by more than 26 years of hands-on RV industry experience. Throughout his career, he has inspected, diagnosed, repaired, and evaluated thousands of recreational vehicles while working directly with RV owners, manufacturers, dealerships, insurance companies, warranty providers, and component suppliers.
Unlike many consultants, Dustin continues to work daily in an active independent RV repair facility, providing real-world experience with today’s RV construction methods, common failures, manufacturer defects, repair procedures, and industry standards.
Types of Matters Addressed
- Failure analysis and independent technical evaluations
- Improper repairs and standard-of-care evaluations
- Manufacturing defects and design-related failures
- Structural, frame, and chassis failures
- Water intrusion, moisture damage, and mold-related claims
- Roof failures and exterior component defects
- Electrical failures and fire-related investigations
- Suspension, axle, brake, and running gear failures
- Plumbing, HVAC, and RV appliance system failures
- Chassis-to-house integration issues
- Warranty disputes and RV Lemon Law cases
- Insurance claims, damage assessments, and repair disputes
- Recall-related failures and compliance issues
Discovery & Litigation Support
California RV Specialists provides technical support throughout the discovery process by assisting attorneys with the review and analysis of RV-related documentation and evidence.
Services may include:
- Reviewing interrogatories and technical responses
- Evaluating repair records, inspection reports, and service documentation
- Reviewing photographs, videos, and supporting evidence
- Analyzing manufacturer communications and warranty history
- Assisting with document requests and requests for admission
- Preparing technical summaries and expert reports
- Providing deposition, mediation, arbitration, and trial support
Our goal is to present complex RV systems, repair procedures, and technical findings in a clear, objective, and well-documented manner that assists attorneys, insurance professionals, and the court in understanding the issues involved.
Contact California RV Specialists
If you would like to discuss retaining Dustin Simpson as an Independent RV Expert Witness, please contact California RV Specialists to schedule a confidential consultation and preliminary case review.
Clients We Serve
California RV Specialists provides independent RV Expert Witness services for a wide range of clients, including:
- Plaintiff attorneys, including RV Lemon Law matters
- Defense attorneys representing RV manufacturers, dealerships, and service providers
- Insurance carriers and insurance defense attorneys
- RV owners and consumers
- Manufacturers and dealerships
- Mediators and arbitrators
Our experience supports a broad range of RV-related legal matters, including manufacturing defects, warranty disputes, RV Lemon Law claims, improper repairs, service negligence, insurance claims, failure analysis, valuation disputes, and other complex technical issues involving recreational vehicles.
Scope of Expertise
There are circumstances where a case may require specialized expertise beyond the scope of our professional training and experience. Examples include:
- Accident reconstruction
- Metallurgical or materials engineering
- Chemical or laboratory testing
- Fire origin and cause investigations
- Manufacturing design engineering beyond RV repair practices and industry standards
- Other highly specialized engineering disciplines
Important Notice
California RV Specialists provides opinions only within the scope of Dustin Simpson’s education, training, professional experience, and industry expertise. When a matter requires additional specialized disciplines, those limitations will be identified as early as possible. When appropriate, we may recommend retaining additional qualified experts to ensure the case is evaluated thoroughly and accurately.
Expert Witness Fee Schedule
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard Case Retainer | $10,000.00 (No travel anticipated) |
| Travel Case Retainer | $15,000.00 (Travel maybe required at any point) |
| Preliminary Case Review | $400/hour |
| Technical Consultation | $400/hour |
| Email / Telephone / Video Conferences | $400/hour (Billed in 0.25 hour increments) |
| Document Review & Research | $400/hour |
| Expert Report Preparation | $400/hour |
| Field Inspection | $400/hour (4-hour minimum) |
| Report Writing | $400/hour |
| Depositions / Arbitrations / Trial Testimony | $400/hour (Zoom or in-person) |
| Court Reservation/Cancellation | $400/hour (Minimum 4–8 hours) |
Travel Related Fees
| Travel Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Travel Time | $400/hour |
| Mileage | Reimbursed at current IRS mileage rate |
| Airfare | First Class or Business Class |
| Rental Vehicle | Reimbursed |
| Hotel | Actual Cost |
| Meals | Actual Cost |
| Parking / Tolls | Actual Cost |
| Ride-shares (like Uber or Lyft) | Actual Cost |
| Overnight Fees | $750/Night |
Additional Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Rush / Priority Turnaround (Inside 5 Business Days) | 1.5x hourly rate |
| Weekend / Holiday Work | 2x hourly rate |
| Cancellation (<72 Hours) | Minimum 4-hour charge |
Variability in RV Expert Witness Services
Every RV-related legal matter is unique. The scope, complexity, and time required to perform inspections, technical analysis, research, report preparation, and testimony can vary significantly from case to case.
Because no two cases are identical, it is not possible to provide a standard estimate for the total time required.
Factors affecting the scope of work may include:
- Nature and number of alleged defects
- Number of RV systems involved
- Volume of repair records and warranty documentation
- Photographs, videos, emails, and text messages requiring review
- Manufacturer correspondence
- Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
- Recall information
- Insurance claim documentation
- Prior inspections and repair history
- Applicable industry standards and technical research
- Litigation stage and anticipated testimony requirements
More complex matters generally require substantially more time for document review, technical analysis, inspections, report preparation, and consultation.
Preliminary Case Review
Before accepting an engagement, California RV Specialists conducts a preliminary case review to evaluate:
- The technical issues presented
- The available documentation
- Overall case complexity
- Anticipated scope of work
- Whether the requested services fall within our professional expertise
Following this review, we will discuss the anticipated scope of services, estimated time requirements, and whether additional inspections, testing, research, or expert reporting may be appropriate.
Depending upon the needs of the client, services may include:
- Preliminary technical consultation
- Focused technical opinion
- Independent RV inspection
- Standard expert report
- Comprehensive technical report
- Supplemental reports
- Deposition preparation
- Trial testimony
Should additional information become available during the course of the engagement, the scope of work may be modified by mutual agreement.
Important Information
California RV Specialists is committed to providing objective, independent, and technically supported opinions based upon professional experience, industry standards, and the available evidence.
Because every case differs in complexity, the total time and cost associated with expert witness services will vary depending on the scope of the engagement, the volume of documentation requiring review, and the level of analysis requested.
Clear communication regarding expectations, budget, timelines, and deliverables helps ensure an efficient and productive expert witness engagement.
Retaining California RV Specialists
An executed Expert Witness Retention Agreement and the required retainer are generally required before work begins.
If you are interested in retaining Dustin Simpson as an Independent RV Expert Witness, please contact California RV Specialists.
Phone: (209) 263-7040
Email: service@calrvspecialists.com
Following the initial consultation, we will review the details of your case, determine whether the matter falls within our areas of expertise, discuss the anticipated scope of work, and provide the necessary engagement documentation to begin the assignment.
Dustin Simpson
With more than 26 years of hands-on RV industry experience, Dustin Simpson has built a career specializing in the inspection, diagnosis, repair, and evaluation of recreational vehicles. His experience includes serving as an RV Technician (both in-shop and mobile), Warranty & Parts Administrator, Service Manager, Instructor, Business Owner, Author, Content Creator, and Independent RV Expert Witness.
Throughout his career, Dustin has inspected and evaluated thousands of RVs involving manufacturing defects, structural failures, water intrusion, suspension concerns, electrical system failures, appliance issues, warranty disputes, insurance claims, and other complex technical matters. He has also worked directly with RV manufacturers and component suppliers by providing technical feedback on product performance, engineering concerns, design improvements, and recall-related issues.
Unlike many expert witnesses who no longer work in the industry full-time, Dustin continues to oversee the daily operations of California RV Specialists, an independent RV repair facility specializing in inspections, diagnostics, maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and real-world failure analysis. Because California RV Specialists is not affiliated with any RV manufacturer, dealership, or insurance company, Dustin provides independent, objective technical evaluations based on professional experience, industry standards, and the available evidence.
In addition to his work at California RV Specialists, Dustin shares RV repair knowledge and consumer education through multiple online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Business, YouTube, Yelp, and the California RV Specialists website. His educational content helps RV owners better understand maintenance, common failures, repair procedures, and long-term ownership.
Current Professional Experience
Owner – California RV Specialists (Lodi, California)
As Owner and Operator of California RV Specialists, Dustin oversees all aspects of business operations, including technical diagnostics, quality assurance, workflow management, customer relations, staff development, and complex RV repair planning. The facility employs a team of 12 professionals, including service advisors, parts personnel, RV technicians, and support staff.
With approximately 3 to 5 RVs entering the facility each day for inspection or repair, Dustin remains actively involved in evaluating complex failures, identifying repair solutions, assisting with technical diagnostics, and ensuring repairs meet professional standards. This ongoing hands-on experience provides valuable insight into current RV construction methods, repair practices, manufacturer trends, warranty concerns, and common product failures.
Contributing Author – RVtravel.com
Dustin is a regular contributing author for RVtravel.com, one of the nation’s leading RV consumer publications. His articles focus on RV maintenance, repair procedures, product evaluations, safety, and real-world technical issues affecting RV owners. He has authored more than 200 published technical articles and regularly participates in RVtravel.com livestreams and technical discussions with other respected RV industry professionals.
Content Creator & Industry Educator
Dustin is widely recognized for his commitment to RV consumer education and repair transparency. He manages multiple online RV communities with a combined membership exceeding 350,000 RV owners, generating millions of monthly views across social media platforms.
His YouTube channel, Your RV Specialists, features more than 2,400 educational videos covering RV maintenance, diagnostics, repairs, inspections, upgrades, and common failure analysis. With more than 9 million video views, Dustin continues to educate RV owners, technicians, attorneys, insurance professionals, and industry personnel by sharing practical, experience-based information from an active independent RV repair facility.
Business Website Articles by Dustin
YouTube Channel
Dustin and Ashley Simpson, release weekly videos and currently over 2400+ videos available on his YouTube channel (Your RV Specialists), Dustin has garnered over 9+ million views and counting.
https://youtube.com/@yourrvspecialists
Prior Professional Experience
Regional Parts Manager – Pan Pacific RV Center (French Camp, California)
Dustin was responsible for overseeing the parts department across three retail locations. He reorganized and corrected neglected inventory issues, performed full store resets with new product lines, and ensured inventory accuracy controls were restored across all locations. In addition, Dustin trained all parts department personnel, supported service department efficiency by managing parts sourcing and fulfillment, and attended multiple RV distributor shows. He also attended RVIA and RVDA national shows and technical training.
Service Manager – Camping World (Vacaville, California)
Dustin oversaw all service operations, led weekly RVIA and RVDA in-house training sessions for RV technicians, sales staff, and service writers, and trained warranty administrators and back counter parts personnel. He implemented process changes to improve service dispatch, structure, workflow, and cross-department operations. Dustin also performed regional multi-store training involving product training, safety training, sales support and customer walk-through education.
Owner & Operator – Central Valley RV Repair, Inc.
Dustin owned and operated a service center and mobile repair fleet of three vehicles. The facility was the top-rated authorized Alfa repair center in the State of California. The team completed customer pay repairs, insurance work, extended warranty repairs, and manufacturer warranty repairs for Alfa and numerous additional RV manufacturers. His team was invited annually to both Alfa manufacturing plants to tour production lines, evaluate design concerns, and provide technical feedback to help reduce warranty failures and improve manufacturing quality.
Automotive Industry Background
Geweke Auto Group – Chrysler | Dodge | Jeep | Ram
Dustin served as Assistant Service Manager supporting daily service operations, customer relations, technician dispatch coordination, and service workflow management within a franchise auto dealership environment.
Zamora Automotive Group – Honda | Mazda | Lincoln | Acura | Toyota | Mercury
Dustin served as a Service Advisor assisting customers with repair recommendations, scheduling, and warranty processing. During this period, he also held an active Vehicle Salesperson License, giving him additional exposure to consumer retail sales, dealership processes, valuation discussions, and consumer transaction practices within the automotive industry.
Education, Certifications & Technical Training
Dustin has completed extensive training throughout his 26+ year RV industry career, including service technician training, product certification training, parts training, safety training, and professional RV management courses.
Formal Education / Industry Training
- RV Training Institute
- Florida Gateway College – RV Service Technician Training
- RV Industry Association (RVIA) Technical Training
- RV Dealers Association (RVDA) Training
- Spader Business Management Courses (Service Manager, Service Advisor & Parts Manager Development)
Authorized Service Center Training / OEM Relationships
Throughout ownership of California RV Specialists, Dustin’s repair facility served as an authorized service center performing manufacturer warranty repairs for numerous OEMs, which required annual / ongoing training. Brands include:
Winnebago, Alfa Leisure, Keystone, Thor, Forest River, Fleetwood, Weekend Warrior, Airstream, Jayco, Four Winds, Outdoors RV, Grand Design RV, Monaco RV, Tiffin Motorhome, Coachmen, Renegade, Safari, East to West RV, Alliance RV, CrossRoads RV, Genesis RV, Heartland RV, Lance Camper, Starcraft, Northwest Mfg, VanLeigh RV, Eclipse RV, Newmar Corporation, Intech RV, KZ Inc, Newell Coach — as well as various horse trailer, utility trailer and boat trailer manufacturers.
Vendor / Component Manufacturer Certifications & Training
Dustin has completed training or certifications from numerous RV component manufacturers and suppliers including, but not limited to:
Lippert Components, Dometic, Suburban, Atwood, Coleman RVP, Carefree, King, Blue Ox, Winegard, Southwire, WFCO, Thetford, Norcold, LaSalle Bristol, Furrion, Victron Energy, Battle Born Battery, Interstate Batteries, Progressive Dynamics, Hughes Auto, MORryde, Dexter, Roadmaster, Reese, Demco, SnapPad, B&W, Pull-Rite, Curt, Fastway, Solera, Onan Generator, Honda, Generac — and many additional suppliers and vendors throughout the RV industry.
Summary Statement
RVs are complex systems built from hundreds of third-party components. Because of this complexity, ongoing training is essential. Dustin has completed thousands of training hours over decades of work, spanning suppliers, distributors, OEMs, and industry education providers — providing the technical foundation necessary for expert witness evaluation, failure analysis and testimony.
RV Industry Insurance & Extended Warranty Experience
Over the last 26+ years, Dustin has assisted thousands of RV owners with insurance claim repairs, damage analysis, adjustments, and extended warranty claim management. He has extensive experience communicating with adjusters, warranty administrators, underwriters, and claims departments across multiple national providers.
Insurance Companies Worked With Include:
Progressive, AAA, State Farm, Geico, Nationwide, USAA, Good Sam, Safeco, National General, The Hartford, American Modern Insurance, GMAC Insurance
Extended Warranty Companies Worked With Include:
United States Warranty Corporation, Wholesale Warranties, CSP Claims, Good Sam, American Guardian, EasyCare, Cornerstone, Portfolio Protection, Protective Asset, MBA Insurance, Phoenix American — and numerous additional third-party service contract providers throughout the industry.
RV Industry Trainer & Instructor
Dustin has provided professional RV repair training throughout his career — both inside and outside his own repair facility. He has trained RV technicians, service advisors, and parts personnel at multiple dealerships and independent shops including:
- Geweke RV
- Camping World
- Pan Pacific RV
- Central Valley RV Repair, Inc.
Dustin has conducted safety training, product orientation, maintenance instruction, and technical coaching at RV shows, consumer events, Good Sam rallies, and local campground events. Additionally, he has provided industry software training on Reynolds & Reynolds, IDS, SNI, and QuickBooks.
Publications Featuring California RV Specialists
Dustin, Ashley and California RV Specialists have been featured and recognized across multiple national and regional publications within the RV industry and business community.
RV PRO Magazine – April 2021
6-page feature spotlight on California RV Specialists in their RV dealers / repair facility industry section.
Herlife Magazine – March 2020
Entrepreneur issue featuring Dustin & Ashley Simpson and the California RV Specialists business model.
RV Business Magazine – March 2020
RV industry news feature and business spotlight article.
Additional Background & Education
Cosumnes River College – Sacramento, CA
Relevant coursework: Business Administration, Management and Marketing.
San Joaquin Delta College – Stockton, CA
Relevant coursework: Architecture, Engineering, ICBO Building Inspection and Drafting.
California Army National Guard
Dustin proudly served his country as a member of the California Army National Guard.
Galt, California – Police Cadet Program
Dustin volunteered with the Galt Police Department (Sacramento County) as a Police Cadet during his high school years.
Statement
We provide education and clarity for RV buyers, sellers, current owners, insurance carriers, and extended warranty companies by offering in-depth, independent third-party inspections. Each inspection includes a comprehensive written report with supporting photos, documenting existing conditions, potential concerns, safety hazards, and developing issues that may impact value, usability, structural integrity, or long-term ownership.
Our goal is to inform and protect RV consumers by identifying issues early — before they become costly failures.
Additional Testing Methods Utilized
Air Quality Testing
Detects formaldehyde gases and other potentially harmful airborne contaminants within the RV.
Carbon Monoxide Testing
Tests fuel burning appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, and refrigerators for CO leakage during operation.
Propane Leak Detection
Checks accessible appliance gas connections for propane leaks.
Moisture Meter Testing
Used to detect moisture presence in walls, cabinetry, panels, carpet, framing and interior materials — useful for identifying hidden or developing water intrusion.
Digital Anemometer Testing
Measures heating and air conditioning output airflow and temperature at vents for HVAC performance validation.
Thermal Imaging Camera
Used for electrical panel inspection, identifying overheating components, diagnosing HVAC issues, and detecting hidden water damage, voids, insulation deficiencies, and structural anomalies.
Endoscope Inspection Camera (Borescope)
Flexible inspection camera with LED lighting for visual inspection in confined, difficult to access, interior spaces.