Mechanical Engineering Expert | Forensic Consultant | Testifying Expert Witness

Dr. T. Kim Parnell is a recognized mechanical engineering expert with over four decades of experience spanning litigation consulting, forensic failure analysis, product design, and advanced simulation. He is the Founder and Principal of Parnell Engineering & Consulting (PEC), where he has provided expert witness services in a vast range of legal matters across medical devices, industrial machinery, consumer products, and high-profile intellectual property disputes.

Dr. Parnell holds a PhD and MSME from Stanford University and a BES from Georgia Tech (Highest Honors). He is a licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer (PE) in California and an ASME Fellow. His leadership extends across the engineering community, serving as Vice President of the Silicon Valley Engineering Council (SVEC), past Chair of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section (the nation’s largest), and past Chair and Board Member of the IEEE Consultants’ Network of Silicon Valley (IEEE-CNSV).

Expert Witness Credentials: Dr. Parnell has delivered expert testimony in state, federal, and ITC courts, with over 20 depositions, 15 IPR declarations, and testimony in 7 trials. His litigation experience includes product liability, patent infringement, accident reconstruction, and failure analysis. Notable cases include Rebotix v. Intuitive Surgical, SRAM v. Fox Factory, and Otter Products v. Fellowes. He is routinely engaged for complex matters involving medical devices (stents, IVC filters, surgical tools), structural failures, and mechanical systems across consumer, industrial, and automotive applications.

Consulting & Industry Impact: Beyond his expert witness work, Dr. Parnell is a trusted advisor to both emerging startups and global corporations, bringing strategic and technical insight to complex engineering challenges. He has led design validation, reliability testing, and regulatory readiness for a wide range of technologies—from implantable medical devices to consumer products and vehicle systems. His consulting contributions have supported successful FDA submissions, accelerated product development, and improved performance across critical applications. Earlier in his career, he held senior engineering leadership roles at Exponent and MSC Software, where he led investigations of industrial accidents, and shaped industry best practices in mechanical analysis and simulation and improved product quality and reliability. Dr. Parnell is also a sought-after national presenter on engineering failure prevention, design for reliability, and use of innovative materials such as Nitinol and composite materials.

Academic Appointments: Dr. Parnell has held faculty positions at both Stanford University and Santa Clara University, where he integrated hands-on industry and litigation experience into engineering education. At Stanford, he taught graduate-level courses in the Mechanical Engineering Division of Applied Mechanics. At Santa Clara University, he led undergraduate courses in composite structures, product design, material science, manufacturing, and finite element simulation for engineering. His instruction emphasized real-world problem solving, bridging advanced theory with practical application in failure analysis, materials science, and design innovation. Dr. Parnell also served as a mentor and advisor for student engineering teams and curriculum development initiatives.

Education:

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering – Stanford University
• MSME, Mechanical Engineering – Stanford University
• BES, Engineering Science – Georgia Tech (Highest Honors)

Licensure & Affiliations:

• Licensed PE, Mechanical (CA)
• ASME Fellow | IEEE Life Senior Member | SAE, ASM International, SAMPE
• SEAK Advanced Expert Witness Training

Dr. Parnell combines technical depth, litigation clarity, and trusted expert credibility, making him a premier expert witness for complex engineering disputes.

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