Aviation Litigation Support Services
Independent aircraft valuation and technical analysis for attorneys, from case evaluation and discovery through deposition and trial, in aircraft contract, transaction, and valuation disputes.
Aviation Litigation Requires Aviation-Specific Expertise
Aircraft-related litigation often turns on questions that general litigation experts cannot credibly answer. What was the aircraft worth? Was it in the condition represented? Did the maintenance history support the price? Was a transaction structured and disclosed the way the contract required?
Western Aviation's litigation support is led by David Fisher, ASA, an aircraft appraisal expert witness who also has hands-on aviation operating and transaction experience. Attorneys get an independent, clearly documented analysis of the aircraft and valuation issues in their case, whether it is headed to trial or toward a negotiated resolution.
Aircraft Appraisal Expert Witness for Contract, Transaction, and Tax Disputes
Breach of Contract and Purchase Agreement Disputes
Purchase agreement disputes often come down to whether the aircraft matched its represented condition, specifications, and records at closing, and what any gap is worth. David evaluates the aircraft, its records, and the market to quantify the difference.
Back-to-Back Transactions and Ownership Disputes
In back-to-back sales, partnerships, and fractional arrangements, disagreements over value, disclosure, and each party's obligations are common. Real transaction experience helps explain how these deals work in practice.
Brokerage and Charter Disputes
Disputes over broker commissions, representation, and duties, and over charter agreements and operations, depend on industry practice. David has been an aircraft dealer and broker since 2000 and has worked in charter operations, so he can explain how these arrangements normally work and where a party departed from standard practice.
Aircraft Property Tax Appeals
Many taxing authorities value aircraft using general price guides that ignore actual condition, damage history, and records. An independent, USPAP-compliant appraisal can support an aircraft property tax appeal with market evidence specific to that aircraft.
Loss of Use
When an aircraft is out of service because of a dispute, damage, or a failed transaction, loss of use analysis estimates the economic cost of the downtime, including charter replacement or lease-rate equivalents.
When Litigation Support Is Valuable
- Counsel needs an aviation expert to evaluate aircraft value or condition in a dispute
- A case involves conflicting aircraft appraisals or valuation opinions
- Opposing counsel has designated an aviation expert and a rebuttal opinion is needed
- A dispute involves breach of contract, a purchase agreement, or a back-to-back transaction
- A broker commission, brokerage duty, or charter agreement is in dispute
- A partnership or fractional ownership arrangement has broken down
- A taxing authority's aircraft valuation appears overstated
- An expert disclosure deadline is approaching
Litigation Support Review Areas
- Aircraft valuation and appraisal review
- Maintenance and logbook records
- Damage history and repair documentation
- Contract, purchase agreement, and transaction representations
- Opposing expert reports and methodology
- FAA records and regulatory compliance
- Partnership, lease, and fractional ownership terms as they relate to value
- Case-specific technical aviation questions
From Case Intake to Testimony
Step 1: Conflict Check and Scope
We clear conflicts, then define the valuation and technical questions, the deadlines, and the deliverables with counsel.
Step 2: Document and Records Review
We review aircraft records, prior appraisals, maintenance history, transaction documents, and relevant case materials.
Step 3: Independent Opinion
David develops an opinion using USPAP-compliant methodology, with every assumption and data source documented.
Step 4: Report, Deposition, and Trial
We deliver a written report and provide deposition, trial, arbitration, or mediation testimony as the matter requires.
Headline
Your Expert: David Fisher, ASA
Body Copy
David Fisher is an ASA Senior Accredited Appraiser and has been an aircraft dealer and broker since 2000, with more than 300 aircraft transactions. He has served as an aviation expert witness for more than 30 years and has never been disqualified or removed from a case. He explains valuation and technical issues in terms a judge or jury can follow.
Before you designate an expert, you should know who you are getting. Request David's current CV, testimony list, and attorney references and we will send them within one business day.
CTA (links to /expert-witness-inquiry; pre-select "Request CV, Testimony List & References")
Request CV, Testimony List & References
Testimony Built on Transactions, Not Theory
Contract and transaction disputes are about how aircraft deals actually work: what buyers inspect, how records affect price, and what "represented condition" means in practice. Because David has bought, sold, brokered, and appraised aircraft for more than 30 years, through more than 300 transactions, and has financed them at GE Capital, he can speak to those questions from experience, backed by a USPAP-compliant appraisal and a clear record of how he reached his opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of disputes fall under litigation support?
Breach of contract, aircraft purchase agreement disputes, brokerage and charter disputes, back-to-back transaction disputes, partnership and fractional ownership conflicts, valuation disagreements, aircraft property tax appeals, and related commercial aviation litigation.
Can Western Aviation provide a rebuttal to an opposing expert?
Yes. We review opposing appraisals and expert reports for methodology, data, and assumptions, and we provide an independent rebuttal opinion and testimony when needed.
Do you handle aircraft property tax appeals?
Yes. We prepare independent, USPAP-compliant appraisals that document the aircraft's actual condition, records, and market value to support a property tax appeal.
Do you handle loss-of-use claims?
Yes. We estimate the economic cost of downtime, including replacement charter or lease-rate equivalents, for the period the aircraft was unavailable.
How quickly can you help with an upcoming disclosure deadline?
Contact us as early as possible. We respond within one business day and can often provide rebuttal reviews on short timelines, depending on how many records are involved.
What happens once Western Aviation is retained?
A conflict check and scoping call, then records review, independent opinion development, and a written report, followed by deposition or trial testimony if needed.
Handling an Aviation Litigation Matter?
Start with a conflict check. Western Aviation can evaluate the aircraft, valuation, and technical issues at the center of your case.