Wayne B. Norris
Expert Witness in Computing, Patents, and Technology

I have served the legal community in the role of an expert witness and appraiser of technology since 1985, and have assisted in more than 35 cases since that time.  My expert witness practice constitutes less than 15% of my total practice.  In over 90% of the cases in which I have participated,  verdicts were rendered that were favorable to the parties with whom I worked.  Download my CV in PDF format.

Expert Witness Areas:

• Software development issues, practices, responsibilities, financing, responsibility
• Appraisal and valuation of hardware and software assets
• Software industry subcontracting standards and practices
• Aerial law enforcement surveillance practices
• Outsourcing, including domestic and international
• Management practices in engineering, science, research & development, and technology
• Aircraft operations [I am an FAA rated Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor, Ground Instructor, and Parachute Rigger]
• Patent issues
• General physics, dynamics, and mechanics
• Hazardous materials, oil spills, and industrial safety
• Related issues

In my largest case, I was asked to be the US Government's expert witness for software development issues in the multi-year case of Microsoft Corporation versus Commissioner of Internal Revenue [US Tax Court Docket Number 16878-96], the largest tax case ever litigated in history.  The case involved the world's 48 largest software firms, with Microsoft's acting as the lead plaintiff.  I authored four expert witness reports that were admitted into the record, and testified for approximately 7 hours, including voire dire, direct, cross, redirect, and recross.  I was the principal architect of the Government's technical approach toward interpretation of IRC 927(c) in the case of software.  The verdict, $1.7 billion against all 48 companies, was the largest tax verdict in history.  Upon qualified request, any or all of the expert witness reports and a transcript of the full testimony will be provided for examination.

One of my fellow expert witnesses, Mr. Ray Ocampo, has graciously agreed to provide his highest recommendation for my work, upon qualified request.  Mr. Ocampo, who was the Government's witness for Intellectual Property, was the former Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel for Oracle Corporation for over 10 years, and is currently on Oracle's Board of Directors.  Mr. Ocampo is currently Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, University of California at Berkeley (http://www.law.berkeley.edu/institutes/bclt/faculty.html).

I have also acted as a patent consultant for the US Government and private firms, reviewing patents for applicability to various cases and for intrinsic financial value.