A Guide for Attorneys
Retaining the right dram shop expert witness before the case strategy is locked in gives counsel a significant advantage. The expert can help identify the operative records to request in discovery, assess whether the operational evidence supports the liability theory, and flag weaknesses before they become surprises at deposition or trial. This page explains what to expect when retaining Ryan Dahlstrom as a dram shop expert witness, what to provide at the initial contact, and how the engagement process works from first call through trial testimony.
The best time to retain a dram shop expert is before the complaint is filed or before the defense strategy is set. Early engagement allows the expert to evaluate the operational evidence in its raw form, before key witnesses have been deposed and before positions have hardened.
For plaintiff counsel, early expert involvement helps determine whether the available evidence supports a viable theory of over-service or visible intoxication, and which records to subpoena in discovery.
For defense counsel, early involvement allows the expert to assess whether the venue met the applicable standard of care and to identify documentation that supports a defense — before the plaintiff’s expert has framed the narrative.
When contacting Ryan Dahlstrom for an initial consultation, provide the following information if available. Not all of these are required to have a first conversation, but the more context provided, the more useful the initial consultation will be:
The scope of engagement is determined by the needs of counsel and the facts of the case. A typical engagement may include any combination of the following:
Assessment of the operational facts before the complaint is filed or the defense theory is set, so counsel understands what the evidence operationally supports before committing significant resources.
Analysis of point-of-sale records, training documentation, incident reports, surveillance footage, staffing schedules, alcohol service policies, and any other operational materials relevant to the standard of care at issue.
A written opinion addressing the applicable standard of care, the defendant establishment’s conduct relative to that standard, and the operational basis for every conclusion reached, produced to meet the requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.
Guidance on which records to request in discovery, which deposition questions will expose the operational gaps in the opposing party’s case, and how to frame the standard of care in terms the evidence can support.
Defense of the expert opinion under cross-examination, drawing on 35 years of direct operational experience in the environments at issue.
Explanation of complex operational standards and industry practices to a jury in plain, direct terms that connect the establishment’s conduct or failure to act to the harm that resulted.
Ryan Dahlstrom accepts engagements for both plaintiff and defense counsel. He provides the same standard of rigorous, evidence-based analysis regardless of which side retains him. An expert who only works one side of litigation is a weaker witness. Opposing counsel will use the one-sided engagement history to suggest bias. Ryan’s record of working both sides is a credibility asset in every engagement.
Ryan Dahlstrom’s CV and fee schedule are provided directly to retaining counsel upon request. They are not published on this site. Initial consultations are confidential and provided at no charge. Conflicts are assessed at the time of initial contact. Engagements are not accepted in matters where a conflict of interest exists.
Phone: 702.696.8745
Email: ryan@expertwitness.co
Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Urgent matters accommodated.
Attorneys may request a curriculum vitae, fee schedule, and case consultation. Expert witness services are available to assist attorneys in analyzing alcohol service practices and dram shop liability issues.
Ryan Dahlstrom is a nationally recognized expert witness with over 35 years of hands-on experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries. He has managed and advised bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and multi-unit operations across the United States, and he specializes in cases involving dram shop liability, negligent security, and responsible alcohol service practices.
Ryan has been retained by both plaintiff and defense attorneys nationwide to provide expert opinions, deposition testimony, and courtroom analysis in complex alcohol-related cases. His deep understanding of state dram shop statutes, Safe Harbor protections, intoxication timeline analysis, and security standards makes him a trusted authority in litigation involving overservice, intoxication, and venue liability.
