Theatrical Entertainment Safety Expert Witness
EXPERT WITNESS FOR STAGE, EVENT SAFETY, AND ENTERTAINMENT BEST PRACTICES
With over 45 years of working experience in the entertainment industry, Thomas McClain provides expert witness services focused on event safety, technical theater, staging and rigging accidents, and production. His expertise covers best practices, safety issues, stage accidents and failures. Drawing on decades of hands-on work in stagecraft, high rigging, technical direction and production design, Thomas delivers clear, detailed analysis to support attorneys and law firms in performing arts safety and accident litigation.
Consulting on Incidents In:
- Concerts & Theatrical Productions
- Business Convention & Hotel Meetings
- Festivals & Temporary Events
- Theater, Opera, and Performing Arts
- Corporate Events & Conventions
- Film Premieres & Large Scale Special Events
Need an Expert Witness for Stage Incidents and Event Safety?
If your case involves event safety, rigging failures, or production management issues, Thomas McClain brings decades of technical and practical expertise to support your litigation.
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Expert Witness Services
What Thomas Specializes In
- Stage Failures
Expert Analysis of incidents involving rigging, stage collapses, set malfunctions, and equipment failures. - Event Safety & Best Practices
Experienced expert on safety standards for concerts, music festivals, corporate events, and theatrical productions. - Theatrical Rigging Expertise
Expert analysis of rigging systems, staging structures, and rigging design. - Technical Direction & Production Management
Testimony on safe planning, crew coordination, and vendor management for live productions.
Why Choose Thomas McClain
- 45+ years of hands-on experience in A/V, stagecraft, technical theater, grand opera, concerts, and major live special productions—including the Olympics and a Presidential Inauguration.
- Experienced in technical direction, union crew management, vendor relations, crew supervision, site planning and supervision, event permitting, and coordinating with local agencies (fire, police, National Park Service, U.S. Secret Service, etc.) to ensure workplace and event safety standards are met.
- Recognized expertise in entertainment industry best practices and risk mitigation.
- Founding member of the Event Safety Alliance and contributor to the Event Safety Guide.
- Member of USITT Technical Standards Program, participating in rigging and event safety workshops that create ANSI standards.
Select Cases
- 2013 – Indianapolis State Fair Stage Collapse
- 2014 – Dancer injured by a cryogenic special effect
- 2015 – Stagehand injured during a load out
- 2016 – Dancer disabled by stage machinery on a cruise shop
- 2017 – Patent infringement case concerning a theatrical rigging system
- 2017 – Audience member injured by falling off a stage during a performance
- 2017 – Audience member injured by falling off a stage during a rock show
- 2018 – Fall from stage
- 2019 – Injury from a cable ramp trip hazard
- 2019 – Stagehand injury, LED screen rigging failure at a festival
- 2019 – Lighting Designer injured by falling through a hole onstage
- 2019 – Valuation dispute of stage technical equipment
- 2020 – Stagehand injury during a load-in
- 2021 – Technician injured on a TV show set
- 2022 – Guest injured by a trade show booth collapse
- 2023 – Festival guests injured by a falling wire-guided camera
- 2024 – Art Designer injured by a forklift during a load in
- 2025 – Actor injured due to poor stage lighting
Get in Touch
tommcclain@comcast.net
+1 (503) 539-7740