Testimonials

“Patricia is a consummate professional, thoroughly schooled in her profession, and one of the most composed witnesses I have every watched testify.”

— Michael J. McLaughlin, Esq.
Landlord – Evictions and Unlawful Detainer Actions

 “Patricia Fisher was selected by joint agreement of my opposing counsel, who represented a government entity, and me, to conduct a questioned document examination to determine if a disputed signature on a document was that of my client, or another person who had denied signing the document. She performed the examination in a prompt fashion, and her ultimate conclusions were clearly and thoroughly explained and well-supported in a detailed report provided to both parties. Ultimately, her report let to an evidentiary hearing before an arbitrator where Ms. Fisher testified about her work, the opinions she reached concerning the signature, and provided the basis for those opinions. The arbitrator who presided over the matter found that Ms. Fisher’s work, ultimate conclusions, and testimony were entitled to great weight and made findings consistent with her opinions. I would not hesitate to call upon Ms. Fisher in the future and an objective and thorough analysis of a disputed signature.”

— Michael L. Rains, Esq.
Criminal Defense

"Our firm retained M. Patricia Fisher as an expert in a marital dissolution proceeding. A well respected trial judge (now retired) in the San Francisco Bay area who presided for several years in the “Complex Civil Trial” Department, found that Ms. Fisher’s analysis was more thorough than the opposing expert, more credible, and more worthy of belief. ... The opposing expert testified that in the “expert handwriting analysis” and independent document examiner field it is possible to deem an authentic signature as “identified.” Here, he was unable to do that. The most he could say was that it was “highly probable” our client signed it. However, the opposing expert also acknowledged that their analysis was limited by the lack of an original signature. They only had poor reproduction copies.

Ms. Fisher’s analysis of the signature in question was more persuasive and explained more carefully. The opposing expert testified he agreed with Ms. Fisher’s careful observations (but not her conclusions). Where Ms. Fisher reported discrepancies between the signature in question and the known specimens of our client’s handwriting, the opposing expert simply said the handwriting analysis was within “the range of variation.” Therefore, acknowledging the signatures on the various documents were noticeably different, but dismissed those differences by referring to a “range of variation” without explaining convincingly how they determined the breadth of that “range.”

Ms. Fisher, used a Video Spectral Comparator to examine the signatures in considerable detail. (The opposing expert testified that such an “overlay” is an appropriate methodology yet they didn’t apply it.) Also, she noted the absence of a middle initial in the signature on the Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (which wasn’t on the other signatures). She compared the plane on which the signatures were written, observed how the first initial differed from that character in the known signatures, and compared the first initial in all the signatures. She noted that the “final stroke” in the Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt was “less constricted” than the counterpart strokes in the known signatures. “This is a subtle characteristic, and it would be an easy mistake made by a person attempting to simulate the signature”. Exhibit V, p.4.

Despite the opposing expert being a document examiner for a considerable time, it was difficult to assess his credentials. It appeared their primary affiliation was with a now defunct organization called the “American College of Forensic Examiners.”

Ms. Fisher testified, without contradiction, the “American College” was created by someone which ceased to exist when that person died in a murder-suicide. She said the person’s organization offered no formal certification to document examiners. (no evidence suggests the organization’s work related primarily to document examiners.)

She also knowledgeably testified organization had a questionable reputation within the independent document examiner field.

Ms. Fisher has been practicing in this field for nearly forty years. She’s been certified by the Board of Forensic Document Examiners since 2003, also by the Association of Forensic Document Examiners, and the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists. She has served as Vice-President of the Board of Forensic Document Examiners and editor of the Journal of Forensic Document Examination, a peer reviewed journal.

Ms. Fisher explained that the Board of Forensic Document Examiners has been accredited by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board, which, she said, is “an organization set up with a grant from the Department of Justice in conjunction with the American Academy of Forensic Science to provide a way for judges and attorneys to know what certification bodies have met the highest standards in their field.” Trial Transcript, 115:16-20.

The Court carefully considered all of the testimony of the experts, including those matters they included and excluded from consideration. It has weighed all that testimony and the exhibits they discussed. This is quintessentially a case in which the Court must determine which expert’s opinion is more credible and worthy of belief. In this case, it finds that Ms. Fisher’s analysis was more thorough than the opposing expert, is more credible, and is more worthy of belief."
— Greg C. Abel, Esq.
Family Law

“Patricia Fisher’s initial review and opinion of relevant documents concerning the authenticity of a signature on a will resulted in my accepting a case in 2020 that was recently resolved very favorably for my client. Ms. Fisher’s expertise, dedication, insight and continued communication throughout the litigation were invaluable. I can’t express how truly grateful I am that Patricia Fisher was willing and able to provide her expertise. I whole heartedly recommend her.”

— Holley H. Perez, Esq.
Probate

 

“It was because of you and your wonderful work. Everyone agreed that the writing was the grantors and the court entered and order affirming the changes on the trust. I will recommend you to anyone who needs hand writing analysis. I am so happy we found you.”

— Joan Grimes, Esq.
Probate

 

“My firm retained Ms. Fisher to establish that certain key documents were not signed by my client. Her testimony during our jury trial was without a doubt critical to our success. Her demonstratives and clarity at trial were hugely beneficial for the jury. Thank you for your professionalism, expertise, and effectiveness.”

— Kyle Monte de Oca, Esq.
Legal Malpractice

 

“Trustworthy and reliable; Patricia was my hired expert in a recent trial and was able to help us prove our claims to the court even though we had a short deadline and a high burden to meet. I would work with her again and recommend hiring her.”

— Suzanne A. Tong, Esq.
Family Law

 

“I have personally worked with Patricia on a very complicated case that was litigated in Contra Costa County. She was of great help to my client and the Court in analyzing documents and giving testimony. She had a PowerPoint presentation that explained how she arrived at her expert opinion and conclusions. We were very fortunate to have her participate in this case. I highly recommend Fisher Forensic Documentary Laboratory and would use these services again.”

— Debra H. Kirk, Esq.
Family Law

 

“I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you and to let you know what a brilliant job you did. Clearly, you were very thorough and diligent in your methods and as a result, your testimony was delivered in terms that were clear and concise. I was remarkably impressed. I couldn’t have asked for a better witness.”

— Suzanne
Client in a probate case

 

“Because of her strong background in litigated matters, her tremendous work ethic in research and preparation, and her creativity, our firm classifies Patricia Fisher with the highest rating of any of the professional experts we deal with in these matters. She recently allowed us to prevail in a case against the adverse opinions of two other experts. Her testimony was so clear and forceful along with her excellent graphics that it essentially made the day for our position that the will was a forgery.”

– Stanley Pedder, Esq.
Probate
Lafayette, CA

 

“I thank you for the work you did. I thought it was brilliant.”

– Barbara R. Simon
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
San Francisco, CA

“You recently served as my expert witness in a will forgery case. The case was complicated by the loss of several originals by a third party, and a decline in health by the testator during the period in question.

You were of enormous assistance to me, not only in analyzing the documents in question, but also helping focus discovery and in obtaining appropriate handwriting samples from the witnesses and beneficiaries involved. Although the opposing party consulted three other document examiners, the case settled three days after I presented just a summary of your report.

You have earned the deep gratitude of my client and myself, and I recommend you without reservation for any questioned documents case.”

– Rick Seim, Esq.
Milpitas, CA

 

“Ms. Fisher provided excellent analysis in a very difficult and complex matter requiring the evaluation of many important amendments to a trust document which disinherited two parties of about $2 million in assets. Her testimony was particularly impressive and helpful when compared to the opposing expert. I strongly recommend her.”

– Bradley A. Bening, Esq.
San Jose, CA

 

“You have set the standard for what I expect of an expert – someone passionate, meticulous, knowledgeable, and of the highest integrity. Thank you so much for all your help in our case.”

– Ben E. Dupré, Esq.
Santa Clara, CA

 

“Ms. Fisher is one of the most intelligent, pleasant, and convincing experts we’ve ever used.”

– Mark Hooshmand, Esq.
San Francisco, CA

 

“Patricia Fisher is a highly competent, thorough and credible questioned document examiner. She is so well respected that the District Attorney called her as his witness before she even testified on my client’s behalf – and her testimony resulted in an immediate dismissal for my client. I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Fisher’s work.”

– Henry H. Doering, III
San Francisco Deputy Public Defender (retired)

 

“…the court agreed with your conclusion that the questioned signature on the guaranty at issue was not genuine. It was quite evident that, solely due to your testimony, we prevailed on that issue.

I was extremely impressed by your professional integrity, meticulous investigation and examination of the documents in question, and your demeanor on the witness stand. We were also very appreciative of your prompt turnaround time, and willingness to meet our scheduling demands.”

– John MacConaghy, Esq.
Sonoma, CA

 

“Patricia Fisher is one of the best forensic handwriting (document, paper, ink, impressions) experts I have ever used. Her report and trial testimony were very credible.”

– Jerome Blaha, Esq.
Pleasanton, California
Special Recommendation

“Allow me to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of my mother whom you have assisted in testifying during the trial in San Jose with such dedication, accuracy, and professionalism. Our expert in Japan agreed with your analysis.”

– Dr. Iri Sato-Baran
Japan

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