Summary
Robert V. Equals has over twentyfive years of professional accounting/business expertise and twenty years of litigation support as an expert working for attorneys. As a California licensed Certified Public Accountant, Robert Equals has coupled his dual Masters' degrees in Finance and Economics into special forensic tools which support analysis and testifying as an expert on economic/business damages, finance, and accounting matters. His expert case work is a mix at 55% defense and 45% plaintiff.

Mr. Equals' firm, Equals & Kita, LLP, specializes in forensic accounting which is simply the audit, investigation and diagnosis of factual accounting evidence. Over the past ten years, the firm has worked for trial and corporate attorneys who need experts that know how to structure winning positions, whether plaintiff or defense. The firm's practice is fundamentally litigation support but includes audits, consulting, accounting transaction reviews, divorce/Moore-Marsden, and corrective action plans for clients.

Robert Equals' unique set of expert financial accounting and economics skills was founded in twentyfive years of major corporate experience. He has held key management positions as Controller, Vice President - Finance, and Chief Financial Officer and currently works as an Expert Witness and Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Equals has taught evening classes in finance/contracts at the University of California - Irvine and at the University of California - Riverside. Consequently, Mr. Equals is comfortable and current in accounting expertise.

Mr. Equals' case assignments have been broad: Superior and Federal Courts; wrongful termination to false claims; civil and criminal to divorce/moore-marsden; income tax to partnership fraud; accounting malpractice to business/stock valuation. On Qui Tam-False Claims cases, Robert Equals provides both expert witness testimony as well as the determination of corrective actions and dollar off-sets. Additionally, he often works as a consultant on contract claims and disputes where the negotiation turns on accounting transactions, job cost records and historical financial statements.

Robert Equals' unique contribution to his attorney-clients continues to be an innate ability to communicate and team with the attorney to assist development of a winning strategy. If the case turns on accounting, economic or financial fact, Mr. Equals is able to analyze, process and produce creative expert work product for the client. Although each case's set of facts are distinctive, there is always a best, new way to communicate expert accounting and economic testimony to the jury and the judge.

Robert Equals' forensic accounting skills are based on five years of corporate, in-house litigation experience while working with in-house legal counsel on staff assignments with outside law firms and senior partners in supporting Company cases. While assigned to these high-exposure financial damage cases, Mr. Equals invented and developed a computerized accounting approach for forensic accounting. This expert investigative audit approach adapts the winning elements from the disciplines of economics, finance, and statistics to provide a highly successful forensic accounting solution to the most challenging business litigation cases. Furthermore, this forensic accounting approach has been perfected by both the in-house and outside legal counsels so that the factual evidence could be protected and used at trial. In short, these attorneys improved the logical computer filters to produce special report formats suitable and useable by lawyers for litigation. Whether the reports are customized by attorneys or accountants, these reports identify both potential damages as well as economic off-sets which may be required for settlement or trial.

Over the past twentyfive years, Mr. Equals has had experience with Washington D.C. law firms, Southern California attorneys, California corporations, and Government agencies. This experience and assignments has involved thousands of case hours and hundreds of hours of deposition support, and deposition/trial testimony experience. More importantly, Robert Equals' personal track record demonstrates that his technical support has assisted attorneys to resolve, settle, or argue the best possible position for the client. Generally speaking, cases have been a win or an advantageous settlement for the client and attorney.

Academic and Professional Credentials

Formal Education:

1. University of Southern California, Master of Science in Business (MS), . Major - Business, Minor - Finance/Accounting.
   Thesis: Energy & Environment - Electrical Power Industry.
   
   
2. University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration in Finance and Economics (MBA), 1971. Majors - Finance and Economics;
   Minors - Management and Accounting.
   
   
3. Portland State University, Bachelor of Science (BS),
   Majors - Mathematics and Science; Minor - Engineering
   
   
4. University of California at Los Angeles; Executive Program - Certificate in Management, ; Major - Management and Economics.
   Advanced, Intermediate, Cost, and Management Accounting;
   

Professional Certificates:

1. Certified Public Accountant, California.
   
   
2. Certified Public Accountant, Washington.
   
   
3. Certified California Community College Instructor.
   Business and Industrial Management; Banking and Finance.

Professional Affiliations:

1. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
   
   
2. California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
   
   
3. National Contract Management Association.

Professional Experience

Private Practice - Litigation Accounting

1. Equals & Kita, LLP
   Certified Public Accountants
   2516 Via Tejon, Suite 219, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274;
   Office: (310) 373-7851; FAX: (310) 375-7892
   
   Clients: Private Attorneys; Law Firms; Corporations; Small Businesses; NASA; U.S. Department of Justice; Los Angeles County
   
   Scope: Contract Claims; Economics; Damages; Wrongful Termination; Accounting Review & Analysis; Audits and Investigation.; Damages; Lost Earnings; Qui Tam Defense - Whistle Blower Cases; False Claims & Billings; Partnership & Income Tax Fraud; Lost Income; Audits and Data Reconstruction; Divorce/Moore-Marsden; Malpractice; Federal Contracts - FAR & CAS.
   
   
2. Kita & Equals Forensic Accounting; Audits and Investigations; Expert Witness Testimony; Contracts; Federal Acquisition Regulations; Cost Accounting Standards; Qui Tam Defense.
   
   Forensic accounting services for attorneys and corporations requiring services for investigations and/or government contract services related to contract claims and disputes. Analyses of in-house accounting records and transactions to validate compliance to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
   
   Technical support on federal contract regulatory options for improved accounting procedures to optimize cash flow. Development of forward pricing rates and indirect expense claims where there are unusual/unique cost settlements issues. Terminations. Income reviews and analyses.
   
   

2. Academic/Teaching Experience:

1. Extension Instructor
   University of California - Irvine
   University of California - Riverside
   
   

Financial Aspects of Contract Management
Contract Management - MGMT X409.23 & X410.11 (4 units). A required course in the Certification Program in Contract Management.

The course covers the financial accounting aspects of contract management including: use of a financial report, balance sheet and income statement. Accounting topics include profit and loss; direct cost/indirect costs, overhead management; general & administration costs; cost accounting terminology; inventory management; job order costing; process cost accounting and standard costs; problems in overhead management; and, cost-volume-profit analysis. Government Accounting: FAR & CAS. Financial topics include capital budgeting, financial analysis, and budgets.

3. U.S. Government Security Clearances:

1. Various DOD and special access clearances.
   Secret, Crypto and FBI.
   

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All original materials within, © Copyright 2003 Equals & Kita, LLP

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