Mr. William M. Novotny
San Gabriel, CA 91776
William Novotny, ISA AM has over 38 years of full time valuation experience with most personal property types, both appreciating and depreciating. He became an accredited appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) in 1996 and has maintained his active accreditation. In 2002 he became an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor. He was the first personal property appraiser in the USA to become certified to teach the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). He maintains this certification through early 2020 (#44636).
Novotny has provided litigation support, written or oral appraisal reports, appraisal reviews and has been designated as an expert witness on many occasions. He was deposed six times since 2005, prior to his depositions on February 25, 2013, May 27, 2015 and July 16, 2018. His last trial testimony was on April 11, 2016 and before that on November 5, 2013.
Novotny was an antique dealer from 1979-1999. He owned a 20,000, an 8,500 and a 3,200 square foot retail store and gallery from which he bought and sold most types of personal property. He also exhibited at Bustamante and other California antique shows and antique malls. He has been an active estate sale agent since 1990 and full time appraiser since 1993.
Novotny is exceptionally experienced with all relevant and appropriate market levels. He started his career as a wholesale buyer reselling general antiques, art, collectibles and household goods. For his entire 38 years he as been daily immersed in the orderly liquidation market such as auctions and producing and pricing estate sales as an agent or while acting as an appraiser. To this day he continues to research and review auction results from national and local auctions on a daily basis for most personal property object types. He frequently assists other estate sale agents in the pricing of their personal property intended for sale. Since 1979 he starts his day with independent study of appraisal issues or the identification and valuation of the many different personal property types and their regional characteristics. He is a master in the valuation of common and ordinary objects and exceptionally knowledgable with rarities from throughout the world. Most importantly he knows his limits and declines to value objects beyond his competency.
Novotny is frequently called upon for cases in which subject properties have been lost, stolen, converted or destroyed, some with multiple plaintiffs or defendants. In such appraisal assignments the subject property cannot be inspected. In 2008 he published his first article in the Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies entitled: "Equivalent Sampling The Valuation of Loss Claims with Limited Property Descriptions". Subsequently he published articles regarding the minimum USPAP competency and scope of work requirements for generalist personal property appraisers, soon followed by two two ground-breaking articles that introduce the theory of "value shift" between alternate market level for the same object measured by a mass appraisal statistical approach that can apply to large personal property residential contents losses. All of these published articles can be reviewed on his web site under "Publications".
The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is the minimum standard by which credibility is established for all appraisers. USPAP was established to protect the public. Most appraisers take a two day USPAP course and must pass a very challenging test to demonstrate that they understand the minimum USPAP ethical and competency requirements that apply to appraisers. Novotny was the first personal property appraiser to become an AQB Certified National USPAP Instructor and authorized by the Appraisal Foundation to teach the standardized course. He has taught USPAP to personal property appraisers throughout the USA on many occasions since 1998. He currently teaches a monthly 7 Hour USPAP Update online webinar that is a mandatory course for all accredited personal property appraisers.
Court proceedings are challenging, adversarial and designed to get at the truth. Expert witnesses frequently disagree. The appraiser is under intense scrutiny and must be comfortable with these challenges. Appraisal qualifications, opinions and methods are challenged. The most qualified and experienced appraisers, that present the most persuasive and factually based opinions, will prevail in most cases.
Novotny embraces the challenges of the courtroom with confidence based on past experience, competent performance and a proper scope of work. He will establish and maintain his credibility as an expert witness by always being independent, objective, impartial and by telling the truth.
In each and every litigation support assignment Novotny's report and testimony:
• will be based on facts, proper appraisal methodology, his past knowledge and experience and a scope of work sufficient to develop and communicate credible assignment results.
• He will identify and understand the appraisal problem and explain his solution in his appraisal report and while giving testimony.
• His standard of care and his opinion development and reporting will meet or exceed the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
• He will give his own opinion based on the facts of the case.
• He will present a professional appearance and demeanor.
• He will maintain composure, consider the question posed carefully and provide a simple, direct, supportable expert answer to the question asked.
Contact Novotny now to discuss your appraisal problem, Call 626-292-2224.
- Antiques, Art, & Collectibles Appraisal
- Personal Property Valuation
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: International Society of Appraisers, Accredited Member since 1996, requalified 2001, 2006, 2011, 2018
AQB Certified USPAP Instructor (#44636) since 2002 - Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: International Society of Appraisers
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: International Society of Appraisers - ISA USPAP instructor 2007/8 taught the 15 Hour USPAP in Dallas, Baltimore, Chicago and Sacramento
American Society of Appraisers for the San Diego chapter - 15 hour USPAP in 2005 & 2009; 7 Hour Update, 2007
American Society of Appraisers, Los Angeles chapter - 15 Hours Course, 2008
Appraisal Course Associates - 15 hour AQB National USPAP 2007 and 2008 in Baltimore Maryland
Appraiser's National Association (developed course material and taught appraisal theory, methods, report writing and USPAP 1998 - 2006)
College For Appraisers - USPAP 15 Hour and 7 Hour Update yearly 2007 - 2014 and Appraisal Theory, Methods, Practice and Report Writings (3-days, 2011) (4-days, 2014)
Appraisal Course Associates - National 15-Hour USPAP, Baltimore Md, 2008 and in 2010 developed and published online USPAP Update Courses for personal property appraisers from 2008 to 2016 and since then as a live interactive, monthly national webinar to current date.
Annual Collector's Conference: Presented 1 hour lectures: "Appraiser's Role" and "Expert Witness"
- Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Since 1997-2017 I have been retained for at least 29 litigation support assignments in which I was prepared to offer my testimony.
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Typically retained as a generalist appraiser for large loss claims, some with multiple claimants. Specialist in large loss claims without inspection. General areas of competency are appreciating and depreciating properties such as antiques, furniture, glass, ceramics, metals, textiles, lighting, ethnic items (including Asian and Native American), records, books, collectibles, garden items, appliances, sporting goods, tools etc. When necessary will consult with experts in fine art, oriental rugs, sporting goods, collectibles, machinery and equipment, books, Asian and Native American objects etc.
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 10%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 90%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: Approximately nine times.
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: July 16, 2018
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: I am not sure.
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: Six time as expert in court and once for mandatory insurance arbitrations
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: Since 2004
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Litigation consultation and support
Litigated insured loss claims.
Appraisal review (regarding the quality of another appraisers work)
Property identification and valuation for mandatory or negotiated settlement, such assignments are often further developed later for trial testimony.
Insurance appraisal arbitration panel
Frequently retained for alleged damage by fire, smoke, water intrusion, mold or asbestos contamination and conversion.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $190.00 per man hour
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: First five hours of document review to identify the problem and background facts (when inspection is not possible) are $280.00 per man hour
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $390.00 per man hour (1 hour minimum)
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $390.00 per man hour (2 hour minimum) plus $190 for waiting to provide testimony
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: On site inspection $280.00 per man hour
Property identification, research, consultation, trial preparation etc. $190.00 per man hour
Travel: $50.00 per man hour portal to portal
Distant travel: Travel and lodging etc. expenses plus $1500 half day or $3000 full day testimony
If Appraiser‘s testimony is required less than 100 miles from home-office, the Client agrees to pay $50 per hour portal to portal for travel, all associated or necessary expenses, $390 per testimony hour (2 hour minimum) plus $190 per hour while waiting to provide testimony.
References upon request.