About Us

Norman D. Bates, Esq.

President

Norman D. Bates, Esq., President and founder of Liability Consultants, Inc., is a nationally-recognized expert in security and the law.  For over thirty years, he has been providing security management consulting services to private industry as well as court-certified expert witness services nationwide to both plaintiff and defense firms in civil cases regarding inadequate security, negligent hiring or training, use of force and workplace violence.

A frequent media spokesman, Mr. Bates has been interviewed and commented on current news stories regarding crime and liability for ABC’s 20-20, CBS News, NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, Security magazine and others.

Formerly, Mr. Bates was an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Boston and Director of Security and Legal Counsel to the Saunders Hotel Corporation. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar (admitted in 1985), the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (President 2009-2011), the National Crime Victim Bar Association, ASIS International, Society for Human Resource Management, and the International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security. He is a former member of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) , the Defense Research Institute (DRI),the American Bar Association,and the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Lara Salvatore Richardson, Esq.

Vice President

Vice President of Liability Consultants, Inc., Ms. Richardson has analyzed over five hundred civil litigation cases, both plaintiff and defense, involving claims of inadequate security, negligent hiring or training, and workplace violence.

In addition to case work, Ms. Richardson provides a variety of security management consulting services to private industry, including risk assessments, employee training, and policy and procedure development.  She conducts security related training for corporate employees, and provides guidance to companies on the legal implications surrounding the failure to have an adequate security plan in place.  In addition, Ms. Richardson has served as a speaker on a variety of security topics.

Prior to joining Liability Consultants, Inc., Ms. Richardson was a defense litigator for Morrison Mahoney LLP, specializing in premises liability defense work, including negligent security cases. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University.  She is admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court of Massachusetts. She is a member of ASIS International and the Association of Residential Security Directors.

Danielle Frank

Senior Consultant

Danielle A. Frank is a Senior Consultant with Liability Consultants, Inc. Ms. Frank provides security analysis for civil litigation firms for both plaintiff and defense cases involving inadequate security, and negligent employee hiring and training.

Ms. Frank holds degrees in English Literature and Human Development from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law. In law school, she interned for the Suffolk Superior Court with the Honorable Raymond J. Brassard, for the civil litigation firm Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin, P.C., and for the Prescription Access Litigation Project at Community Catalyst in Boston, MA.

As an undergraduate, Ms. Frank was awarded Boston College’s 2001 Lynch School of Education Award for Academic Excellence and attended law school as a merit scholar. She is the co-author of an article on premises security experts and admissibility considerations under Daubert and Kumho, published in the Suffolk University Law School Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy.  Ms. Frank is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.

Cindy Shea

Office Manager

Cindy Shea is the Office Manager for Liability Consultants, Inc. She manages all administrative aspects of the business including the day–to–day and financial operations of the office. She provides administrative support to Mr. Bates and his senior consultants and maintains calendar and case management systems. Ms. Shea has more than 25 years of experience managing the essential functions of small businesses.

 Aaron Kearney, M.A.

Crime Analyst/Research Associate

As the Crime Analyst and Research Associate for Liability Consultants, Inc., Mr. Kearney analyzes crime statistics from police departments across the nation and conducts research on a variety of security-related topics.

Mr. Kearney received a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and obtained Graduate Certificates in Forensic Criminology and Domestic Violence Prevention from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. During this time, he authored the thesis Perpetrator Typology and Coercive Control.

Mr. Kearney graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While pursuing his degree, he interned with the UMass Lowell Center for Terrorism and Security Studies.