David E Bridges

David E. Bridges is a technically trained attorney in Meagher + Geer's Catastrophic Loss Practice Group, operating out of the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas Metroplex. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including fires, explosions, structural failures, fire protection system failures, product failures, and other catastrophic losses and construction-related incidents across the United States. His assignments include forensic investigations of first-property and other catastrophic losses, including fires and explosions involving industrial, commercial, and residential facilities, agricultural and commercial equipment, passenger and commercial motor vehicles, including tractors, trailers, and semi-trucks, motor coaches, and passenger buses, and marine vessels. David brings science and law together to investigate those incidents and provide representation from the outset of the incident through trial.

David also represents and consults with private and public sector fire and explosion origin and cause investigators, forensic engineers, and other specialists around the country who are faced with Daubert– or Frye-related challenges to their qualifications, methodology, and/or opinions. He is an International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI®) and IAAI Certified Instructor (IAAI-CI®).

Prior to joining Meagher + Geer as an associate, David was a technical specialist, fire scientist, and certified fire investigator with our Catastrophic Loss Practice Group. David received his J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law, operating on the southeastern coastal states on behalf of various Meagher + Geer clients. In his undergraduate studies, David focused on science, with emphasis on fire protection engineering. He has worked on numerous property loss assignments across the United States, in accordance with his status as an IAAI-CFI®.

David also had extensive experience as a special agent, certified fire investigator, and accelerant detection canine (K-9) handler with the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) / State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI). There, he worked alongside his partner, NCSBI Accelerant Detection K-9 “Phoenix”. Further, in addition to the investigation of structure fire/explosions, David has also participated in wildfire “origin and cause” workshops provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) / Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (NCDFR).

David has conducted examinations of over 1,000 fires as an investigator. He has been an instructor for more than 36 live training fires. In addition, he has served as an investigator in eight (8) bombing/explosion incidents.

David served on the IAAI-Board of Directors and as Co-Chair of the IAAI’s Training & Education (T&E) Committee from 2017-2023. He served as the IAAI-Second (2nd) Vice President from 2023-2024 and IAAI-First (1st) Vice President from 2024-2025. David currently serves as IAAI-President and IAAI-T&E Committee Chair. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the United States Department of Justice’s (USDOJ) / Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ (ATF) and National Fire Academy’s (NFA) fire and explosion training programs. The courses focus on fire and explosion origin and cause investigation, interview and interrogation, and expert witness-courtroom testimony techniques.