Automotive and EV Expert Witness
What the repair orders show. What a competent technician would have done. What the service data proves.
I'm Tristan Zadeh, Founder and Principal Inspector of Zero In Diagnostics in Salt Lake City, Utah. I provide records review, vehicle inspections, expert reports, and testimony for plaintiff and defense counsel in lemon law, warranty, EV battery, and repair disputes. Before Zero In, I was a Level 4 Field Service Technician at Rivian and a factory-trained Mercedes-Benz line technician.
Practice Areas
Lemon law and repeat repairs. Repair attempts, days out of service, and whether each visit fixed the concern the owner reported, built from the repair orders.
Warranty denials. Whether a denied claim is supported by the vehicle's records, the failed part, and the manufacturer's service information.
EV battery and charging. High-voltage battery, charging, and vehicle network faults, read through the service history and the diagnostic data.
Misdiagnosis and repair quality. Whether a dealer or independent shop followed accepted diagnostic and repair procedure, and whether the invoice matches the work performed.
Diminished value and total loss. Pre-loss condition and repair quality, with value opinions built on a disclosed comparables method.
ADAS after a repair or collision. Whether required calibrations and repair procedures were performed, based on dealer and EV field experience.
What I Provide
Early case assessment. An early read on whether the repair orders and service data support the claim or the defense.
Repair order chronologies. Each visit's complaint, cause, and correction in one timeline, cited to the source documents.
Vehicle inspections. Performed where the vehicle sits, with photo documentation, scan data, and paint depth readings.
Expert reports. Findings tied to the underlying documents, with a source ledger that separates what was verified, what was claimed, and what was unavailable.
Testimony. Deposition and trial.
Consulting. Non-testifying consulting expert roles.
Background
Working on cars since I was 15, with formal automotive training since 2015 and a decade in the industry.
Zero In Diagnostics, Founder and Principal Inspector, Jan 2026 to present.
Snap-on Tools, Franchise Owner, Jul 2024 to Jan 2026.
Rivian, Field Service Technician, Mar 2022 to Jul 2024. Hired at Level 3 and promoted to Level 4, the highest field classification, in 2022. R1T and R1S high-voltage battery, drive units, charging, and vehicle networks. Multiple factory deployments to Normal, Illinois.
Mercedes-Benz of Farmington, Line Technician, May 2018 to Mar 2022. Daily XENTRY diagnostics.
Salt Lake Valley CDJR, Apprentice, then Line Technician, Nov 2017 to May 2018.
Murdock Hyundai, Express Team Lead, May 2017 to Nov 2017.
Schow's Truck Center, Diesel Technician, Dec 2016 to May 2017.
O'Reilly Auto Parts, Parts Professional, Jul 2016 to Dec 2016.
Training, Certifications, and Education
Rivian. Service training, online and in person, 2022 to 2024.
Mercedes-Benz. Factory trained throughout my time at Mercedes-Benz of Farmington, 2018 to 2022: multiple in-person factory courses at Long Beach plus factory-led virtual training.
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Stellantis and Mopar factory training with wiTECH, online and in person, 2017 to 2018.
Hyundai. Online training, 2017.
Certifications. ASE A1 (Engine Repair). EPA Section 609. STEMCO Heavy-Duty Brake Maintenance and Wheel-End Installation.
Education. Salt Lake Community College: automotive, diesel, and collision coursework beginning in 2015, plus one year of auto body, paint, panel, and frame, 2020 to 2021.
Full CV on request.
How I Work
Plaintiff and defense. I take both sides. When the records do not support a case, I say so in writing and decline it.
Scope. I stay with the evidence a technician can speak to: repair orders, service and diagnostic data, and the vehicle itself. I do not offer engineering design opinions.
My opinions. The opinions in my reports are my own. I sign them and testify to them.
Referrals. When a case falls outside my brands, I can refer factory-trained technicians from my own network.
Engagement
Conflict check first. Send the parties, the vehicle, the jurisdiction, and your deadlines through the form below. Please hold confidential materials until conflicts clear and an engagement letter is signed.
Fees. Hourly, with a replenishing retainer. Fees are not contingent on the outcome. My current fee schedule and CV go out with the conflict check reply.
Location. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and available for matters outside Utah.
Request a Conflict Check
Parties, vehicle, jurisdiction, and deadlines are enough to start. I reply within one business day.
Prefer email or phone:
tristan@zeroindiagnostics.com
801-900-3247