Automotive Litigation Services
Randall McCathren, Esq. · Nashville, TN
Randall McCathren, Esq. serves as an automotive expert witness in state and federal courts nationwide, providing independent testimony on auto financing, leasing, dealer operations, and vehicle valuation disputes.
He has served as an expert witness in more than 75 litigation cases over more than 40 years.
That track record includes direct regulatory consulting work with the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — including training CFPB attorneys in 2011 at the initiation of their vehicle-lease investigation.
Key Takeaways
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Randall McCathren has served as an automotive expert witness in more than 75 litigation cases over 40+ years, in both state and federal courts.
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He provides written expert reports, deposition testimony, and trial testimony on auto financing, leasing, dealer operations, and vehicle valuation disputes.
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His background includes direct regulatory consulting for the Federal Reserve Board, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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He bills on an hourly basis with a retainer required before work begins, and does not accept contingency-fee arrangements.
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Attorneys evaluating expert witness options for an automotive finance or leasing case can schedule a confidential consultation with Randall McCathren today.
Role & Function
An automotive expert witness provides independent, specialized knowledge that analyzes technical or industry-specific issues in a legal case.
In the automotive industry, that expertise spans vehicle financing and leasing compliance, vehicle values in insurance loss cases, dealership operation standards, and consumer protection issues.
Randall McCathren, Esq. leads BLC Associates, Inc., a Nashville, Tennessee-based automotive litigation consulting and expert witness firm.
He brings more than 40 years of industry experience to every engagement and has served as an expert witness in more than 75 litigation cases in both state and federal courts.
His credentials include authorship of two treatises on consumer vehicle financing and leasing — detailed on the Publications page — decades of regulatory consulting work with the Federal Reserve Board, the National Credit Union Administration, and the CFPB, and a peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, whose AV Preeminent designation is the organization's highest rating tier.
Litigation cases
75+
Years of industry experience
40+
Clients served
250+
When Specialized Knowledge Matters
Attorneys typically retain an automotive expert witness when a case turns on technical questions a judge or jury cannot resolve without specialized industry knowledge. Common triggers include:
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Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) compliance disputes
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APR disclosure and finance charge calculation questions
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Dealer finance and insurance (F&I) practices
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Buy-here-pay-here (BHPH) and lease-here-pay-here (LHPH) program disputes
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Repossession agent selection, management, and collections practices
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Vehicle valuation disagreements in insurance total-loss and repossession cases
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Unfair and deceptive acts and practices (UDAP) and whistleblower allegations
Areas of Testimony
Engagement Roles
Randall McCathren can serve as either a consulting expert or a disclosed testifying expert, depending on the stage and needs of a case, and can transition between the two roles as the engagement contract defines.
| Aspect | Consulting Expert | Testifying Expert |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Advises on technical issues and case strategy, typically without formal disclosure requirements | Provides written report, deposition, and trial testimony |
| Disclosure | Treatment varies by jurisdiction and procedural rules | Identified in expert disclosures under applicable rules |
| Typical Use | Early case evaluation, strategy development | Formal litigation phase, admissibility-tested opinions |
| Scope | Defined in the engagement contract | Defined in the engagement contract |
Disclosure and privilege treatment for consulting experts can vary by jurisdiction and procedural posture — attorneys should confirm the applicable rules for their specific matter. Corporations weighing consulting versus testifying expert support can discuss case strategy with Randall McCathren before finalizing an engagement letter for the matter.
Admissibility & Independence
Daubert and Frye challenges test whether an expert's qualifications, methodology, and testimony are reliable and relevant enough for a judge or jury to hear.
Courts evaluate an expert's qualifications, the reliability of the opinion's methodology, and whether the testimony will assist the trier of fact, per the American Bar Association's summary of the standard.
Randall McCathren's litigation history, publication record, and regulatory consulting background are available for review during the engagement process.
Mr. McCathren has never been disqualified on a Daubert or Frye challenge. On the contrary, judges have often interrupted opposing counsel to ask Mr. McCathren to explain the details of the matter and industry practice.
Attorneys evaluating his fit for a specific admissibility posture should raise the question directly during the initial case discussion.
Outcome-Independent Fees
His fee structure reinforces that reliability standard: McCathren bills hourly rather than on contingency, so his compensation is never tied to the outcome sought by the retaining party.
How to Retain Services
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Describe the matter and the expertise required.
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Confirm independence, availability, and all relevant parties.
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Define deliverables, document review, testimony needs, and timeline.
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Execute the written agreement before any work begins.
No work begins, and no relationship is established, until both parties execute the engagement contract.
Professional Fees
Fees are billed hourly and vary depending on the scope and complexity of the engagement. A retainer is generally required before work begins. The engagement contract specifies the hourly rate, retainer amount, billing cycle, and any applicable travel or expense reimbursement terms.
McCathren does not accept contingency-based fee arrangements for expert witness services.
Hourly billing keeps his compensation independent of case outcome, consistent with his professional obligation to provide neutral, fact-based opinions regardless of which party retains him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers for counsel evaluating automotive expert witness services, timing, fees, disclosure, and technical subject matter.
Randall McCathren bills hourly, with fees varying by case scope and complexity. A retainer is generally required before work begins. The engagement contract specifies the hourly rate, retainer amount, billing cycle, and any travel or expense reimbursement terms in advance.
A Daubert or Frye challenge asks the court to evaluate an expert's qualifications and the reliability of the testimony's methodology. Courts also weigh independence from outcome-based compensation. Randall McCathren bills hourly rather than on contingency, and attorneys can request his CV directly.
A consulting expert advises counsel on technical issues and case strategy; disclosure to opposing counsel depends on jurisdiction and procedural rules. A testifying expert is identified in expert disclosures and provides written reports, deposition testimony, and trial testimony. Randall McCathren can serve in either role.
Attorneys should retain an automotive expert witness as early as possible, ideally at or before discovery. Early retention allows time to identify key technical issues, review documents as they are produced, and help shape deposition questions for opposing witnesses before deadlines approach.
Yes. An automotive expert witness with dealer-finance experience can testify on buy-here-pay-here and lease-here-pay-here program structures, repossession agent selection and management, and related collections practices. This falls within McCathren's broader auto finance, leasing, and regulatory compliance litigation practice nationwide, spanning both state and federal courts.
An automotive expert witness with insurance and vehicle-valuation experience can testify on total loss standards, retail valuations in repossessions, and wholesale vehicle valuations. Randall McCathren has handled these disputes in state and federal courts throughout his 40-year career in consumer vehicle insurance and valuation analysis.
No. Randall McCathren does not accept contingency-based fee arrangements for expert witness services. Hourly billing keeps his compensation independent of case outcome, consistent with his professional obligation to provide neutral, fact-based opinions rather than outcome-driven advocacy for either side.
Yes. An automotive expert witness with dealer operations experience can address finance and insurance (F&I) procedures, unfair and deceptive acts and practices (UDAP), and whistleblower allegations. Randall McCathren's background includes staff training and profitability analysis on these dealer-operations issues in litigation.
Last-minute expert witness retention is sometimes possible depending on Randall McCathren's availability, though early engagement is more cost-effective and gives more time for document review and deposition preparation. Attorneys facing a near-term deadline should contact him directly to confirm current availability.
Bottom Line
Randall McCathren provides automotive expert witness testimony nationwide, backed by 40+ years of industry experience, 75+ litigation cases, and direct regulatory consulting history with the Federal Reserve Board and the CFPB.
He bills hourly with a required retainer and does not accept contingency fees. Attorneys can retain him as a consulting expert, testifying expert, or both, depending on case needs.
Attorneys building an automotive finance or leasing litigation case can begin the engagement process with Randall McCathren — including the required conflict check — today.
