ROBERT H. ALEXANDER CPA/ABV/CFF, ASA
Alexander CPA LLC
998 Tyler Avenue • Oxford, Mississippi 38655
Office 601.326.1041 • Cell 601.540.8052 • robert@alexander.cpa
General Experience
- Shareholder in Alexander CPA LLC, an accounting firm specializing in litigation support, expert witness testimony, and business valuation.
- Former partner, member of the governing Board of Directors, and firm-wide director of Fraud, Forensic and Litigation services for HORNE LLP, a super-regional CPA and consulting firm.
- Qualified as a financial, business, economic damage, business valuation, and accounting expert in federal and state courts. Testimony has included numerous jury and bench trials. Trial experience includes expert testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants.
- Appraised hundreds of businesses for non-litigation purposes from a broad scope of industries with purposes including shareholder buyouts, mergers & acquisitions, corporate planning, estate and gift, and others.
- Representative cases include average wholesale price pharmaceutical litigation, product liability, intellectual property valuation, bankruptcy, lost profits, forensic accounting, white-collar crime, criminal and civil fraud, destruction of business value, business valuation, lender liability, accounting malpractice, and others.
- Designations in litigation support and business valuation include credentials as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) by the American Society of Appraisers, Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Continuing education includes hundreds of hours of education in litigation support and business valuation.
Education, Certifications and Accreditations
Certifications and Accreditations
- Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)
- Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA)
- Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Tennessee – 1986 to Present
- Mississippi – 1995 to Present
- Alabama – 2015 to Present
- Bachelor of Accountancy
- University of Mississippi, 1984
Work History
- Shareholder and Owner, Alexander CPA LLC
- Jackson, Mississippi – January 2021 to Present
- Partner, HORNE LLP
- Jackson, Mississippi – 1994 to Present
- Tax Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers (formally Price Waterhouse LLP)
- Memphis, Tennessee – 1984 to 1994
Representative Engagements
Damages Expert Witness in Bridgestone Americas v. International Business Machines
May 2013 to May 2018
Damages expert witness for Bridgestone Americas to determine damages from a failed Order to Cash SAP implementation. Failure caused major disruptions to Bridgestone’s logistics operations serving the replacement tire divisions. Impacted systems included inventory control, customer orders, shipping and customer facing IT systems. Damage determinations were approximately $200,000,000. The case was settled in 2018 shortly before trial.
Deepwater Horizon / BP Economic Damage Claims
July 2012 to Present
Partner in charge of claims filings related to the BP Deepwater Horizon legal settlement. Identified opportunity and worked to develop a process for direct engagement of clients by our firm while still securing legal assistance for clients as they progressed through the claims process. Assisted hundreds of clients with filing and receiving payment for their claims related to the class action settlement. Mastered damage methodologies under the settlement agreement and numerous policy statements clarifying and modifying the original agreement.
Established Viable Damage Model for Class Certification
October 2014 to December 2014
An Alabama Federal District Court denied class certification to a group attempting to recover damages related to an illegal gambling establishment. The Court cited Comcast Corp. v. Behrend and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes. HORNE was engaged to obtain available electronic data from the establishment’s loyalty club cards records and develop needed working damage models to quantify losses by loyalty club member, gaming machine number, and gaming session. The electronic data had millions of records and required numerous distinct damage models to account for all the data variances. We ultimately parsed the data in enough ways to establish sound damage models that allowed the case to proceed.
Federal Court Appointed Independent Accountant in Pilot Flying J Class Action
August 2013 to February 2015
Appointed Independent Accountant by United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas in the class action settlement of the Pilot Flying J diesel pricing matter. Oversaw and audited the recalculation and refund of tens of millions of dollars related to Pilot pricing agreements with customers between 2005 and 2013. A summary of our work was filed with the federal court.
Average Wholesale Price Litigation
January 2012 to September 2012
Lawsuits initiated by most states attempting to recover an overpayment of Medicaid reimbursements to drug companies. The alleged overpayments resulted from a misstatement of drugs^ average wholesale prices, a key component in the drug reimbursement formula. We analyzed massive data files for multiple years to recompute the proper reimbursement on numerous drugs sold by a manufacturer.
Memberships and Affiliations
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Forensics and Valuation Section member
- Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Business Valuation and Litigation Support (BVLS) Committee
- Past Chairman of BVLS Committee
- American Society of Appraisers
- American Bar Association
Articles (1998 to Present)
Litigation Support and Expert Testimony
- “Experts Shouldn’t Assume Causation – They Must Do More,” LinkedIn and Alexander CPA Blog, June 2021.
- “Financial Testimony by Owners and Employees: Know the Perils”, LinkedIn and HORNE Blog, November 2018.
- “When Daubert Challenges Arise, The Expert is Your Best Defense,” LinkedIn and HORNE Blog, July 2016.
- “Litigation Support: CPAs Providing Value to Litigators in State,” Mississippi Business Journal, January 2008.
- “The Admissibility of Expert Testimony Post-Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals,” Jackson Young Lawyers, March 2000.
Business Valuation
- “The New IRS Attack on FLPs and FLLCs,” Executive’s Tax and Management Report, October 2003.
- “The Latest IRS Attack on Family Limited Partnerships,” The Delta Business Journal, September 2003.
- “Family Limited Partnerships and the New IRS Attack – IRC §2036(a),” The CPA Newsletter, published by the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, February 2003.
- “The Myth of Buy/Sell Agreements,” Jackson Young Lawyers, December 1998.
Other
- “What Are Your Services Worth?” LinkedIn and Alexander CPA Blog, July 2021.
- “When You’re the Only Man in the Room,” LinkedIn and HORNE Blog, October 2015.
- “Fraud Prevention: Financial Institutions Enhance Value of Internal Audits by Including Fraud Prevention,” Mississippi Business Journal, August 2010.
- “Enhancing the Value of Internal Audit: Moving from Compliance to Prevention: A Focus on Fraud,” The Mississippi Banker, August 2010.
- “Loss of Business Income May Be Covered by Insurance,” Mississippi Business Journal, November 2005.
Presentations (1998 to Present)
Litigation Support and Expert Testimony
- “Daubert Challenges: Key Rulings Related to Financial Experts,” MSCPA Business Valuation and Litigation Conference, November 2018.
- “How to Present and Defend Lost Profits to a Jury,” TSCPA Southeastern Forensic and Valuation Services Conference, Nashville, TN, and MSCPA Business Valuation Workshop, Ridgeland, Mississippi, October 2012.
- “Forensic Accounting: The Relationship between Attorney and Financial Expert” (co-presenter), Baton Rouge Bar Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2010.
- “Ethics & Professionalism in Litigation & Valuation Services” (panel discussion), MSCPA Business Valuation and Litigation Support Services Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, November 2010.
- “To Catch a Thief: Detecting and Preventing Internal Fraud in the Banking Industry,” HORNE Banking Forum, Biloxi, MS and Memphis, Tennessee, September 2010.
- “Selling Litigation Services,” Financial Consulting Group, Fall Conference, Denver, Colorado, September 2008.
- “Economic Damages and Litigation Consulting in Criminal Cases,” FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia, September 2007.
- “Utilization of Expert Witnesses in Litigation,” Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, Mississippi, November 2006.
- “Overview of HORNE’s Litigation Services Division,” University of Mississippi Accounting Class, Oxford, Mississippi, October 2001.
Business Valuation
- “New Fair Value Accounting Rules: Tackling the Valuation Issues,” Mississippi State University CPE Conference, Starkville, Mississippi, April 2010.
- “New AICPA Business Valuation Standards: When Do I Have to Comply?” HORNE University, Jackson, Mississippi, August 2008.
- “FAS 141 & 142 and Goodwill Impairment,” MSCPA Valuation Conference, Ridgeland, Mississippi, November 2005.
- “Intellectual Property Law and Valuation,” Panel Discussion, Mississippi Technology Alliance, Jackson, Mississippi, November 2005.
- “Case Law Update for Estate & Gift Valuation,” MSCPA/NACVA Valuation Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, November 2004.
- “Business Valuation Issues in Mississippi: Update,” Mississippi Judicial College Winter Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, January 2004.
- “Hot Issues for FLPs and Other Entities,” Louisiana Bar Association, Estate Planning Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2003.
- “Business Valuation Issues Facing Small Businesses,” Mississippi Bankers Association Fall Financial Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, October 2003.
- “Business Valuation Issues in Mississippi,” Mississippi Judicial College Fall Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, October 2003.
- “Valuation of Intangible Assets,” Mississippi Bar Annual Convention, Sandestin, Florida, July 2003.
- “FLPs and the Current Status of IRS Attacks,” Jackson Tax Forum, Jackson, Mississippi, March 2002.
- “Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Tax Planning and IRS Attacks on these Entities,” Lorman Education and Member of Faculty, Jackson Mississippi, November 2001.
- “Business Valuation: A General Overview of the Process,” Mississippi Society of Public Accountants, Jackson, Mississippi, May 2000.
- “Use of Business Valuations in the Small Business Administration Loan Process,” U.S. Small Business Administration, Jackson, Mississippi, June 1999.
- “Applications of Current Business Valuation Developments,” Mississippi Society of CPAs Accounting and Auditing Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, May 1999.
- “Current Developments in Business Valuations,” Mississippi Bar Association, Jackson, Mississippi, April 1999.
- “Business Valuation: Applications and Issues,” University of Mississippi Accountancy Weekend, Oxford, Mississippi, January 1999.
- “The When, Why and Who of Business Valuations,” Jackson Tax Forum, Jackson, Mississippi, January 1999.
- “The Virtual Estate Planning Team: A Panel Discussion,” Millsaps College Charitable Giving Seminar, Jackson, Mississippi, October 1998.
- “Frequently Asked Questions about Business Valuations,” Mississippi Bankers Association, Mississippi, October 1998.
- “Basic Business Valuations, The CPA Club, Meridian, Mississippi,” September 1998.
- “Business Valuation Overview, Estate Planning Council of Mississippi,” Jackson, Mississippi, May 1998.
University Classes
- “A Less Traditional Path in Public Accounting,” University of Mississippi Beta Alpha Psi Presentation, Oxford, Mississippi, March 2014.
- “What Accounting Firms are Looking for in Accounting Graduates,” Accounting Education Symposium, Jackson, Mississippi, November 2001.
- “Specialized Practice Areas in CPA Firms,” Millsaps College Beta Alpha Psi Program, Jackson, Mississippi, March 1999.
- “Case Study in Tax Research,” University of Mississippi Graduate Accounting Class, Oxford, Mississippi, November 1998.
Recent Deposition and Trial Testimony
2021 Rebel Rags, LLC v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al. In the Circuit Court of Lafayette County, Mississippi. Civil Action No. L18-069. Hearing Testimony.
Testimony regarding NCAA sanctions economic impact on Lafayette County in a motion for change of venue.
2020 Steel Dynamics Columbus, LLC v. Jindal Tubular USA LLC. In the Circuit Court of Lowndes County, Mississippi. Civil Action No. 2018-0041-CVIC. Deposition testimony.
Economic damages dispute between a steel mill operator and a steel pipe manufacturer arising over alleged testing failures of the pipe.
2019 Thuy Couvillion v. Darryl Couvillion, Jr. In the 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Tammany, Louisiana. Case No. 2017-14945, Division K. Trial testimony.
Dispute over the value of an 8(a) qualified marine contracting company in a Louisiana property settlement case, subsequent to a marital dissolution.
2019 Certus Laboratories, LLC v. Professional Resources Management of Rabus, LLC d/b/a Mountain Lakes Medical Center. American Health Lawyers Association Claim No. 4796. Deposition.
Contract dispute between toxicology testing lab and hospital.
2018 Marc B. Daniels, Sandra Daniels, and Crocker & Associates, Inc. f/k/a D&D Environmental, Inc. v. J. Dennis Crocker, Gail Crocker, Crocker, Ltd., and Generational Equity, LLC., In the Circuit Court of Madison County, Mississippi. Cause No.: CI2010-0319-JE. Trial testimony.
Allegations of material misrepresentations made in a business sale contract and the damages resulting from that misrepresentation.
2017 Bridgestone Americas, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corporation. In the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division. Civil Action No. 3:13-CV-1196. Deposition regarding Rebuttal Report.
Economic damages and lost profits dispute arising from alleged failure in the implementation of a new software system.
2016 K.R. Borries, Individually, d/b/a K.R. Borries Construction v. Grand Casino of Mississippi, Inc. – Biloxi. In the Circuit Court of Harrison County, Second Judicial District, Mississippi. Cause No. A2402-07-135. Deposition.
Economic damages and lost profits dispute arising from damage to Plaintiff’s property allegedly caused by Defendant’s casino which came unmoored during Hurricane Katrina.
2016 Bridgestone Americas, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corporation. In the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division. Civil Action No. 3:13-CV-1196. Deposition regarding Expert Report.
Economic damages and lost profits dispute arising from alleged failure in the implementation of a new software system.
2016 KLLM Transport Services, LLC v. JBS Carriers, Inc. In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-00116-HTW-LRA. Testimony.
Testimony regarding financial information provided by defendant to invoke statutory limitations on punitive damages.
2016 City of Hattiesburg v. Hercules, Inc., et al. In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Eastern Division. Case No. 2:13-cv-208-KS-MTP. Deposition.
Damages claim for alleged environmental contamination.
2015 AES Enterprises, Inc. v. Ken-Kel Management Services, Inc., et al. In the Circuit Court of Tate County, Mississippi. Cause No. CV2014-53-SMT. Deposition.
Dispute alleged breach of contract and tortious interference related to the sale of two McDonald’s restaurants.
2015 Adolfo P. Morales v. Jackson HMA, Inc. d/b/a Central Mississippi Medical Center. In the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. Civil Action No. 251-05-1100 CIV. Deposition.
Economic damages resulting from an alleged breach of contract dispute between physician and hospital.
2015 Derek A. Wyatt v. Richard F. “Dickie” Scruggs, et al. American Arbitration Association Case No. 69 194 Y 000101 13. Arbitration Testimony.
Dispute over the division of legal fees brought by an attorney against his former employers. Claim for economic and punitive damages in a case alleging mismanagement of a trust.
2014 Patricia Hall Sheppard, in Her Representative Capacity on Behalf of the Beneficiaries of the Patricia Hall Sheppard Trust v. Regions Financial Corporation. In the Chancery Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial District. Civil Action No. G2012-1044 W/4. Trial Testimony.
2013 Kmart Corporation v. The Kroger Company, et al. In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Eastern Division. Case No. 1:11-CV-103. Deposition.
Claim for economic damages and lost profits related to a flood.
2013 Gillett Grain Services, Inc. v. Crop Production Services, Inc. American Arbitration Association Claim Confirmation No. 002-PM8-BDU. Deposition.
Damages claim related to lost commission income due to an alleged breach of contract involving the sale and distribution of agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and micro nutrients.
2013 Scotty McCollum v. Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., and Jacobs Project Management Co. In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Western Division. Case No. 5:11-CV-177. Deposition.
Claim for economic damages related to the alleged retaliatory discharge of an employee.
2013 International Paper Company v. IFS Industries, Inc. In the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Case No. 2:11-CV-02865-JPM-TMP. Deposition and Trial Testimony.
Damages from breach of contract and negligence claim between a box manufacturer and a glue supplier over the alleged failure of the glue which resulted in a loss of business profits.
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