About
William Novotny, ISA AM has over 38 years of full time valuation experience with most personal property types, both appreciating and depreciating. He became an accredited appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) in 1996 and has maintained his active accreditation. In 2002 he became an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor. He was the first personal property appraiser in the USA to become certified to teach the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). He maintains this certification through early 2020 (#44636).
Novotny has provided litigation support, written or oral appraisal reports, appraisal reviews and has been designated as an expert witness on many occasions. He was deposed six times since 2005, prior to his depositions on February 25, 2013, May 27, 2015 and July 16, 2018. His last trial testimony was on April 11, 2016 and before that on November 5, 2013.
Novotny was an antique dealer from 1979-1999. He owned a 20,000, an 8,500 and a 3,200 square foot retail store and gallery from which he bought and sold most types of personal property. He also exhibited at Bustamante and other California antique shows and antique malls. He has been an active estate sale agent since 1990 and full time appraiser since 1993.
Novotny is exceptionally experienced with all relevant and appropriate market levels. He started his career as a wholesale buyer reselling general antiques, art, collectibles and household goods. For his entire 38 years he as been daily immersed in the orderly liquidation market such as auctions and producing and pricing estate sales as an agent or while acting as an appraiser. To this day he continues to research and review auction results from national and local auctions on a daily basis for most personal property object types. He frequently assists other estate sale agents in the pricing of their personal property intended for sale. Since 1979 he starts his day with independent study of appraisal issues or the identification and valuation of the many different personal property types and their regional characteristics. He is a master in the valuation of common and ordinary objects and exceptionally knowledgable with rarities from throughout the world. Most importantly he knows his limits and declines to value objects beyond his competency.
Novotny is frequently called upon for cases in which subject properties have been lost, stolen, converted or destroyed, some with multiple plaintiffs or defendants. In such appraisal assignments the subject property cannot be inspected. In 2008 he published his first article in the Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies entitled: "Equivalent Sampling The Valuation of Loss Claims with Limited Property Descriptions". Subsequently he published articles regarding the minimum USPAP competency and scope of work requirements for generalist personal property appraisers, soon followed by two two ground-breaking articles that introduce the theory of "value shift" between alternate market level for the same object measured by a mass appraisal statistical approach that can apply to large personal property residential contents losses. All of these published articles can be reviewed on his web site under "Publications".
The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is the minimum standard by which credibility is established for all appraisers. USPAP was established to protect the public. Most appraisers take a two day USPAP course and must pass a very challenging test to demonstrate that they understand the minimum USPAP ethical and competency requirements that apply to appraisers. Novotny was the first personal property appraiser to become an AQB Certified National USPAP Instructor and authorized by the Appraisal Foundation to teach the standardized course. He has taught USPAP to personal property appraisers throughout the USA on many occasions since 1998. He currently teaches a monthly 7 Hour USPAP Update online webinar that is a mandatory course for all accredited personal property appraisers.
Court proceedings are challenging, adversarial and designed to get at the truth. Expert witnesses frequently disagree. The appraiser is under intense scrutiny and must be comfortable with these challenges. Appraisal qualifications, opinions and methods are challenged. The most qualified and experienced appraisers, that present the most persuasive and factually based opinions, will prevail in most cases.
Novotny embraces the challenges of the courtroom with confidence based on past experience, competent performance and a proper scope of work. He will establish and maintain his credibility as an expert witness by always being independent, objective, impartial and by telling the truth.
In each and every litigation support assignment Novotny's report and testimony:
• will be based on facts, proper appraisal methodology, his past knowledge and experience and a scope of work sufficient to develop and communicate credible assignment results.
• He will identify and understand the appraisal problem and explain his solution in his appraisal report and while giving testimony.
• His standard of care and his opinion development and reporting will meet or exceed the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
• He will give his own opinion based on the facts of the case.
• He will present a professional appearance and demeanor.
• He will maintain composure, consider the question posed carefully and provide a simple, direct, supportable expert answer to the question asked.
Contact Novotny now to discuss your appraisal problem, Call 626-292-2224.