Veris Consulting Inc. has expanded its forensic accounting and litigation support practice to Jacksonville, Fla., adding Edward Buttner, a CPA with over 30 years of experience.

Buttner has served as an expert in many high-profile litigation matters dealing with financial reporting, auditing standards and economic damages, among other things, according to the firm. Last April, for example, during Health Net’s trial before the Louisiana Supreme Court, Buttner acted as an expert witness for the receiver and testified on both causation and damages, supporting the judge’s and jury’s award of $180 million. Buttner will lead Veris’s new Jacksonville office, which will include several colleagues from his prior firm.

“Ed and his team will greatly enhance our insurance industry expertise and expert testimony experience,” said Veris Consulting chairman and CEO Larry Johnson in a statement. “I have known Ed for many years and am excited that he will be part of our team.  Ed brings not only a depth of expertise but an entrepreneurial spirit to our firm.”

Buttner most recently was principal of Buttner, Hammock & Company in Jacksonville. Prior to that, he was a partner at Ernst & Young. He will continue to serve clients throughout the United Sates and Bermuda.

Ben Troxler and Kathy Lightbody, among others, will also be joining Veris Consulting in its newly formed Jacksonville office. Troxler, a CPA, has spent more than a decade with Buttner at his previous firm and prior to that was a partner of Ernst & Young in its National Insurance Group. Lightbody, also a CPA, has been associated with Ed’s former firm, as well as Ernst & Young, during her more than 22-year professional career.