When selecting an expert witness, choose the one best qualified and make sure that the expert’s work on the case is better than that of the opposing expert. When possible, the expert witness should adhere to the scientific method by testing and confirming each underlying fact or premise in your…
The most common use of photographs in court are those that depict physical injuries, damage to automobiles, and the appearance of complex products and objects. While we are told that “the camera doe not lie,” it is also true that photographs can present distorted images, so be watchful for photographic…
Tucson copper producer Asarco LLC is suing its former parent company Americas Mining Corp over the value of the company’s investment in Peruvian mining operations. Asarco alleges fraudulent transfer of Asarco’s majority share in two Peruvian copper mines and related facilities. Asarco contends that the loss of that revenue led…
Former NYPD detective James M. Gannalo is a forensic firearms consultant, firearms and ballistics expert witness and President of Stria Consulting Group. Here he describes aspects of firearms identification: 3) Laser Trajectory Analysis of Bullet Paths – use of a portable scientific laser and inclinometer to determine the direction and…
Occupational and environmental health expert witness Dr. David Egilman is concerned about two cases of Parkinson’s disease that he recently encountered in employees from one of the largest flavoring companies in the country. seattlepi.com writes: It has been repeatedly documented that inhalation of vapors from diacetyl butter flavoring has destroy…
Former NYPD detective James M. Gannalo is a forensic firearms consultant, firearms and ballistics expert witness and President of Stria Consulting Group. He describes aspects of firearms identification: 1) Microscopic Analysis of Ballistic Evidence – visual assessment of firearm related toolmarks using a comparison microscope to evaluate an agreement or…
Insurance attorney and bad faith expert witness Steven Plitt is the current author of Couch On Insurance 3d. His expert practice involves the analysis of complex insurance coverage and bad faith claims in both the 1st party property and 3rd party liability contexts. COUCH ON INSURANCE 3D is the authoritative…
An expert witness’s qualifications to testify may be challenged when the witness is qualified as an expert in one area, and the attorney asks for the expert’s opinion in a related area. The closer the new area of inquiry is to the area in which the witness is clearly qualified…
In What is a Physiatrist? Board Certified Physiatrist and Independent Medical Examiner J. William Wellborn, M.D, tells us that a physiatrist (fiz eye’ a trist) is a medical doctor who after medical school attends a 3-4 year residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Physiatry is a non-surgical specialty treating musculoskeletal…
There can be advantages in using an expert witness who has never testified at trial before. Juries may respond positively to an expert who avoids the “hired gun” or “professional witness” label. Whether auditioning the expert who has never testified or the seasoned expert, it is important to determine whether…