As reported in Pennsylvania’s Times Leader, U.S. District Judge James Munley allowed gang expert witness Jared Lewis to testify as an expert witness at a Pennsylvania trial regarding the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. Lewis testified that the gang named “MS-13” had a presence in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and was one of…
Expert Witness Blog
Learning the Subject Matter is the First Step to Researching Experts
A preliminary understanding and some basic investigation of the topic of expertise will allow the researcher to know what questions to ask the potential expert witness, and may also lead to the names of good potential experts in that field. Library web sites are an excellent place to begin the…
Expert Witness Marketing Myth #3 – Marketing By Word of Mouth is Sufficient
A number of expert witnesses do not market because they believe that attorneys market their qualifications for them to the legal community by word of mouth. With everything an attorney does all day in dealing with the tremendous expectations from clients and the stress of billable hours, do you really…
Judge Grants Continuance in Sex-Crime Case When Experts Not Paid
Montana District Judge Stewart Stadler granted a continuance request to continue a sex crimes’ trial in part because the defense attorney had not yet paid for his expert witnesses. As reported in the The Daily Interlake, former Children’s House Montessori administrator David Farr is accused of sex crimes against five…
Handwriting Experts Battle Over JonBenet Ramsey Ransom Note
Handwriting experts will square off in Virginia federal court over allegations that one stole the other’s analysis of the JonBenet Ramsey ransom note. As reported in the Virginia Pilot: Cina L. Wong, a forensic document examiner with an office on Granby Street, is seeking to stop author and handwriting expert…
What Will Become of the ALM Expert Witness Directory?
American Lawyer Media (ALM), which runs the ALM Expert Witness Directory, is reportedly for sale. According to the Business Wire: Wasserstein & Co., LP [ALM’s owner] announced that it has retained Credit Suisse as its exclusive financial advisor to assist it in exploring various strategic alternatives for its investment in…
Software Experts Likely to Play Major Role in Oracle v. SAP
Oracle said Wednesday that it has sued software expert SAP “about corporate theft on a grand scale” seeking undisclosed damages. Oracle also argues that the theft formed the basis of SAP’s “Safe Passage” program, which is designed to entice Oracle customers to switch to SAP. As alleged in the complaint:…
Bootprint Expert Testifies in 11 Year Old Murder Case
A Canadian shoe impressions expert witness was allowed to testify in a South Carolina murder trial regarding bootprints made at the scene 11 years ago. Crime scene expert Robert Kennedy said foot impressions made inside the insole of a pair of low-top boots were similar to test impressions made by…
Do Expert Witness Standards Affect Payouts?
Payouts for medical malpractice claims remain lower in Oregon than in all but seven other states, despite the loss of a cap on damage awards in 1999. What is interesting is that Oregon also does not have standards for expert witnesses to testify. As reported in the The Oregonian: The…
Expert Witness Marketing Myth #2 – Marketing Hurts My Credibility
Some expert witnesses believe that their professionalism is affected if they make it known that they are available to be retained as an expert witness. For example, many fear embarrassment or a loss of credibility when it is revealed on cross-examination that they market their services. In reality, the judge…