In The Expert Nurse Witness, Ellen K. Murphy writes:
THE ROLE OF A NURSE EXPERT
After being retained as an expert witness, the perioperative nurse should carefully review all relevant health care records. At a minimum, this includes records from the entire health episode at issue, not just those from the perioperative period. The nurse expert will want to try to get a complete picture of what happened and when.
Trucking industry expert witness Robert R. Reed writes on Truck/tractor-trailer crashes:
4.”OBC”and “GPS” – This technology is most important and provides a wealth of knowledge for reconstruction after the at-scene investigation. The information from these systems travels in real time from the truck to satellites, ground based towers or the internet and is transmitted to trucking company computers. This information can include driver communication, messages to truck, maintenance, monitoring freight, driver payroll, miles traveled, expences, trip reports, fuel stops, fuel consumption, idle time, truck position and status reports, driver activities, hours of service, “GPS” location, time and distance reports and pick up and deliver times. These technology advanced systems are invaluable to modern trucking companies for use in the management of their operations. These same systems should become part of the normal crash reconstruction process. These systems can be identified on the truck by the monitor and keyboard in the cab and special antenna that looks like “old type popcorn popper” that is usually mounted on back of cab or roof by wind deflector. Also trucking companies with out computers create this same type information in hard copy written documents.
5.Don’t rush investigation, secure all information and analyze along with traditional reconstruction efforts to arrive at any causal factors. Trucking companies, truck drivers, injured parties, deceased victims and family members all deserve complete and accurate results from all investigations. * * *Footnote: This article was written to give insight and help enhance large truck crash investigations and is from personal experience in assisting police departments, prosecutors, working as an expert/consultant in civil litigation along with over 30 years in the trucking industry.
On July 5, 2010, financial planning experts at Equestrian Professional will begin a three-part seminar series on financial planning for horse professionals. This series will focus on what horse professionals can do to create a secure financial outlook for their businesses and their own financial future.
The first seminar we will address financial recovery and stability. The speaker will be successful farm manager, Pam Saul of Breslin & Young financial planners. The second seminar in the series will focus on asset and earnings protection. The speaker will be equine insurance expert, Reed Schroeder, who will cover insurance options for horse professionals. The third and final seminar in the series will focus on building for the future – financial planning and prosperity. The speaker will be investment manger, Marc Reisman, who will discuss retirement planning and investment options for horse professionals.
If you are in the horse business, you can’t afford to miss this seminar series. Equestrian Professional’s seminars can be attended online via webcast or via your phone. The lecture portion is free to all horse professionals but you must register to attend.*
On July 5, 2010, financial planning experts at Equestrian Professional will begin a three-part seminar series on financial planning for horse professionals. This series will focus on what horse professionals can do to create a secure financial outlook for their businesses and their own financial future.
The Reactions
Many horse business owners have dipped into their retirements and savings (or maxed out their credit) in order to weather the recession. Others have made significant (and successful) changes to their businesses, but are finding that they must now adjust their business model in order to make these changes more profitable. Still others are in a state of uncertainty – the recession may have presented them with an opportunity- for example, to purchase discounted real estate or invest in a special horse. However, they find themselves reluctant to make a commitment in the current economic climate.
In 5 Things You Have To Do Before You Start Any Negotiation, sales expert Dr. Jim Anderson writes:
To help get you properly prepared for your next sales negotiation, I’ve got some suggestions. Here are five steps that you need to take before you sit down at the negotiating table:
Create A “Want” List: How can you be successful during a negotiation if you don’t know what you want? Take the time to create a list of what you want to get out of the negotiation. Be careful here: not all wants are created the same. Make sure that you distinguish between the ones that you can’t live without and the ones that would just be nice to have.
In THE PERFECT STORM: The Science Behind Subrogating Catastrophic Flood Losses, hydrology expert witness Richard Van Bruggen writes:
The National Flood Insurance Act also required the identification of all floodplain areas and established flood risk zones. This is good news for subrogation professionals because it provides a warning to landowners and potential tortfeasors that flooding could occur and that additional safeguards should be taken. Sometimes, constructive notice to a potential tortfeasor of the dangerous propensity of flooding in an area is as easy as indicating it in the property deed, legal description, or other documents relating to the property. In the earlier example involving the Subaru vehicles being flooded in Kenosha, Wisconsin, there was a great deal of disagreement as to whether or not the vehicles were actually parked on a “100-year flood plain”. There was even disagreement as to exactly what that meant. City and state records were sketchy, and the entire area had been covered in crushed gravel, further complicating the question as to whether or not a floodplain had existed. Early land deeds were pulled and anecdotal testimony from farmers in the area was successfully solicited in order to show a pattern of flooding in the area where the vehicles were stored. One farmer had kept meticulous rainfall and flood records in an old notebook going back fifty years.
Trucking industry expert witness Robert R. Reed writes on Truck/tractor-trailer crashes:
3. Equipment inspection – Severe accidents and fatalities warrant a complete inspection of units involved. If equipped with “ECM” modules and “ABS” modules this data should be retrieved for use in reconstruction. This can be done using truck manufacturers dealers or third parties in your area after the at-scene investigation to acquire printout reports for review. The most modern”OBC” systems on trucks can send this data to the trucking company computers which then can be retrieved from the trucking company. Also both hydraulic and air brake “ABS” systems have warning lights for drivers indicating proper operation.”ECM” and “ABS” systems may provide data on multiple systems of the truck including speed, overspeed of governor, distance, cruise control usage, engine brake and hard braking “ABS” events, transmission usage and engine system faults. This data along with mechanical systems inspections gives complete information on the vehicles operation and maintenance factors. “ECM” and “ABS” modules are standard equipment on most large trucks.
In The Expert Nurse Witness, Ellen K. Murphy writes:
Expectations for affidavits, deposition, and testimony must be clear. Cases literally can be won or lost if filing dates are missed. If the case requires expert testimony, it will be lost if an expert does not testify.
Remuneration should be set above the nurse’s hourly rate as an employee and should include expenses because it will not include any of the benefits employees typically receive. Nurses should not set their fees so high, however, that they appear to be meretricious witnesses who are willing to testify to anything for a price. Typically nurse expert rates begin at approximately $100 per hour and, depending on the nurse’s credentials, may be higher.
On July 5, 2010, financial planning experts at Equestrian Professional will begin a three-part seminar series on financial planning for horse professionals. This series will focus on what horse professionals can do to create a secure financial outlook for their businesses and their own financial future.
The Problems
The recession has had a widespread effect on the equine industry. Sales barns and breeders are supporting unsold inventory or are selling horses below cost. Show barns have reduced the number of shows they attend, are competing closer to home, and/or are bringing fewer customers on the road. Trainers and professional riders are implementing new strategies to attract and retain clients: i.e. leases and syndicates have gained popularity. Additionally, some trainers are moving into new markets, like selling online training programs. Boarding stables are dealing with more past due accounts and abandoned horses than ever before. Rescues are over burdened with unwanted horses and their donors are tapped out.
In About Electronic Evidence, computers expert witness Ernesto F. Rojas of Forensic & Security Services Inc. writes:
Electronic Evidence, also known as Digital Evidence, is any information which has been stored or transmitted in digital form and may be used in a court of law. Current trends indicate that more than 95% of all information exists solely in electronic form and never gets printed. Electronic records may include corporate plans, design plans, intellectual property, medical records, financial records, photos, spending histories, browser histories, etc.
Most person to person communications are electronic in nature, leaving a digital fingerprint. These communications include e-mail, instant messaging, texting, cell phones, and even land-based VOIP telephones. Volatile information derived from these communications might include financial information and transactions, schedules, timelines, and even the location of a defendant at a specific time.
