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The supply chain expert witness can opine on supply chain management, product distribution, returns management, and supply chain logistics. According to Wikipedia:

A typical supply chain begins with ecological and biological regulation of natural resources, followed by the human extraction of raw material and includes several production links, for instance; component construction, assembly and merging before moving onto several layers of storage facilities of ever decreasing size and ever more remote geographical locations, and finally reaching the consumer.

In sophisticated supply chain systems, used products may re-enter the supply chain at any point where residual value is recyclable. In the 1980s the term Supply Chain Management (SCM) was developed, to express the need to integrate the key business processes, from end user through original suppliers. Original suppliers being those that provide products, services and information that add value for customers and other stakeholders. The basic idea behind the SCM is that companies and corporations involve themselves in a supply chain by exchanging information regarding market fluctuations, production capabilities.

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Insurance expert witness Guy Kornblum is author of Do Lawyers Really Understand What They Need to Do to Prepare For Mediation? After a recent Mediation Roundtable, here are Kornblum’s thoughts concerning mediation:

What I heard shocked me: Lawyers don’t know how to prepare for a mediation, and most of the lawyers who attend mediations just are not doing a very good job. The mediators all explained the hurdles they had to overcome. (Their chief complaints were listed at https://www.expertwitnessblog.com 7/7/08 & 7/14/08)….

Since courts are sending many cases to mediation and parties seem more interested in participating, we need to be more mindful that clients need to be educated from day one about this important part of the litigation mechanism. While many courts require lawyers to inform their clients about this process at the outset, it seems that at least my mediator colleagues believe we need to pay more attention to, involve and educate our clients, and make this a part of the ongoing discussion of the case.

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Expert testimony is permissible in a wide range of areas when the subject matter is beyond the knowledge and experience of the jury. For example, the medical expert witness’s testimony is needed to establish if the appropriate standard of care was breached. In malpractice cases, the testimony of experts may establish that the professional failed to exercise appropriate skill. When prepping your medical expert witness, remember to advise him that he has the right to not respond when asked questions that are beyond the scope of his assignment.

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Insurance expert witness Guy Kornblum is author of Do Lawyers Really Understand What They Need to Do to Prepare For Mediation? After a recent Mediation Roundtable, here are Kornblum’s thoughts concerning mediation:

What I heard shocked me: Lawyers don’t know how to prepare for a mediation, and most of the lawyers who attend mediations just are not doing a very good job. The mediators all explained the hurdles they had to overcome. (Their chief complaints were listed at https://www.expertwitnessblog.com 7/7/08 & 7/14/08)….

In my experience, the “mediation process” begins when the client first meets with our lawyers and staff to discuss the case. It is important for us to factor in mediation as part of the Litigation Management Plan, and make it an event in the process of representing the client just like a deposition or hearing on a key motion. We discuss mediation as a way of testing the case as well as posturing it for resolution. We also advise the client how a mediation works, what its advantages are, and alert the client to mediation as part of the evolution of the case – a main event for which we will prepare just like we prepare for trial. I also stress that our advocacy is not comprised by our participating in a mediation.

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It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the views and opinions that your expert witness has expressed in previous cases for two reasons. 1) Earlier opinions may serve to strengthen your case and 2) opposing counsel may ask the expert about these opinions. For example, the medical expert witness may have relevant experiments, exhibits, case studies, etc. from earlier cases that may affect their testimony. Questions you will ask on direct examination should be rehearsed with the expert and you may want an associate to cross-examine them. When dealing with difficult subject matter, have the expert review how he will explain technical concepts to the jury.

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Insurance expert witness Guy Kornblum is author of Do Lawyers Really Understand What They Need to Do to Prepare For Mediation?

Recently I was invited by our local legal publication to be one of five persons on a Mediation Roundtable to discuss mediation techniques. We were interviewed by a moderator on various topics about mediation. I was the only lawyer in private practice on the panel. The others were all mediators, three were lawyers who are now doing full time mediation and the other was a retired trial court judge who for the last seven years has been mediating privately with a local service.

What I heard shocked me: Lawyers don’t know how to prepare for a mediation, and most of the lawyers who attend mediations just are not doing a very good job. The mediators all explained the hurdles they had to overcome. Their chief complaints could be listed as follows:

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When your expert witness’s work is very detailed and not amenable to oral argument, a report may be useful. For example, the multimedia expert witness may be asked to opine on text, audio, still images, animation, video, and/or electronic media devices. Since multimedia involves the convergence of text, pictures, video, and sound into a single form, conveying content and information to a jury about multiple forms may not lend itself to oral argument. A possible solution is to convert the expert’s testimony into a report that may be presented in an electronic format to be used as a presentation in court.

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In preparing your expert for trial, it helps to have a checklist. In fact, the expert will likely appreciate a copy of the checklist as well. For example, the checklist for your nephrology expert witness might include but is not limited to:

His qualifications A description of the expert’s assignment List of materials the expert should review List of what the expert should bring to trial Explanations for inconsistencies Description of work performed How expert will explain technical material to court How he will answer direct examination Compensation

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Avoid last minute expert witness preparation whenever possible. The biochemistry expert witness may need several days of intensive work before meeting with you to prepare for court. Tell the expert what work you expect him to have completed before you meet for a deposition or trial preparation session. You will want the expert to have read all the materials, completed tests, and have thought through all aspects of the case with particular attention to possible questions the opposite side may pose.

Scheduling expert testimony during trial can be difficult. Matching the limited time your expert has available to the uncertain tempo of a trial can be a problem. Know the expert’s schedule before setting a trial date so that it you can accomodate their schedule.