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.
Insurance Expert Witness On Mediation Preparation Part 2
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:
Multimedia Expert Witness Testimony
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.
A Checklist For Your Nephrology Expert Witness
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
Preparing Your Biochemistry Expert Witness
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.
What To Look For In A Medical Expert Witness
When researching a medical expert witness, Healthcare Litigation Support recommends looking for an expert who can:
Review medical records
Analyze and evaluate medical and administrative events
Insurance Expert Witness On Mediation Preparation Part 1
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:
Malibu Author On Arson & Fire Expert Witnesses
Author Kurt Kamm writes about fires and firefighters. A resident of Malibu, he has lived through several wildland fires. He is a regular visitor at the fire camps, stations and training academies of the L.A. County Fire Department and CalFire. He writes:
Imagine an arson investigator arriving at a wildland fire which has already burned 100 acres. He has to determine whether it was an incendiary (intentional) fire, and if so, where and how it was started. This is not like walking into a building where arson is suspected. A building has a limited space, with interior walls, and if it was an arson fire, somewhere within those walls, or right outside, burn indicators and evidence will be found. In the wildland, there is a lot of acreage to cover….
Additional investigative support comes from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The ATF has the mandate to investigate all church fires in the US, and provides Certified Fire Investigators to assist in the legal and technical investigations of arson fires and to provide expert witnesses. In California, once fire investigators determine that arson has been committed, the Sheriff’s bomb and arson unit may take over the investigation. Fire department investigators tend to have specific expertise in analyzing wildland arson and work closely with the Sheriff’s Department.
Firearms Expert Witness & Emergency Regulations
In two weeks, Washington, DC police expect to start accepting applications for hand gun permits. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty will announce new emergency regulations to comply with the Supreme Court ruling overturning DC’s ban on handguns by July 17. Emergency regulations and legislation last for three months before the council would have to act to make them permanent. That would allow for public hearings and firearms expert witnesses. D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson wants residents to be heard before the mayor makes any decisions. Mark Segraves writes:
As for restrictions, the mayor is considering ballistics fingerprinting for handguns, waiting periods, background checks, requiring training, annual re-registration and requiring trigger locks, as well as maintaining the District’s ban on semi-automatic handguns.
When Do You Need An Antiques Expert Witness? Part 3
Antiques, art, and collectibles appraisal expert witness Lisa M. Barnes is co-owner of Thomas Charles Editions, LLC. She answers the questions: Is an appraisal a legal document and what about the IRS?:
IS AN APPRAISAL A LEGAL DOCUMENT?
Yes! An appraisal by a qualified appraiser can act as a legal document in insurance settlements, divorces, estate proceedings and other matters involving personal property.