by

Weather and meteorology expert witnesses may opine on rain, severe storm analysis, snow, weather forecasting, and more. This week emergency officials say at least 1,000 people in Colorado are waiting to be rescued from flood waters.

Albuquerque National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier commented on the flooding in central and northern New Mexico “As long as you get the right thunderstorm right over your area, I wouldn’t be surprised if more records are broken as far as one-day rainfall totals because we still have that abundant moisture in the area.” Flood waters have followed drought and caused flash floods. The Rio Grande and Pecos River have overflowed as well as nearby creeks.

by

Demonstrative evidence expert witnesses may consult on courtroom exhibits, computer reconstruction, computer animation, forensic animation, and simulations. While demonstrative evidence is not real evidence, it illuminates the points being argued in court. In Litigation Tip: The Best Way to Get Demonstrative Evidence Admitted at Trial, attorney Morgan Smith defines demonstrative evidence and answers the question, Is Demonstrative Evidence Admissible? including “California law does not require demonstrative evidence to be exact, but only substantially similar and helpful to the jury. (See Andrews v. Barker Brothers Corp., 267 Cal. App.2d 530, 537.)”

Cogent Legal Blog, shares real-world advice about trial graphics, case presentations, legal tech and litigation strategy. “We blog to help attorneys make their case and manage their practice in the most effective and least stressful way possible. Who are we? Litigators like you.”

by

At ABAJournal.com, McElhaney on Litigation, Jim McElhaney writes: Enter Angus: His Initial Words of Wisdom Focus on Cross-Examining Expert Witnesses. McElhaney spent 25 years as a litigation columnist for the ABA Journal and in this article he discusses ways to cross examine an expert, including MAKE HIM YOUR WITNESS.

Read the article: abajournal.com

Jim McElhaney is the Baker and Hostetler Distinguished Scholar in Trial Practice at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland and the Joseph C. Hutcheson Distinguished Lecturer in Trial Advocacy at South Texas College of Law in Houston.

by

Mortgages expert witnesses may consult on mortgage loans, variable rate mortgages, reverse mortgages, conventional mortgages, and mortgage fraud, among other topics. In Is Mortgage Fraud Really Decreasing?, attorney and editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog Rachel Dollar comments on The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network analysis of Mortgage Fraud SAR Filings in 2012. While data shows 25% decine, Ms. Dollar notes that “suspicious activity is often only recognized and reported years after loan origination.” FinCEN news release August 20, 2013:

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released an analysis of Mortgage Fraud SAR Filings in Calendar Year 2012. FinCEN’s data on suspected mortgage fraud shows that reports declined 25 percent in 2012 (from 92,561 to 69,277) as compared to the previous year. The past three years of suspected mortgage fraud suspicious activity reports (SARs), if counted by the date they were received by FinCEN, accounted for approximately 46 percent of the past decade’s mortgage fraud SARs. However, suspicious activity is often only recognized and reported years after loan origination, after a review of origination documents is prompted by a loan default, repurchase demand, or other factors. As a result, many mortgage fraud SARs are filed much later than the date that the suspicious activity actually began. Thus in 2012, 57 percent of SARs received reported mortgage loan fraud (MLF) activities that started more than 5 years before the SAR was filed.

Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors.

by

In Finding the Cream of the Crop: Hiring an Expert Witness construction site expert witness William Gulya, Jr., President & CEO, Middlesex Trenching Company, writes:

There are multiple ways to locate the expert you need, such as referral agencies, online and print directories, and searching by keyword on the Internet. When you find an expert who at first glance seems to be what you are looking for, contact them and delve deeper into his or her qualifications. The responsibility to verify that the expert is qualified and will meet your case needs is yours. Be sure to investigate the background of the expert, and ask for references. Once you have located several names by any of the above methods and have performed your due diligence, how do you decide which expert is really what you are looking for, the right one for you and your particular case?

Interviewing the Expert

Continue reading

by

Neurosurgery expert witnesses may opine on neurosurgeons, trauma neurosurgery, neurosurgery standard of care, and spinal surgery. In the news, The New Hampshire Department of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are investigating the use of contaminated surgical equipment which may have exposed patients to the fatal brain disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob. One patient has died and medical records on thirteen others are being researched. While most surgical equipment is sterilized by heat, the World Health Organization recommends the use of a chemical disinfectant for equipment that may have been exposed to the disease.

by

Drug abuse expert witnesses may testify on testify on DUI, intoxication, chemical dependence, illicit drugs, and marijuana, as well as related issues. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating the deaths of three people and the hospitalization of 75 others who may have smoked synthetic marijuana. Synthetic cannabis is a psychoactive drug made from natural herbs and then sprayed with synthetic chemicals. the product is marketed as “herbal incense” and “herbal smoking blends.”

by

Gunshot wound expert witness Dr. Vincent Dimaio testified in the Phoenix, AZ, trial of former police officer Richard Chrisman. Chrisman is charged with second degree murder in the death of Daniel Rodriguez. Dimaio testified for the defense describing the position of Rodriguez during the shooting and the fact that Rodreguez was high on meth.

The criminalistics expert witness previously testified in the George Zimmerman trial.

by

Forensic accounting expert witness William R. Ackerman testified for AEG Live that Michael Jackson was approximately $500 million in debt when he died. In addition to the upkeep on his ranch, spending on art and travel, Jackson’s biggest expense was $30 million in annual debt payments.

William Ackerman, Freeman & MIls, has over twenty years of experience as an auditor and consultant. His consulting experience includes lost earnings, associated with wrongful terminations, wrongful death and personal injury claims