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In Social Networking Research & Investigations, The Legal, Ethical & Evidentiary Issues, social media expert witness Richard B. Harer, V.P. Specialized Investigations, writes:

Examples of Investigative Use

Surveillance cases can benefit immensely by obtaining photos, habits, activities, and other pertinent information on the subject before initiating surveillance. Our firm was hired to conduct surveillance on a recent high profile personal injury case. We found through basic social media research that the subject was self-employed as a trainer at a local gym. His site provided his regular schedule and other upcoming outside training events that he was leading. Needless to say, the surveillance was extremely successful…thanks to the subject, and his social media activities.

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Legal nurse consultant expert witnesses may testify on general nursing, surgical nursing, palliative care, and medical record review, as well as related issues. In “Nurse experts: Are YOU prepared for cross-examination?” by Juris Educational Resource Knowledge guest blogger Lori Combs RN, LNC, writes that “Extensive preparation is needed to ensure the expert is well versed with the case and is prepared for the dreaded cross-examination.”

No matter how well prepared you are to testify as an expert, the cross-examination by the opposing counsel can be intimidating. There are many tricks and techniques the opposing side will utilize to try to discredit you and “poke you full of holes”, but if you can prepare yourself to think how they are going to cross-examine you, you can remain one step ahead and hold your ground.

More: http://www.thejerklnc.com/blog/?p=1673

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Fingerprints expert witness Donald James Faggart Jr. testified in the Davidson County, N.C., murder trial of Phillip Scott Baker. Faggart is special agent in charge with the N.C. State Bureau Crime Laboratory in Greensboro and testified that he found no identifiable fingerprints on the weapon alleged to have killed Chadric Lee Newsome in July 2010. Baker has also been charged with a number of drug-related offenses.

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Sports medicine expert witnesses may provide reports on professional athletes, sports injuries, exercise physiology, traumatology, and related matters. In the news, the NFL will pay $765M to former players who accused the league of hiding the dangers of brain injury in playing pro football and profiting from the violence (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, MDL No. 2323).

Read more: http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/13d0728p.pdf

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Legal fees expert witnesses may advise regarding attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees analysis, and fee disputes, and more. In The determination of expert witness fees/attorney fees, and the same as taxable costs, Judge David Hoort, Ionia County, MI, writes:

Expert witnesses may be paid a fee in excess of the fee paid to an ordinary witness with the trial court’s permission and that the fee paid to the expert witness may be taxed as part of the taxable costs. MCL 600.2164(1). An expert is not, however, entitled to compensation-as a witness-for every service that the expert may have provided.

Read more: http://judgedavidhoort.blogspot.com/

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Medical expert witness Dr. Gary Green testified for concert promoter AEG in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial. Jackson’s family maintains that AEG Live is liable in the singer’s death because the company hired Dr. Conrad Murray. AEG argues that Jackson chose and controlled the doctor and that AEG had no way of knowing the drugs Murray administered to Jackson.

Dr. Green is team doctor for Pepperdine University athletics as well as a clinical professor in the division of Sports Medicine at UCLA and Major League Baseball’s consultant on performance-enhancing drugs.

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In Social Networking Research & Investigations, The Legal, Ethical & Evidentiary Issues, social media expert witness Richard B. Harer, V.P. Specialized Investigations writes:

The proliferation of social media sites, and the information they contain, has created a significant “tool” for the legal and investigative industry. With over 400 social media sites currently in existence, and well over 1 billion users, the availability of information on almost anyone and any topic is just a few clicks away. However, one must not only recognize the value, but also the limitations. Many legal, ethical and evidentiary issues have arisen in recent years, perhaps making it one of the fastest evolving areas of law today.

This article will explore some of the research and investigative resources available, as well as some of the issues already raised regarding the information developed, and will continue to raise for years to come.

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In Quality Fade in China, international trade expert witness Rosemary Coates of Blue Silk Consulting writes:

Quality Fade, the process of quality degradation over time, is the single biggest issue in low cost manufacturing countries. It happens frequently in China where manufacturing processes are immature and competitive pricing drives the profits to extremely low levels. It also happens in Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh and other low-cost countries.

You have probably noticed quality fade, but didn’t know what to call it, or understand how it happened. Maybe you noticed a plastic shampoo bottle that seemed too thin. Maybe that hand-held electronic game you put in your son’s Christmas stocking stopped working after a few days. Maybe the zipper in your pants broke after a few zips.

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OSHA expert witnesses may consult on construction industry standards, safety design, safety hazards, job hazards, and more.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced on Friday a proposed rule aimed at curbing lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers.

OSHA News Release: 13-1767-NAT states: The proposal seeks to lower worker exposure to crystalline silica, which kills hundreds of workers and sickens thousands more each year. After publication of the proposal, the public will have 90 days to submit written comments, followed by public hearings.

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Hydrology expert witnesses may consult on hydrogeology, hydrologic engineering, water resources, groundwater hydrology, watershed hydrology, and more. The Las Posas Basin Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project is in the news this week after it became evident that the system is leaking. Groundwater levels have dropped steeply at the Moorpark, CA, facility which includes a five million gallon water storage tank. Planned to warehouse water below ground to be pumped out during dry spells or emergencies, the project, now owned by Calleguas Municipal Water District, has been a failure. Calleguas described the project:

The project includes the installation of thirty ASR wells within an approximate nine-square mile area in the Las Posas Basin, nearly thirty miles of large diameter pipeline to connect the wells with existing District infrastructure in the cities of Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, and a combined pump/hydroelectric generation station in the City of Moorpark to facilitate the flow of water to and from the wells.

Read more: http://www.cfnews13.com/