Expert Witness Blog

Practical guidance for expert witnesses — testimony, report writing, depositions, fees and building a successful practice.
November 14, 2014

Expert Witness Rules, Laws and Procedure in Arkansas

Arkansas Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Under Rule 26(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, any expert expected to testify at trial may be subject to deposition. There is no presumptive time limit for depositions in Arkansas like there is under the Federal Rules and in many other states. Rule 30(d)(2) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil

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November 13, 2014

Expert Witness Rules, Laws and Procedure in Arizona

Arizona Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Under Rule 26(b)(4)(A) of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, a party can depose any expert who might testify at trial, and under Rule 30(d), depositions generally cannot exceed four hours. See also State ex rel. Willey v. Whitman, 370 P.2d 273, 277 (Ariz. 1962) (explaining that the deposition of an expert

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November 12, 2014

Expert Witness Rules, Laws and Procedure in Alaska

Alaska Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Under Rule 26(b)(4) of the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, experts whose opinions might be presented at trial may be deposed. Most such experts are required to submit reports under Rule 26(a)(2)(B), and a party may not depose such an expert until this report is provided. Experts who are not expected to

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November 7, 2014

Expert Witness Rules, Laws and Procedure in Alabama

Alabama Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Under Rule 26(b)(5)(A) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may generally only obtain discovery of the information and opinions of experts expected to be called at trial by interrogatories directed to the opposing party. Through these interrogatories, a party can require its opponent to identify the experts it expects

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September 22, 2014

Lawyers as Expert Witnesses

Some of these lawyers supplement their legal careers by also acting as expert witnesses while some have left their legal practice behind and are acting as expert witnesses on a full-time basis.

We have noticed an interesting new trend, i.e. more and more lawyers are acting as expert witnesses. Some of these lawyers supplement their legal careers by also acting as expert witnesses while some have left their legal practice behind and are acting as expert witnesses on a full-time basis. The most common areas for lawyers to act as expert witnesses

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September 8, 2014

Expert Witness Deposition – Questioned on Fees

One of the things that comes up over and over again, in expert witness depositions, is the amount that the expert witness has been paid.

My name is Steve Babitsky. I’m president of SEAK. I’m here with my partner, James Mangraviti, and we’re going to talking about expert witness depositions. And specifically we’ll be talking about expert witness fees. One of the things that comes up over and over again, in depositions, is the amount that the expert witness has been paid. Expert witnesses to

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September 8, 2014

Cross-Examination of an Expert Witness – Absurd Opinion

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION - what happens if you have an absurd opinion and then have to defend that at a deposition or at a trial.

I’m Steve Babitsky, of SEAK, Incorporated, and I’m here today with James Mangraviti, my partner, and we’re going to be talking about what happens if you have an absurd opinion and then have to defend that at a deposition or at a trial. Jim has graciously agreed to participate in this demonstration, so why don’t we show the demonstration, and

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September 8, 2014

Cross Examination of an Expert – Frontal Attack

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION - As you can see, depending upon the positions that you take as an expert witness you may have to, or you will have to, defend them.

My name is Steve Babitsky, the president of SEAK, and I’m here with my partner Jim Mangraviti and we’re going to be demonstrating a frontal attack on an expert witness. Expert witnessing is not for the faint of heart and those people who become expert witnesses have to be ready to be attacked head on in a frontal assault by

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September 8, 2014

Cross-Examination of an Expert Witness – Boilerplate Language

VIDEO - Demonstration of what happens when you have an expert witness report with too much boilerplate language.

My name is Steve Babitsky, president of SEAK Incorporated, and I’m here today with my partner Jim Mangraviti who has graciously agreed to assist us with a demonstration of what happens if you have an expert witness report with too much boilerplate language. Okay, Mr. Mangraviti, is this your 40 page report? Jim Mangraviti: Yes. Steve Babitsky: And this is

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September 7, 2014

How to Get Started as An Expert Witness

VIDEO - Expert witnessing can be extremely lucrative. Experts earn between $200-$1000 an hour. A good expert witness can make over a million dollars a year.

My name is Steve Babitsky, I’m the president of SEAK Incorporated, and we’re here today with Attorney James Mangraviti from SEAK and we’re going to be talking about how to get started as an expert witness. So Jim, let’s start off by asking what does an expert witness do? James Mangraviti: Good question. So an expert witness is someone who

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