Steven Babitsky, Esq. How do trial attorneys attack psychologists and psychiatrists during cross-examination? They are being trained to concentrate on the expert’s competence and methodology. Attorney Renee Welze Livingston writes in the January 2020 issue of For the Defense: How Methodical Investigation Can Cast Doubt on a Psychological Expert’s Competence and Methodology. This revealing article [...]
The U.S, District court S.D. Florida dealt with the issue of whether fee arrangements between an expert witness and counsel must be disclosed during discovery. The expert was a loss consultant and was provided with a 10% prelitigation fee for his services. The court ordered the production of the agreement and stated: First, the Court [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. Introduction Many cases rise and fall based on how your expert witness does at their deposition. Here are some of the biggest mistakes lawyers make when preparing their expert witness. Failure to Ask the Expert Witness What They Are Concerned About Most expert witnesses, even the most experienced ones, have issues that [...]
The Nebraska Supreme Court dealt with a fire that broke out in the basement of a pub in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. A chiropractic group alleged that the negligent maintenance of equipment located in the basement of the pub caused the fire. The plaintiff offered the testimony of Duane Wolf, a mechanical engineer, with a background in [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. One of the keys to success for an expert witness is the ability to excel when testifying at their depositions. There are many ways experts can improve their deposition testimony: Read books on the subject.[1] Attend training specifically dealing with delivering excellent deposition testimony.[2] Learn from experience at their depositions. Have Your [...]
Nadine Nasser Donovan, Esq. Steven Babitsky, Esq. What is the pyramid problem? Many forensic accounting firms whose employees act as expert witnesses suffer from a serious “pyramid problem.” This is a term we at SEAK Inc. use to describe a company which has many accountants performing expert witness work, yet just a select few [...]
By Steven Babitsky Esq. The direct testimony of an expert witness is often more important than cross examination. During direct testimony, the expert has the only opportunity to tell their story in an organized, chronological, and thoughtful way. Here are 17 mistakes experts often make during their direct testimony with the ways to avoid them. [...]
Expert witnesses who are to be deposed in challenging cases should consider studying the style of opposing counsel. Expert witnesses of all disciplines, from accident reconstruction to wound care should go beyond looking at counsel’s webpage and maybe a few of her publications. Expert witnesses, with the assistance of retaining counsel, should obtain deposition transcripts/videos [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. Attorneys who are preparing their expert witness for deposition frequently start with the key aspects of the expert’s anticipated testimony (e.g. opinions, methodologies, etc.). One often overlooked key question is: What are you most concerned about? All expert witnesses, including experienced ones, come to their deposition with concerns, fears, anxieties, etc. These [...]
By: Jessica Mahon Scoles, Esq. Counsel calls and tells an expert he has an interesting and potentially lucrative case. The catch? The expert needs to be designated almost immediately and her affidavit or report is due soon after. If the expert chooses to accept the case, she is faced with a series of difficult, if [...]