Due to the increasing number of settlements in civil cases (over 95%) much of the litigation and examination of experts take place during their depositions.
Forensic psychiatrist Thomas Gutheil, MD explains.
Q. Dr. Gutheil, why are expert witness depositions increasingly more important?
Attorneys are very concerned about being surprised or even sand bagged at trial by information and/or opinions they have not been able to prepare for. Depositions give them not only opinions that can be “locked down” under oath, but also a sense of how the deponent handles him/herself under cross. In addition, juries are highly unpredictable; if the deposition promotes settlement, everyone is saved money, risk and time.
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Dr. Gutheil will be speaking at the SEAK National Expert Witness Conference to be held on May 3-4, 2014 in Orlando, FL.
How to Excel at Your Deposition: Techniques That Work
Thomas Gutheil, MD
With fewer trials the deposition of the expert witness has taken on increased significance. In this presentation, Dr. Gutheil will explain and demonstrate techniques that will help the expert witness excel at his/her depositions. He will discuss the various fair and unfair strategies and tactics of counsel and how to effectively deal with them. Dr. Gutheil will review effective presentation skills and demeanor that the expert can utilize effectively at deposition.
Thomas G. Gutheil, MD is Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Gutheil had been associated with the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, for nearly a half century and had served as a staff member there for 40 years. An internationally known teacher, lecturer, author and consultant on medicolegal issues, risk management and malpractice prevention, Dr. Gutheil is the first Professor of Psychiatry in the history of the Harvard Medical School to be board certified in both general and forensic psychiatry. He has authored/co-authored over 300 publications and is an experienced expert witness.