Law For The Expert Witness Fourth Edition

Order two copies of this book: one for yourself and one for your expert witness. It will give experts the confidence they need to be comfortable in court, and give you the skills necessary to emphasize the credibility of your experts. You can avoid pitfalls such as unintentional signals, inappropriate demeanor and appearance, and awkward body language by using Expert Testimony: A Guide for Expert Witnesses and the Lawyers Who Examine Them as your guide. In this newly revised Fourth Edition, Elizabeth Boals and Steve Lubet provide counsel on the development and presentation of expert testimony in the digital age, including discussion of visual aids and electronic discovery; analyze the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; discuss the ethical rules governing expert retention and testimony; give examples of expert witness examinations and detailed discussion of techniques for coping with lawyer questioning; and provide checklists for quick reference. The collaborative effort of Professors Lubet and Boals has resulted in a new edition worthwhile to both the expert witnesses and the lawyers who examine them.

Extensively updated and expanded to incorporate legislative and practical changes enacted since the publication of the previous edition, Law for the Expert Witness, Fourth Edition is designed for professionals and students requiring edification on the current processes and techniques of legal procedure. Drawn from revised versions of the readings assigned to graduate and continuing education courses taught by the author, as well as his own professional experience, the text is divided into four sections. Beginning with procedural issues that an expert witness will encounter in advance of the trial itself, the chapters cover legal paperwork, discovery, depositions and other discovery techniques, and consequences for failure to comply with discovery. The next section addresses evidentiary issues, exploring fundamental concepts such as burden of proof, presumptions, and admissibility. It defines who is an expert and when one can testify, and describes the proper form of questions to an expert. Next, the book discusses chain of custody issues, exhibits, hearsay, and the best evidence rule. The book includes suggestions and hints for the expert witness applicable to direct testimony as well as tips on withstanding cross-examination. The final section of the book contains excerpts from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence as well as a table of illustrative cases. New topics in this Fourth Edition include: The non-discoverability of the expert’s draft reports, as mandated by FRCP26 The issue of destruction of evidence as it effects discovery and tests, experiments, and chain of custody New and updated information on differing rules among states regarding who is an expert and whether that testimony will be admitted into evidence The reissuance of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure with new subsections Maintaining the same user-friendly style that made previous editions so popular, this volume enables expert witnesses and attorneys to present compelling evidence in court that will withstand objection from even the most challenging adversary.

Extensively updated and expanded to incorporate legislative and practical changes enacted since the publication of the previous edition, this third edition of Law for the Expert Witness comprehensively covers the current processes and techniques of legal procedure. Beginning with procedural issues that an expert witness would encounter i

As the first major revision since 2000 of the landmark handbook on expert testimony, this fourth edition provides the crucial, insider information that today’s testifying forensic experts want and need to not only survive, but thrive in deposition and court testimony. Comprehensively reorganized to accommodate greater breadth and scope, this edition makes it even easier to find and use information on the most vital topics, including deposition and direct and cross-examination testimony of expert witnesses. It includes a new forward by Peter Neufeld, DNA expert, lawyer, and co-founder of the Innocence Project, as well as several new chapters providing an overview of expert witnessing; explanations of methods, testing, and science; and examinations of the roles of each player. The book also provides a revised and updated chapter on ethics, covering basic real-world ethical issues, problems, and solutions, such as unethical conduct, junk science, abuse of and by experts, and forensic professional codes of ethics. Each chapter includes Key Terms, Review Questions, and Discussion Questions along with new and revised charts and illustrations. A 50-page appendix covers the four major federal court decisions affecting expert testimony, as well as an update of the indispensable article Expert Testimony in the Wake of Daubert, Joiner, and Kumho Tire, by Sidney W. Jackson, III, counsel for the respondents in the U.S. Supreme Court case Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael. Offering useful career insights and trial-tested tips from lawyer/expert Harold A. Feder and forensic scientist Max M. Houck, the strong emphasis on criminal law material makes this the perfect book for forensic science students heading to key positions in U.S. and international crime labs, as well as a crucial reference and resource for more experienced civil, private, and testifying experts in all disciplines.

"This concise, well-organized book covers witness credibility, preparation, direct & cross-examination, depositions, discovery, & ethics. Lubet's chapters on cross-examination & deposition testimony are especially helpful in preparing an expert to withstand an assault by the other side's lawyer. . . . Although aimed primarily at experts, Lubet's book is also an excellent resource for the lawyers who hire them. Even veteran litigators may pick up practical pointers on handling expert witnesses who want to know more than what a retaining lawyer has told them. Lubet, who also wrote a trial practice handbook for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, is a master at leading one through complex materials, which is helpful for novice trial lawyers facing their first trials . . . . He provides clear information about testifying, & he bolsters the information with good examples. The chapters on direct & cross-examinations are good for both lawyers & experts. Lawyers should read this book for a primer an direct & crossBy analyzing & demystifying every aspect of expert testimony, Lubet has created a work that is indispensable to accountants, physicians, psychologists, forensic scientists, engineers, attorneys, & those who are retained as or engage the services of expert witnesses.

Expert Rules answers the most commonly asked questions about experts: How do you approach an expert problem? What is the impact of Daubert on expert preparation, direct, and cross? How do you structure direct examination of an expert? How do you avoid fatal blunders when you prepare an expert? Even though Daubert is almost twenty-five years old, most attorneys are only familiar with its application to the experts they see most—local doctors. Expert Rules provides attorneys with the help they need to confront new fields manned by new or unusual experts. This concise, easy-to-follow guide provides practical and in-depth information on how to deal with an expert—from finding the expert, to helping the expert prepare her report, deposing and defending the expert, conducting expert direct and cross-examination, and helping the expert prepare factual, informative, and persuasive testimony. And this fourth edition contains new rules and strategies for experts, including strategies for preparation, mining the Internet in discovery, using exhibits, highlighting key points on direct, and more effective cross-examinations.

Extensively updated and expanded to incorporate legislative and practical changes enacted since the publication of the previous edition, this third edition of Law for the Expert Witness comprehensively covers the current processes and techniques of legal procedure. Beginning with procedural issues that an expert witness would encounter in advance of the trial itself, the chapters cover legal paperwork, disclosure, depositions, discovery, and the penalties incurred due to any failure to comply with these rules. New material regarding amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is included as they concern required disclosure early in the litigation process and the disclosure of electronic information. The second section addresses evidentiary issues. Photographs and diagrams illustrate the modern physical arrangement of a courtroom and the use of exhibits and demonstration. Updated case studies and examples of relevant court decisions demonstrate newly settled issues regarding who is an expert and when one can testify. The third section presents tips and hints from the authors own extensive experience as a trial lawyer. Suggestions regarding organization of narrative direct testimony and withstanding cross examination are beneficial for all but the most experienced professional witness. Appendices reflect recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence, both instruments largely applicable in most states. Presenting authoritative information available from no other source, as well as analysis and application of the latest federal rules of procedure, Law for the Expert Witness provides a crucial tool for the confidence and preparation of those who might one day find themselves testifying in court.

Written by a trial lawyer turned professor, Law for the Expert Witness, Second Edition is for professionals who participate - voluntarily or involuntarily - in the legal system as expert witnesses. This book discusses the practical aspects of pre-trial discovery and the Rules of Evidence. Most of the principles are illustrated using actual cases decided by various courts. The book also includes helpful hints based on the author's trial experience and appendices that contain the texts of the relevant Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence. This text is an excellent primer for chemists, medical professionals, civil engineers, environmental toxicologists, and other professionals called to provide expert testimony, as well as a practical handbook for lawyers to utilize in preparing experts for testifying.