NCJ Number
175582
Date Published
1999
Length
288 pages
Annotation
This volume is intended to provide an introduction to providing expert testimony to inexperienced expert witnesses and to serve as a reference for experienced litigation consultants.
Abstract
The first chapter explains that an expert witness is someone who is skilled in a particular art, trade, or profession or has special information or expertise in a particular subject area. It explains how to start as an expert witness by determining the subject area to be covered and notifying attorneys about availability. The text also explains how to decide whether or not to accept a case, how to contract for work, how to prepare for testimony, and how to handle appearances at depositions and in court. It also describes the steps involved in civil and criminal cases, points of law, courtroom procedures, techniques for increasing the effectiveness of the testimony, ways to handle difficult questions, how to set and collect fees, and other aspects of being an expert witness. The author has been a litigation consultant on the topics of parachutes and skydiving since 1973. Case examples, sample letters and other materials, glossary, lists of resources, list of conferences and courses, and index