When you need another expert to support your client’s case or there’s a change in the general substance of a previously designated expert, you’ll need to move to augment or amend your expert witness declaration. Continue reading
Evidence
Is there Any Marital Privilege Left After Divorce?
As Joseph DeAngelo (the “East Area Rapist”) may soon find out, a divorced spouse can spill a lot of beans. He was separated from his wife for years, but she’s just made divorce official and that’s a boon for the prosecution in his upcoming trial. But is she still limited in what she can say? Continue reading
How to Rehab Your Witness
What can you do if your witness’s truthfulness has been challenged? Use evidence of the witness’s prior consistent statement to rehabilitate your witness. Here’s how it’s done. Continue reading
7 Questions to Answer Before Using Opinion Character Evidence
There are situations in which you may want to introduce opinion character evidence at trial. But before you use a character witness in a civil case, ask yourself the following questions. Continue reading
9 Things to Tell Your Witness Before Cross-Examination
Part of preparing your witnesses for trial testimony includes preparing them to be cross-examined. Witnesses often worry that trick questions will make them say the wrong thing or that they’ll be made to look foolish. Tell them the following and they’ll be ready to handle any cross-examination.
How to Control an Expert Witness
As with all witnesses, you must be able to control an expert witness during cross-examination. But many experts with experience in testifying treat cross-examiners like presidential candidates deal with the press: they ignore the question asked and answer the question they prefer. Here’s how to keep experts under your control. Continue reading
List of Trial Objections
Before heading into trial, review this list of trial objections. And keep it handy during trial. Continue reading
7 Tips for Using Demonstrative Evidence at Trial
The technology used for showing evidence at trial has changed greatly over the years, but the purpose of demonstrative evidence remains unchanged: it breaks the pattern of the trial, clarifies issues, maintains jury interest, and persuades. The challenge for attorneys is to capitalize on new technological resources without causing juror distraction, confusion, and frustration. Here are seven expert tips for meeting this challenge. Continue reading
How to Get a Witness to Start with the Basis for Opinion
Can the adverse party require that a witness on direct examination testify to the basis of his or her opinion before stating that opinion? Short answer, no. But there still may be a way to do it. Continue reading
Don’t Do This on Cross Examination
Many attorneys work through their nervousness by beginning their cross examination with taking the witness step by step through previous direct examination testimony. Then they turn to the hard job of true cross-examination. Here’s why you shouldn’t do this. Continue reading
