Podcast - Expert Witnesses, Special Issues
Podcast - Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses
Preparing for Deposition Success
Podcast - Getting Dressed for Court
Podcast - The Witness Outline
More on Cross-Examination: Building a Case Brick by Brick
Podcast - Refresh vs. Impeach: Know the Difference
Podcast - Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses
Cross-Examination: The Three C’s of Impeachment
Cross-Examination: How to Effectively Impeach with a Prior Inconsistent Statement
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Argue - Elicit Facts
Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast - Episode 20: Tips for Court Cases with Judge Dennis and Judge Wilkins of Maynard Nexsen
Understanding When to Cross-Examine
Basic Points to Consider in Redirect Examination
Podcast - Direct Examination: Getting Rid of Clutter
Exuding Credibility in the Courtroom
Podcast - The Differences Between Persuasion and Argument
Witness Testimony Themes, Cross Examination, & Preparation Consultants – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 55
Witness Prep Goals, Credibility Factors, & Juror Comprehension – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 54
Podcast - Ethical Deposition Conduct
As a litigator, I routinely prepare clients for depositions. A deposition is a pre-trial procedure where a party or witness in a legal case provides sworn testimony outside of a courtroom. A lawyer asks questions of the...more
The receipt of a notice for a client’s deposition usually sets off a chain reaction of familiar events in most law offices across the country. The deposition is calendared. Materials requested in the notice or accompanying...more
Legal discovery often comprises the longest stage of casework—identifying evidence, developing timelines, and vetting witnesses. The facts, strengths, and weaknesses of a case provide puzzle pieces that attorneys identify and...more
In a commercial dispute involving allegations against a manufacturing plant, plaintiff’s counsel was cross-examining a plant manager....more
The testimony given at a deposition vs. testimony during a trial have a lot in common. They’re both sworn under oath, under penalty of perjury, and part of official court records. There’s a longer list, however, of how they...more
The discovery phase is often the most critical component of legal work, leading 95% of civil cases to a settlement negotiation instead of a courtroom trial. Given this, how information is collected from potential witnesses is...more
Depositions can be stressful affairs. For many witnesses, depositions are a once-in-a-lifetime plunge into the unknown with a lot riding on their testimony. Sitting in a room full of strangers, listening to lawyers argue over...more
30(B)(6) Preparation Tips - If you have ever said “that rule may make sense in theory, but it does not work in real life,” you may also have spent weeks futilely attempting to prepare a witness to serve as a corporate...more
In his article Eight Traits of Great Trial Lawyers, former U.S. Federal District Judge Mark W. Bennett remarked that lack of preparation topped the list of trial lawyer shortcomings in his courtroom. “Preparation,” Judge...more
A recent discovery ruling from an Ohio federal magistrate judge offers a helpful primer on how corporate representatives should prepare for depositions. The ruling, In re FirstEnergy Corp. Securities Litig., No. 2:20-cv-3785...more
In the fourth episode of his "Ethical Witness Preparation" podcast series, "Finding the Balance," litigation attorney Dan Small draws a parallel between witness preparation and translating different languages. Mr. Small also...more
This past year has brought lots of change, including an amendment to Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 30(b)(6) governs the deposition of an organization (e.g., a corporation or a partnership) and...more
In the latest episode of his "Powerful Witness Preparation" podcast series, What is a Deposition, litigation attorney Dan Small clears up any confusion surrounding what a deposition actually is. He explains that the...more
A few years ago, I represented a process piping subcontractor in a claim against the general contractor and the owner of a coal fired power plant in Massachusetts. While the case was unique and interesting in a number of...more
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 30(b)(6), a party may depose a public or private corporation, a partnership, an association, a governmental agency, or another entity. Of course, it is not actually possible to...more
Q: You’ve written and spoken extensively on how conventional witness preparation can leave witnesses giving horrible testimony in depositions and cross-examination. What’s the problem? ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Seyfarth Shaw submitted comments to the Federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules regarding needed reform to Rule 30(b)(6), the rule that governs depositions of organizations in federal litigation. ...more
Editor’s Note: Ok, we know, this is waaaay to long for a blog post. But this is just too good not to share! In our continuing effort to avoid re-inventing the wheel, getting the easy stuff down to checklists, and helping...more