Case in Point: Vetting Your Expert(s)

 

In the Land of Law, there are a number of things considered integral to the management of a successful lawsuit. Calendaring is certainly at the top, as is a healthy understanding of statutes, caselaw, and the rules of procedure. Another important item is strategy—one cannot build a proper claim or defense without it. Yet, of all the items on the list, the most important is by far the discovery of evidence. There can be no strategy without the evidence to support it, nor can there be an application of caselaw or statute, or even a case to procedurally manage, for that matter. A successful lawsuit consists of facts and evidence to support them. A large part of discovering and maintaining proper evidence requires building relationships with reputable individuals who hold expertise in certain industries and areas.

 

These are your experts.

 

By definition, an expert (or expert witnesses) is a “party that gives their expert evidence”. This evidence is usually testimony related to a professional or scientific subject based on training and experience in the subject area. The expert will give their opinion to aid the court in a decision or judgment.

 

An expert can make or break a case, especially if the facts rely on expert evidence and opinion to uphold the claims and defenses made.

 

Properly vetting your expert is vital to providing evidence and testimony that the court can rely on. You want to be assured that the opinion your expert gives can be backed up by thorough knowledge and investigation. Recruiting a respectable expert witness who “knows their stuff” will not only provide a sense of security, it will also help you build a relationship that will continue to hand over successes, case after case, lawsuit after lawsuit.

 

An expert can be a very lucrative business contact.

 

If you consistently use an expert, you create a rapport. That connection can lead to referrals, networking junkets, and even reduced expert rates. Finding an expert valued in their field can open doors to creating other worthwhile business associations.

 

 

So, how do you find the right (and REAL) expert?? Select Court Reporters has a few tips for vetting your next case’s “Whiz Kid”:

 

  • Do your research! If you get the name of an expert, be sure to Google them. Look into their LinkedIn connections, check out their social media accounts, and search for them in correlation with scientific articles, lawsuits, or other educational documents they may have published or contributed to

 

  • Ask for their curriculum vitae. Having a document that lists out their credentials can help you thoroughly vet them. Think of it as a check list—start with the first item and work your way down.

 

  • Ask them for copies of any scientific or educational articles they may have written, including any public case assessments.

 

  • Cross-reference their rates. While you do have to “pay to play” you shouldn’t have to pay out the nose. If your prospective expert is charging more than other individuals in his or her field with similar experience, consider moving on.

 

  • Ask around about them. Peer reviews can be just as beneficial as experience on paper. Listen to what your colleagues have to say about them, review their overall case successes, etc.

 

When you take the time to discover your best expert today, you will inevitably build a better case tomorrow. And the next day, and the next, and so on…


Select Court Reporters is an expert in its field! We are proud to serve attorneys and firms in Central Florida, including but not limited to, Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, etc., and look forward to providing exemplary court reporting services to attorneys in need! Contact us today to discuss your priorities. We’d be happy to provide additional information so you can properly “vet” our excellence.