Testimony at Trial: What the Trier of Fact Expects From the Expert

Friday, October 6, 2017

12:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Program Description

In the courtroom, an expert witness is faced with the challenge of explaining complex expert concepts to a judge or jurors who do not share the expert's professional background. During the short time that the expert is on the witness stand, it is very unlikely that the judge or jurors will gain a comprehension of all of the nuances of the expert's discipline. Accordingly, prior to stepping foot into the courtroom, the expert must understand the expectations of the judge and jurors. What do they want to know about the expert's qualifications? What do they want to know about the work that the expert did—his or her methodology, investigation, forensics, due diligence, sufficiency of evidence, assumptions, and conclusions? What do the triers-of-fact expect in terms of detailed explanation and at what point to the judge and jurors tune out?

In this webinar we explore the dynamics between the expert witness, the judge, and the jurors with a focus on how an expert should craft his or her testimony in a way that it is best received by the triers-of-fact. We will address communication skills, interpersonal dynamics, and the qualities that support the expert's credibility.

Learning Objectives

After completing this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Who Should Attend

CPAs, valuation experts, financial forensic experts, financial experts, professionals who serve as expert witnesses, attorneys

Presenter(s)

Michael Kaplan, CPA, ABV, CFF, CVA, MAFF

CPE Credit

Program Level: Basic Prerequisites: Previous training or experience with the fundamentals of the subject matter. Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Internet-Based CPE Credits: One (1) Hour Fields of Study: Specialized Knowledge