One often overlooked key to successfully working with an expert witness is the protection of privilege and work product. Until the expert is actually disclosed to the other side, it’s in the best interest of the client to make sure […]

My book Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases: Investigating Spending and Finding Hidden Income and Assets has a section on the direct examination of financial expert witnesses, especially during depositions. The deposition is the time for the attorney to dig into […]

Nearly every lawsuit has a financial component to it. In many cases, the issues surrounding the numbers have high stakes. Cases involving securities fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, investment fraud, and Ponzi schemes rely on an accurate tabulation and evaluation […]

Forensic accountants and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts often use Quicken personal financial software to complete the lifestyle analysis in divorce cases. Unfortunately, Quicken is not the best option for accurately and thoroughly analyzing a couple’s finances before and during divorce. […]

Attorney Miles Mason talks about qualifying someone as an expert witness. How does he demonstrate an accountant’s training, experience, and credentials so that the court will permit him or her to testify as an expert?

More than ever, competent and dynamic expert witnesses are critical to winning legal cases. Even if a case doesn’t go to trial, a credible expert can be the key to settling the case for your client. I believe that an […]

One of the common issues raised when an expert calculates damages is “reasonable certainty.” It is not uncommon for opposing counsel to suggest that the expert’s calculated damages are speculative. The calculation of damages necessarily requires estimates and assumptions. Something […]

Expert witnesses are required to use reliable principles and methods in forming their expert opinions per the Federal Rules of Evidence. In this video, Tracy Coenen talks about Rule 702 how it applies to damage calculations done by expert witnesses.

If a court case doesn’t settle, the trial is obviously the most important part of the case. As an expert witness, you want to think about the possibility of trial throughout your work.

I never thought this was something we’d have to tell an expert witness: The attorney who retained you to provide your expert opinion can’t write your report for you. Attorneys often want to have input on the the expert’s report. […]