Testifying Skills Workshop
Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center, Rosemont, Illinois
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Continuing Education Information
Schedule
Hotel Information
Registration Information
Brochure
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Executive Summary: An expert’s value ultimately depends on his or her ability to excel when testifying. Testifying Skills Workshop is a hands-on interactive program which has been designed to show experts exactly what to do, and what not to do when testifying. It features concise didactic presentations combined with numerous mock trial and deposition demonstrations using volunteer attendees. The fact patterns, CVs, difficult questions, and reports used in the demonstrations will be submitted in advance by attendees. There will be ample time for questions and answers.
Here’s what past attendees have to say!
“Faculty excellent”
“Very informative, enjoyed the fast pace”
“First workshop on subject attended, it was very informative”
“Well organized and informative”
“Hard hitting questions and how to avoid embarrassing situations”
Distinguished Faculty: The Honorable Paul A. Chernoff is an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Judge Chernoff received his J.D. from George Washington University School of Law. Judge Chernoff, prior to his appointment to the bench, was a member of the Public Defender Service, District of Columbia and chair of the Massachusetts Parole Board. Judge Chernoff has received the 1997 Judicial Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the 1998 Massachusetts Judges Conference Superior Court Judicial Excellence Award. Judge Chernoff is on the faculty for the National Judicial College and the Massachusetts Continuing Education Board, and is an adjunct faculty member of Boston College Law School.
James J. Mangraviti, Jr., Esq., has trained thousands of expert witnesses. He is a former litigator with experience in defense and plaintiff personal injury law and insurance law. He currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel of SEAK, Inc. Mr. Mangraviti received his BA degree in mathematics summa cum laude from Boston College and his JD degree cum laude from Boston College Law School. His publications include the texts Depositions: The Comprehensive Guide for Expert Witnesses, The A-Z Guide to Expert Witnessing, Cross-Examination: The Comprehensive Guide for Experts, National Guide to Expert Witness Fees and Billing Procedures, Writing and Defending Your IME Report, How to Excel During Depositions: Techniques for Experts That Work, Writing and Defending Your Expert Report: The Step-by-Step Guide with Models, How to Become a Dangerous Expert Witness: Advanced Techniques and Strategies, and The Biggest Mistakes Expert Witnesses Make and How to Avoid Them.
Registration Information: The $495 tuition includes a continental breakfast, breaks, lunch with faculty, a detailed manual which can be retained as a bookshelf reference, and a dynamic learning experience. To register by fax please click here. To register online please click here.
Continuing Education Information: Note: If your specialty does not appear below and you desire credits, please contact Karen Cerbarano (781-826-4974 or Karen@seak.com). We can often obtain desired credits upon request, but unfortunately, obtaining some types of credits are not feasible. Please register early, as we can only apply for credits after your registration form has been received and it can take time to get the requested approvals back from the accrediting agencies.
Accident Reconstructionists: The ACTAR Continuing Education Unit has approved this program for 7 CEUs.
Accountants: Earn 8.0 CPE credits in the field of study of Specialized Knowledge and Applications. SEAK, Inc. 108578 is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Web site: www.nasba.org For SEAK, Inc.’s complaint and program cancellation policies please call SEAK, Inc. at 508-457-1111. There are no prerequisites for this introductory group-live program. No advanced preparation is required.
Appraisers: The American Society of Appraisers will accept 6.75 continuing education hours for this program.
Arborists: SEAK has applied for continuing education hours through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Attorneys: Credit varies by state. Continuing legal education credits for attorneys will only be applied for if requested in writing when sending in the registration form for the conference. Please contact Karen Cerbarano (781-261-9972, Karen@seak.com) with any questions.
Engineers: SEAK, Inc. has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. SEAK, Inc. is authorized by IACET to offer .7 CEUs for this program. PARTIAL CREDIT IS NOT ALLOWED. There are no prerequisites for this introductory group-live program. No advanced preparation is required. This is an interactive program where learner-instructor dialog is encouraged. No technological skills or equipment is required.
Life Care Planners: The Commission on Health Care Certification (CHCC) has given the course 6.75 CEUs. Course number 1080.
Physicians: SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists: 6.5 CE Credits. SEAK, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SEAK, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content. To receive credit each psychologist must attend the entire program, sign in before the program, sign out after the program and return a completed evaluation form. PARTIAL CREDIT IS NOT PERMITTED. There are no prerequisites for this introductory group-live program. No advanced preparation is required.
SCHEDULE
7:30–8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00–9:30 Depositions: Special Techniques
Attendees will learn the special techniques which should be used when testifying at transcribed and videotaped depositions. Included is an explanation of what questions experts are likely to be asked at deposition, why they are likely to be asked those questions, the rules the attorneys must play by at deposition, and how the expert deposition fits into both side’s case. Deposition Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: List techniques to perform better during depositions.
9:30–9:45 Break & Networking Opportunity
9:45–11:00 Direct Examination: Persuading the Jury
Attendees will learn how to best connect with and persuade a jury. Techniques explained and demonstrated include, speaking in laymen’s terms, acting as a teacher, using proper body language and demeanor, and how and when to use demonstrative evidence. Direct Examination Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: Explain how to best connect with and persuade a jury.
11:00–12:00 Cross Examination: Bending but Not Breaking
Attendees will learn how to stand up to even the most withering of cross-examinations. Faculty will explain the goals of counsel during cross-examination and the trick questions and trial tactics that are commonly used. Techniques for deflecting counsel’s attacks and excelling during cross-examination will be provided. Cross-Examination Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: Discuss how to optimally perform during cross-examination.
12:00–1:15 Lunch Provided with Faculty
1:15–2:15 Cross Examination: Your CV
Attendees will learn how counsel will attempt to challenge their qualifications during cross-examinations. Artful responses that meet these challenges will be suggested. Volunteer attendees will be cross-examined on their pre-submitted CVs. Cross-Examination Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: Discuss the common lines of attack regarding an expert CV and how to blunt these lines of attack.
2:15–3:00 Cross Examination: Your Report
Attendees will learn how experienced counsel will attempt to pick apart their expert report. Advanced techniques to blunt counsel’s pointed questions will be provided and demonstrated. Volunteer attendees will be cross-examined on their pre-submitted reports. Cross-Examination Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: Discuss the common lines of attack regarding an expert report and how to blunt these lines of attack.
3:00–3:15 Break & Networking Opportunity
3:15–4:00 Trick and Difficult Questions
Attendees will identify the most difficult questions they can be asked as an expert. Artful replies to these questions will be discussed and demonstrated. Cross-Examination Demonstrations and Questions and Answers. Learning Objective: List the common trick and difficult questions experts are asked.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The site hotel is the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center in the village of Rosemont, IL. This full service “fly in fly out” property is easily accessible to Chicago’s O’Hare airport and provides complimentary 24 hour shuttle service to and from O’Hare Airport and is a modern, well-equipped quiet hotel. All of the guest rooms are brand new and come equipped with additional amenities such as refrigerator, in-room safe, cordless telephone, 32 inch High Def. LCD TV, double paned windows and Full size sofa-sleepers in all King bedded rooms. The Crowne Plaza Chicago is located directly across the street from Rosemont Convention Center. The compact Village of Rosemont is a very popular convention destination that features over 5,000 hotel rooms, numerous restaurants including Morton’s, Nick’s Fish Market, The Capital Grille, and McCormick and Schmick’s, the brand new state of the art 101,000 square foot Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18, the Rosemont Theater, the Museum of Hummels and other attractions. The Chicago Loop and Magnificent Mile are accessible via taxi or you can walk to the subway from the Crowne Plaza. SEAK has secured a special group rate of $104/night (single and double). Rooms are limited and this rate expires on June 1, 2010. To make your reservations, please call 888-233-9527 and refer to the SEAK Group rate.