Medical Witness Summit 2003

Medical Witness Summit 2003

2003 Medical Witness Summit
November 8-9, 2003
DePaul Center, DePaul University^�	Registration/CME Information Schedule Registration Form Faculty Hotel Information PDF Version

Executive Summary

This is the finest continuing education available on the topic of expert medical witnessing. The distinguished faculty includes a Federal Judge, three experienced trial attorneys, an experienced medical expert, a jury consultant, and an expert on expert witness marketing. The learning methodology utilized will identify and solve the most pressing problems facing the summit participants. Participants will be involved in a series of unique and memorable interactive learning experiences including mock direct and cross-examinations and report and curriculum vitae critiques. Pre-Summit task assignments are utilized. Registration is strictly limited. Participants will be able to markedly enhance their effectiveness and success as expert witnesses. Breakfast and lunch with faculty will be provided each day. A special bonus resource is provided for early registrants.

Learning Methodology

The diverse faculty will utilize their combined experience and knowledge and the experience and knowledge of the attendees to meet the learning objectives. Practical everyday solutions to problems and issues will be stressed. Frequent demonstrations involving attorney/faculty and volunteer attendees will be utilized. These demonstrations will be critiqued by the faculty with suggestions for improvement provided.

Pre-summit assignments are required and will facilitate the learning experience. Discussions will result in concrete action steps and lessons that attendees can immediately implement. The entire event will actively involve the attendees. The summit manual (provided) will contain materials from each of the faculty members as well as information from the attendees' pre-summit assignments.

Learning Objectives

Participants at the completion of this event will be able to:

Sharpen and advance skills,
Learn the rules of the game and key magic words,
Bulletproof their CVs,
Charge as much for their time as the market will bear,
Understand what makes them valuable to attorneys,
Explain how to better communicate with a jury and what makes a jury tick,
Answer the most difficult cross-examination questions,
Implement innovative, professional marketing techniques,
List numerous ways to make a deposition testimony more effective,
Solve the ten biggest ethical dilemmas facing expert medical witnesses, and
Become more valuable, sought-after medical witnesses

Comments from past Medical Witness Summit participants:
"Excellent faculty, personable, informative, willing to take time for questions."
"Extremely informative."
"Great, very understandable."
"Far beyond my expectations."
"Superb. Don't get sworn in again until you have taken this course."
"Very worthwhile."
"The judge was superb."
"Professional, but relaxed enough for everyone to be comfortable with questions."
"Outstanding."

Faculty

Steven Babitsky, Esquire, is the President of SEAK, Inc. He was a plaintiff's personal injury trial attorney for twenty years and is the former managing partner of the firm Kistin, Babitsky, Latimer & Beitman. Mr. Babitsky is the co-author of the texts Cross-Examination: The Comprehensive Guide for Experts, and How to Excel During Depositions: Techniques for Experts that Work. Attorney Babitsky is the co-developer and trainer for the "How To Be An Effective Medical Witness" seminar, the seminar leader for the Annual National Expert Witness and Litigation Seminar, and the scriptwriter for the videos How to Be an Effective Medical Witness, The Expert Medical Deposition: How To Be An Effective and Ethical Witness, Cross-Examination: How To Be an Effective and Ethical Expert Witness, and The Most Difficult Questions For Experts: With Answers.

Terrance Baker, MD, is an attending emergency room physician at Good Samaritan Hospital and forensic expert in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his BS and MS from Johns Hopkins University and his MD from the George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Baker is board certified in Family Practice, Geriatrics, and Emergency Medicine. Dr. Baker is a former medical examiner of the city of Newport News, Virginia. Dr. Baker has served as a forensic medical expert for trial attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, district attorneys, and public defenders throughout the United States. Dr. Baker has also served as a forensic medical expert for the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, the joint Underwriters Association, and the Carolina Peer Review Organization. Dr. Baker has written and lectured extensively on expert witness issues.

Thomas H. Blaske, Esquire, is a partner in the Ann Arbor, Michigan law firm of Blaske & Blaske specializing in medical and legal malpractice and complex personal injury cases. He received his BA from the University of Michigan and his JD from Michigan Law School. Attorney Blaske has written and lectured extensively on trial practice, cross-examination, and medical malpractice. Attorney Blaske is a poet with poems appearing in the New Yorker magazine.

LaDonna Carlton is a Vice President of Browne DecisionQuest, a jury consulting firm in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Sociology from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois and has been involved with jury trials for the past twenty-five years. Ms. Carlton works primarily on civil litigation cases - personal injury (including medical malpractice). Ms. Carlton is a frequent guest lecturer for the continuing legal education of lawyers and has developed several presentations for the following associations: American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, plus many other bar associations around the country. She is also frequently invited to speak and teach at the Chicago Kent School of Law and the University of Illinois Law School. Ms. Carlton is the author of several jury related research articles.

Rosalie Hamilton is a marketing consultant who specializes in helping physicians and other expert witnesses market their services to attorneys through her company, Expert Communications. She counsels experts in promoting their forensic practice through networking and getting referrals, utilizing publicity techniques, direct marketing, and advertising over the Internet. She is the former Director of Expert Witness Marketing for American Lawyer Media and has over twenty years of experience in sales, marketing, and publishing.

The Honorable David Lawson is a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. He was formerly a member of the Detroit law firm of Clark Hill, PLC (Birmingham office). He received his BA degree magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, and his JD magna cum laude from Wayne State University. Judge Lawson is a former Special Assistant Attorney General and Special Prosecutor, and is currently on the faculty of the Michigan Judicial Institute. Prior to taking the bench his practice included both civil and criminal trial litigation, and he was actively involved in the trial of medical malpractice, negligence, and product liability cases. Judge Lawson has written and lectured extensively on scientific evidence and trial techniques.

Ian M. Sherman, Esquire, is a trial lawyer and litigation partner at the Chicago law firm of Rooks Pitts. Attorney Sherman handles the defense of cases involving medical malpractice, disciplinary matters, commercial litigation, construction accidents, products liability, general torts, toxic torts, false arrest and imprisonment, defamation, employers' liability, and occupational diseases. He also has a substantial practice in insurance coverage and declaratory judgment actions. Attorney Sherman received his BA from the University of Illinois in Urbana and his JD from the Boston University School of Law. Attorney Sherman has lectured and written extensively on medical-legal issues.