We are excited to announce that you can now attend the 2020 FEWA National Conference, either in person or online through a live-streaming platform!

All registrants will save $50 on registration through July 31 AND receive complimentary access to all future 2020 FEWA webinars. FEWA will continue to monitor the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and work with the CDC to adhere to strict safety guidelines when planning this event.

Do you know of someone who has gone above and beyond recently? Let us recognize their professional contributions by featuring them as the FEWA Member Spotlight in our bi-weekly newsletter! If you have someone in mind, send their name and accomplishments to info@forensic.org.

Join FEWA for the next installment of the FEWA Virtual Academy series on Wednesday, August 19 at 1:00 pm PT! The program, What Trial Lawyers Look for When Choosing a Consulting or Testifying Expert Witness, will be presented by trial lawyer and partner at Jenner & Block. Businesses, Terri L. Mascherin.

The Forensic Expert Witness Association offers webinars specifically tailored to the continuing education of expert witnesses. The FEWA Webinar series is free for all FEWA members and offered at the low price of $30 for non-members. The webinars are created to fit within the CFLC Core Program.       

Webinars and virtual chapter meetings are open to all members and non-members. 

FEWA’s Los Angeles Chapter President, Kerrie Merrifield, has been newly elected as an Executive Advisory Board (EAB) member for the National Association of Certified Valuator and Analysts (NACVA). This is a huge honor and only awarded to those who are dedicated to excellence and have contributed to NACVA. As an EAB member, Kerrie has the responsibility for overseeing Association matters to better impact members and the collective organization.

Not only this, but Kerrie was recently awarded the Outstanding Member Award for NACVA for her exceptional contribution of advice, wisdom, and always extending a hand as a reliable source of support. Her guidance has greatly helped the success of NACVA. Read more about Kerrie below.

It comes with heavy hearts that we share our fellow FEWA member, David Crowe, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, July 12, at the age of 63 years. David was a well-respected man and was connected to many communities. A memorial service will be held at a later date and condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on David’s obituary at McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Salvation Army or your local food bank.

As a product manager first at Google, then Reddit and Pinterest, Tyler Odean knows a thing or two about the power of persuasion. The secret, he says, isn’t so much having a world-changing idea. It’s about getting people on the same page.

Whether on direct or cross-examination, questioning an expert witness differs in key ways from questioning lay witnesses. The heart of expert witness testimony is the expert’s opinion and the reasoning behind it – as well as the need to contextualize this opinion within one’s own case.

The U.S. District Court Montana, dealt with an election campaign expert who charged a modest $150 per hour and $200 per hour for deposition time. Surprisingly, plaintiff counsel challenged the fee request for the extra $50 per hour for deposition time. The court found that it was reasonable to charge a higher hourly rate for deposition time and for reasonable travel time.

In first-party property cases, it is common that an insured’s expert goes to a property after the loss to investigate. During the investigation, an expert may ask the insured questions that are necessary to formulate that expert’s opinions, such as the observable condition of the property before the insured’s loss, or which items have been visibly damaged. This is because, often, the expert has never been to the property and must formulate an opinion about the cause and/or extent of the damage following the loss.