FEWA Affiliate members are a vital part of our association. Learn more about these members and the many additional resources and benefits that you can start using today.

Lois is a real estate broker who has been providing attorneys with pre-litigation and litigation/arbitration support since 1987. As an expert witness, she stands ready to testify to the standard of care as well as customs and practices of California licensees and supervising brokers with respect to real property and business opportunity transactions. After an initial conversation, she will be happy to send you a Fee Schedule for consultation, testimony at deposition, arbitration, trial, and public hearings. Click below to learn more about Lois.

Your FEWA membership includes a number of benefits, including a listing in the FEWA Online Directory and an Enhanced Online Profile. Enhanced Online Profile allows members to improve their visibility to members of the legal community who are seeking experts by making effective enhancements. Are you making the most of your Directory listing? Do you have an Online Enhanced Profile? Take advantage of these benefits today!

Civil lawsuits range from simple and straightforward matters to complex questions requiring a high degree of scientific or technical knowledge to understand. In the latter cases, an expert witness’s participation may be essential for the parties, attorneys, judge, and jury to understand the issues and come to a fair and just conclusion. An understanding of the civil trial process can help an expert witness prepare to offer clear, informed insight.

Being an expert witness is a demanding task, but an expert’s testimony is crucial and can either make or break a client’s case. Credibility is paramount for any expert witness; it is the foundation an expert stands on to effectively persuade judges and jurors. As an expert witness, it is vital to avoid situations that could be used to attack or harm your credibility on the stand, such as arrests, felonies, disbarments, and even social media posts. Before you accept an engagement, do your homework—make sure you know what information is available in the public realm and check your privacy settings

The duties of an expert witness. The primary duty of an expert witness is to the court. This overrides any obligation to the instructing and paying party or parties. Expert evidence should be independent, objective, and unbiased. In particular, an expert witness must not be biased towards the party responsible for paying his fee. In providing a written report and oral evidence, the expert should be truthful as to fact, thorough in technical reasoning, provide his honest opinion and ensure that the report is complete in its coverage of relevant matters.

In the federal judicial system, Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is the governing rule of law for admissibility of expert witness testimony. Since its promulgation in 1975, the rule has undergone certain changes and amendments in response to case law development and interpretation of the admissibility standard. Now Rule 702 is one step closer to a big change—its first in over 20 years.

In a court case, you’ll need to persuade a jury or a judge that your claim is genuine. The word of an expert is an extremely powerful persuasive technique. If you want the best results during your trial, working with an expert witness may make sense. 

Did you attend the FEWA National Conference? Conference attendees earned up to 13.5 educational credits towards the Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant (CFLC Credential). FEWA Professional and Professional Consulting members are eligible to apply for the CFLC. Do you qualify for the CFLC? Learn more about the application requirements.