Whether you’re speaking on a panel, participating in a fireside chat or giving a keynote presentation, it’s important to remember that you are the expert and what you have to say matters to the audience. Even if it’s your 100th time speaking in front of a group, a new environment or topic can be nerve-racking. To help alleviate some of this, here are five tips to help you gain confidence and composure as you get back into the swing of public speaking.

FEWA is pleased to announce our Fall 2022 Applied Expert Witness Skills Virtual Summit, delivered live via Zoom, 10:30 Central Time to 4:00 PM Central Time, October 10 and 11, 2022. An applied skills summit for experts of all types and specialties, those aspiring to be experts, and those supporting experts with the aim of live education that helps professionals located anywhere to become better expert witnesses.

Up to 10 hours of learning! 8 hours professional education + 2 hours virtual professional practice salons = up to 10 hours; 4 hours each day, 2 days of education; plus 2 hours constructive professional collaboration or membership benefit maximization.

Click below to learn more and to register!

Melanie Modica writes appraisal reports for fine art properts and reviews personal property appraisals to conclude opinions of compliance with uniform standards for the work products of other appraisers. Her litigation services include valuing and testifying for fine art appraisal work, personal property appraisal review work to conclude opinion uniform standards compliance, non-testifying consulting, and the management of appraisers on multifaceted assignments consisting of all property types. Melanie's litigation experience is enhanced with a first career in education that provides a focus on explaining and communicating effectively to a trier of fact.

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!

Michigan law is clear: An expert witness must spend the majority of their time practicing in the same specialty as the physician they are testifying against, physicians tell the Michigan Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently reversed a rule regarding where plaintiffs can file medical malpractice cases. Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted amendments to Pennsylvania’s Rules of Civil Procedure regarding venue in medical professional liability cases. Medical malpracticedefense attorneys fear the change could result in venue shopping.

Portraits are your chance for an attorney to see how you’ll “play” on the stand. It’s not a beauty contest. A subtler and crucial factor is how the attorney responds to you in a visually visceral way. Do NOT assume anything about what you look like. But it is essential you get portraits (more than one.) The key is for jurors to relate to you, and for attorneys to relate to you, and that can mean anything about you. That’s why I say it isn’t a beauty contest, or reflection of societal expectations.

This case posed challenges, particularly with respect to expert witness testimony. Both the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ attorneys questioned the likelihood of a verdict in the plaintiffs’ favor. Yet, the jury awarded damages to the plaintiff. In the process, the case revealed helpful takeaway points for medical malpractice attorneys and experts.

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.