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In Composing the Expert’s Report: Factors for Compliance with Federal Rule 26(a)(2)(B), forensic handwriting expert witness Jacqueline A. Joseph, B.A., CDE, D-BFDE, writes:

Introduction Rule 26 provides guidelines to the discovery process and flow of information between the expert and the client-attorney. In civil lawsuits, the United States district courts’ procedures are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). Any court may have its own additional requirements regarding report writing and these requirements would be available from the court clerk or your client.

While the rules vary from state to state, at least 35 states have adopted procedural codes based on the Federal Rules, sometimes with slight and time-critical variations. The FRCP applies only to matters being tried in Federal Court.

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Technology expert witnesses may provide reports and testify concerning computers, virtual technology, and communication technology. In Google, others call on NSA for more transparency AllThingsD.com writes:

Sixty-three tech companies, including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter, have come together to call on the US government to bring more transparency to surveillance. An official letter detailing the coalition’s requests will be released tomorrow.

AllThingsD.com is a website devoted to news, analysis and opinion on technology, the Internet and media.

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Computer security expert witnesses may consult regarding network security, computer crime, data security, and computer forensics. In the news, guardianlv.com describes how computer hackers search out and sell flaws in software coding to government agencies and private companies around the world. nytimes.com this week reported on Italian hackers who sell technical vulnerabilities to countries seeking to break into the computer systems of foreign adversaries.

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Motorcycles expert witnesses may may give opinions regarding issues involving motorcycle dirt bikes, street bikes, and motorcycle accident reconstruction. Newyorkdailynews.com reports that motorcycle racer Bill Warner died Sunday while attempting to top 300 mph on a mile course at the “Maine Event.” Warner lost control on the former Loring Strategic Air Command base runway. He holds the record as the first conventional motorcyclist to top 300 mph in 2011.

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Insects and pests expert witnesses may write reports and testify on pest control, ticks, and termites, as well as other types of parasites and pests. In the news, boston.com writes that Lyme disease is now the second most commonly reported infectious disease in New England. Lyme is a tick born disease with symptoms including fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a distinctive circular skin rash.

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In Seven Costly Mistakes Attorneys Make With Medical Negligence Cases, Dr. Burton Bentley of Elite Medical Experts LLC writes:

Although the rate of negligence claims against medical providers has begun to level off, the cost of litigating these actions has risen dramatically. Vast amounts of time and money are lost when attorneys – whether retained by plaintiff or defense – pursue a non-meritorious case or litigate a worthy case inefficiently. Beware of the following costly errors:

MISTAKE #6: INCOMPLETELY ANALYZING EVERY REFERENCE ARTICLE CITED BY THE OPPOSING EXPERT.

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In Watermarking an Expert Witness CV, construction site expert witness William Gulya, Jr., President & CEO, Middlesex Trenching Company, writes:

A recent article on a prominent expert witness directory site recommended and encouraged their experts and consultants to watermark their curriculum vitae. Their reasoning, according to the article, was because, “As disconcerting as it may be, unscrupulous activity does exist in the legal industry….”

The next thing I knew I received a copy of an email addressed to Mr. X from his adversary copying me requesting a copy of my expert report, as the deadline for submission of expert reports had expired. I immediately informed Mr. X that because he had not returned my retainer agreement and payment, nor sent me any discovery, I was not to be considered his expert on the case. I enclosed a copy of my original letter stating I had closed the file, and copied his adversary on my email to Mr. X.

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Neuropsychology expert witness Michael Daniel testified in Clark County Superior Court (WA) that although murder defendant Dennis Wolter may have sustained brain damage from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in addition to a traumatic brain injury at age 18, the brain damage did not impair Wolter’s ability to premeditate the 2011 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Kori Fredericksen. Jurors found Wolter guilty of the first-degree aggravated murder of Ms. Fredericksen.

Dr. Daniel is a clinical neuropsychologist and Professor and Director of the Neuropsychology Track at Oregon’s Pacific University. He is an in instructor in neuropsychological assessment, fundamentals of behavioral neuroscience, behavioral neurology, and neuropsychiatry

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Railroad expert witnesses may give opinions regarding railroad accident reconstruction, railroad accident investigation, train wrecks, and railroad safety. News.nationalgeographic.com reported that the oil train tragedy in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, involved crude oil tankers that decoupled, slid downhill and exploded. The train was parked and unmanned when 72 tankers caused the fire and explosion near the Maine border. The oil was being conveyed from North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields to a New Brunswick refinery.

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National Transportation Safety Board investigators report that the pilots flying the Asiana flight 214 Boeing 777 did not have access to a system designed to assist in safely landing the jet airliner. The glide-slope provides guidance to keep the plane at the correct elevation and angle before landing but was out of service due to runway construction. NTSB Senior Aviation Accident Investigator Bill English is serving as investigator-in-charge. NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesman. Ms. Hersman said the flight data recorder indicates the aircraft’s speed at impact was 106 knots which is well below the aircraft’s target landing speed of 137 knots.

Former TWA pilot Barry Schiff stated that pilots “should always make an approach with power, and they didn’t do that.” The aviation safety expert witness has more than 27,000 hours logged in more than 300 types of aircraft and is the author of over 1,500 articles published in 90 aviation magazines. He is a contributing editor at AOPA Pilot.

Read more: http://www.ntsb.gov/