Medical Experts and Expert Witnesses: Preparing, questioning, deposing, and trial tactics for direct and cross-examination

Francis J. Scahill | Scahill Law Group P.C.

As Managing Partner, Francis J Scahill, Esq. ensures the firm’s commitment to the Golden Rule – responsiveness to clients. And the result has been long-standing relationships – in some cases for decades – with many clients.

His philosophy is an outgrowth of his background. A child of Irish immigrants, he was raised with the values of hard work and education. His parents struggled to build a life in the US and as a first-generation American, Frank felt a responsibility to succeed and live up to his parents’ and the American dream. He grew up in Rockaway Beach and attended Fordham and St. John’s University. He is an active alumnus of St. John’s and each year the firm offers intern positions to law school students.

Within the firm, Frank fosters an environment where everyone feels like part of a family. He demands hard work and dedication to client service, but also encourages staff to work together and help each other. The importance of building strong relationships is evident in how the firm was formed and how it successfully grew from 2 attorneys to 55 attorneys and 100+ professionals. After law school, Frank was Law Clerk to the Honorable John A. Milano in New York City Civil Court. The judge became a mentor and life-long friend and many years later joined the firm as counsel.

Frank’s chief role as Managing Partner is overseeing litigation strategy for the firm. He is an accomplished trial lawyer with more than 100 trial wins; the majority with $1 million or more at risk. He draws on his substantial experience and insights to get results for clients.

Part of Frank’s own service to clients is authoring the firm’s highly-regarded newsletter “iNews.” Each month, he discusses decisions of note affecting the insurance defense industry and shares his own personal trial techniques under “Trial Tips.” He also regularly conducts in-house educational seminars for insurance carriers.

Pro bono is part of the culture of the firm. Frank believes in giving back and offers the firm’s legal services pro bono to the US Marine Garrison in Garden City and the US Army Garrison at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

Frank is most proud of his 4 children, all of whom have forged successful careers. Two of them are attorneys employed as prosecutors and the other two are teachers.

Robert Jossen | Robert Jossen P.C.

For over 40 years, Robert J. Jossen, the principal of Robert Jossen, PC, has been a seasoned trial lawyer and litigation attorney, with experience in many different types of disputes, touching financial, commercial, art, labor, education and the legal industries. Mr. Jossen has served as a mediator and arbitrator in numerous disputes. He has extensive training in mediation and arbitration. His courtroom prowess has been recognized by election as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Mediator and Arbitrator

With a wealth of experience in prosecuting, defending, trying and settling complex litigation problems, Mr. Jossen’s focus primarily is on dispute resolution, serving as a mediator or arbitrator, and, separately, as a counselor on specific assignments providing advice and counsel to individuals or entities in crisis situations. As a neutral, his interest in mediation is purely to achieve a result which is

satisfactory to all parties involved. As an arbitrator, his interest is to reach a just and reasoned decision based upon the information presented and the governing law.

Counselor and Trial Lawyer

Mr. Jossen has earned the reputation over the years as a practical, seasoned trial lawyer, with impeccable judgment and analytic abilities. These are tools critical to an effective mediation or arbitration of any dispute, and to analysis and problem solving in difficult situations.

Barbara Barron | Barbara Barron MS CCC SLP

Barbara is a licensed and certified speech pathologist, specializing in the speaking voice. She trains clients on-site at their offices as well as virtual sessions.

After graduating from Skidmore College,with a theater degree, she started her professional acting career in New York City and studied acting with Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof and Austin Pendelton. She earned her Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from Columbia University.

Barbara has combined her acting background with her knowledge of the human speaking voice to provide professional voice users with techniques to maintain the
health of their voice and prevent vocal injury in all situations. She works with politicians, actors, lawyers, anchors, business owners and all occupational voice users.

Barbara is known for her fund of knowledge, individualized approach, enthusiasm and communication skills. She is a consummate professional who connects with her clients in an extraordinary way.

Session I – Trial tactics for direct and cross-examination of medical expert witnesses | 1:10pm – 3:20pm

• Collateral attack of opposing witnesses | 1:10pm – 1:25pm
• Use of Medical records | 1:25pm – 1:40pm
• Demonstrative Evidence | 1:40pm – 1:55pm
• Causation issues | 1:55pm – 2:10pm

Break | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

• Use Prior Court testimony of Expert Witness | 2:20pm – 2:40pm
• Strategies for Cross-examination and Direct testimony | 2:40pm – 3:00pm
• Post Covid Trials | 3:00pm – 3:20pm

Break | 3:20pm – 3:30pm

Session II – How to Prepare an Expert Witness for the Deposition Experience | 3:30pm – 4:30pm

• Identify and achieve objectives for effective preparation of expert witnesses for deposition | 3:30pm – 3:50pm
• What are the strategic considerations in expert witness preparation? | 3:50pm – 4:10pm
• Use voice control and exercises to assure comfortable, confident physical presence for witnesses, especially those who are not accustomed to the pressure of a deposition setting | 4:10pm – 4:30pm