A Visual Refresher Course on Expert Testimony by David C. Sarnacki

A Visual Refresher Course on Expert Testimony

David C. Sarnacki

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What brilliant professionals say:

Since his days heading our law review at Marquette, I've known David Sarnacki to be a scholar and an educator. His Refresher on Expert Testimony is not only another step on that path, but one that also adds a measure of practicality to what can often be a difficult and frustrating step forward for young or just rusty trial lawyers. Nice job.

JOSEPH R. WALL,
Circuit Court Judge, Milwaukee County, WI

Leave it to the Dave I knew in law school - brilliant, clever, effective, thinks outside the box-to offer a visual guide course on expert testimony. What I wouldn't have given to have something like this out of law school! A must-have for all young (and not so young) litigators.

ELLEN M. RYAN,
Former Administrative Law Judge, Illinois Department of Public Aid, Chicago, IL

Dave's unique and refreshing visual approach addresses the complex expert rules and cases, then presents these concepts clearly and concisely. This book will be an excellent resource for both new and experienced attorneys at every step of the expert witness process-hiring, preparing, then presenting and attacking at trial.

JOHN W. VAUDREUIL,
Former United States Attorney, University of Wisconsin Adjunct Evidence Professor, and International Trial Advocacy Instructor, Madison, WI

Having tried over 100 jury trials, this guide analyzes aspects of litigation that usually can't be found in writings. Dave gives us a unique guide of WHAT to say in trial, HOW you say it, and most importantly WHY. Having worked with Dave, this guide is the remarkable next step in litigation practice.

JAMES C. RATZEL,
Ratzel Pytlik & Pezze, LLC, Brookfield, WI

Best law book I've read in years! David Sarnacki captured the complexity of expert testimony and simplified it in an extraordinary way. The charts and graphs make this a practical resource - and make this one law book that I will turn to frequently.

MARY MCCAFFERTY DOUGLASS,
Award-Winning Educator and Former Trial Attorney, Marshall, MI

Show me a lawyer who says he or she doesn't get nervous before a trial, and I will show you a fibber. Having this practical and easily understood guide to trial practice in your library is a must.

JAMES S. BRADY,
Of Counsel at Rizzo Day PC, Former United States Attorney, and Former Member of both Dykema Gossett PLLC and of Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, PLC, Grand Rapids, MI

A mentor once told me to read the rules of evidence prior to every trial-advice that can be hard to follow. Expert testimony is always a challenge, and Dave's detailed outline of what you need to know is an excellent contribution that makes trial preparation-and simply understanding the topic-that much easier. Read it, and rely on it.

CHIP CHAMBERLAIN,
Willey & Chamberlain LLP, Grand Rapids, MI

David Sarnacki is a distinguished attorney but so much more than that. A Renaissance man, his curiosity is insatiable, and he strives to provide other lawyers with an understanding of the law and how to use it effectively. This book fits the bill beautifully.

PAUL J. DENENFELD,
Circuit Court Judge, Kent County, MI

This is the book you will actually use. Expert testimony puzzles even seasoned attorneys and experienced judges. This Visual Refresher Course simplifies understanding with a practical approach to mapping the expert's argument and assessing opinions against the controlling legal principles. Get straight into the elements and analysis of expert testimony, from a practical perspective. Stop suffering through 400-page tomes searching for the core principles you need now. The work's been done for you, so no need to waste your time. A Visual Refresher Course on Expert Testimony provides the quick overview you need to think clearly about expert witnesses. While intended for young lawyers and law students, everyone can discover the benefits of this high-yield reference resource.

This Visual Refresher Course shows:

This step-by-step, Visual Refresher Course covers: the path to mastering specialized knowledge, shortcuts and biases; breaking down and mapping the expert's argument; Federal Rules of Evidence 702 and 703, the legal principles for expert opinions and their eight levels of continua; qualifications; facts, data and assumptions; principles, methods and their application; the opinion and its battle for the best explanation; and more.

Real-world examples are drawn: My Cousin Vinny (1992); the polygraph in Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923); the studies in Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 509 U.S. 579 (1993); the epidemiological studies in General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136 (1997); the tire analysis in Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137 (1999); the blood samples in People v. O.J. Simpson; medical decision-making, mental health diagnosis, and child custody evaluations; DNA identification and the fallibility of witness identification; standardized field sobriety, abusive head trauma [shaken baby syndrome], syndrome evidence [battered women, sexually abused child], and gang-related crime; real estate appraisals; business valuation, lost personal income, and lost business profits; present value of defined benefit pension interest; and professional and legal malpractice.

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