ARCHIVE - Past Months Management and Litigation Tips

Physical therapist - your missing expert witness?

A physical therapist (PT) is a health care professional. Every state now requires a physical therapist to have a minimum education of a masters or doctors degree from an accredited medical college or university. Indeed, about 20 years ago most colleges stopped offering bachelor's degrees in physical therapy. In 2009, there were 200 colleges offering doctors degrees in physical therapy.
 

What this means for you --- PT’s of the 21st century are medically trained (and licensed by your state) to make a diagnosis of the medical reasons for bodily limitations, and to evaluate . . . . ...

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Is there a tactic or strategy to settle cases you would like to try this year? In what case will you try it?  If you have not decided on a new tactic, tip, or strategy,  then consider making — whether you are plaintiff or defendant — an indexed settlement offer built on psychological principles of persuasion. Most lawyers have not yet learned to use available pre-built psychological formats. If you want to read more about one of them, see item #SET007 at Lawyer Settlement Form's catalog

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The Workhorse Two Dozen: Two dozen trial testimony objections do most of your work. Review a concise checklist before every trial.

Knowledge leads to confidence. Plus, judges are impressed by a trial attorney who is prepared to make a trial objection to testimony quickly - accurately, and well phrased. There are only a couple dozen objections made in 90% of trials, yet some attorneys bungle them. Your trial notebook should have a checklist, listing the  standard objections and best way to phrase them, and giving you responses to objections. Read it over before each trial, to refresh your memory and allow you to calmly make an objection or .....There is available a good trial notebook objections checklist.

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More articles

• Getting the Opinion In (or Out) [The Daubert-Joiner-Kumho Tests]. Expert Testimony Rules of Evidence for Court Witnesses: Seminars and Education; Daubert Kumho Federal Rules
   

• Bad Faith Claims against the insurer, arising out of suits against the insured - a handbook for both plaintiffs and defendant insurers. Ins. Bad Faith
   

• In many states the court can order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order on its own motion. Sequestration discusses one effect on expert witnesses.
   

• The Evidence Required to Prove the Validity of Legal Assistant Fees as a Compensable Component of Attorney Fee Awards Reasonable Fees
   

• An aid to those interested in the law of  presenting an expert's opinion under the Federal Rule of Evidence 703 and the similar state evidence rules.  Rule 703 Basis- Expert Opinion
   

• Juror Perception of Expert Witnesses. Jury Perception of Expert Witnesses