This document provides an overview of the American legal system and litigation process, including details on state and federal courts, the stages of a lawsuit, and rules of evidence and civil procedure governing expert witness testimony and disclosure. It also covers best practices for expert witnesses, such as marketing services, professional conduct, preparing for depositions and trial testimony, and maintaining credibility. Key points include the three branches of government, levels and jurisdictions of courts, the litigation stages from incident to trial, and disclosure requirements for expert reports and testimony.

1. CERTIFIED FORENSIC CONSULTING
Paul D. Friedman, M.A., Ph.D., J.D.
300 W. Clarendon, Suite 400
Phoenix, Arizona 85013-3424
(602) 252-8888
WWW.EXPERTETHICS.COM
bioethics@cox.net
pfriedman@expertethics.com

2. 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE COURT
SYSTEM
 CONSTITUTION - THREE
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
 EXECUTIVE
 LEGISLATIVE
 JUDICIARY

3. 1.2 STATE COURTS
JUSTICE COURTS
SUPERIOR COURTS *
COURT OF APPEALS
SUPREME COURT *
* Except New York

4. 1.3 FEDERAL COURTS
 DISTRICT COURTS (94)
 COURTS OF APPEALS (13
CIRCUITS
 U.S. SUPREME COURT
 Writ of Certiorari unless
Death Penalty

5. 3 LITIGATION PROCESS
 INCIDENT
 CLIENT MEETS WITH COUNSEL
 ATTORENY CONSULTS WITH
RETAINED OR FORENSIC
EXPERT
 LAWSUIT IS FILED

6. 3 LAWSUIT
 COMPLAINT/INDICTMENT
 ANSWER IN CIVIL
 DISCOVERY
 MOTIONS
 TRIAL

7. 3 COMPLAINT

8. 3.4.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(1)(A)

9. 4.1.1.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(1)

10. 4.1.1.2 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(2)(A)
FED.R.EVID. RULE 702

11. 4.1.1.2 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(2)(A)
FED.R.EVID. RULE 703

12. 4.1.1.2 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(2)(B)

13. 4.1.1.2 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(a)(3)(B)

14. 4.1.2 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(b)(4)(A)

15. 3.4.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(b)(4)(B)

16. 3.4.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(b)(4)(C)

17. 3.4.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(b)(4)(D)

18. 3.4.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 26(b)(4)(D)

19. 3.4.3 DEPOSITIONS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 30(d)

20. 3.4.3 DEPOSITIONS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 30(e)

21. 3.4.3 DEPOSITIONS
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 32
DEPOSITIONS CAN BE USED AT TRIAL
 IMPEACHMENT
 UNAVAILABLE WITNESS
 Deponent Died
 Witness > 100 Miles From Trial
 Age, Illness or Infirmity
 Unable to Subpoena
 Exceptional Circumstances
 RELIED UPON BY ANOTHER EXPERT

22. 3.4.2 INTERROGATORIES
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 33(a)

23. 3.4.2 INTERROGATORIES
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 33(b)

24. 3.4.4 REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 34(a)

25. 3.4.4 REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 34(b)

26. 3.4.5 REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 35(a)

27. 3.4.5 REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 35(b)

28. 3.4.6 REQUEST FOR ADMISSION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 36(a)

29. 3.4.6 REQUEST FOR ADMISSION
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 36(b)

30. 3.4.7 SUBPOENA
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 45(a)(1)(A)

31. 3.4.7 SUBPOENA
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 45(a)(1)

32. 3.4.8 SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 45(d)

33. 3.4.8 SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 45(e)(1)

34. 3.4.8 SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM
FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 45(g)

35. 4.2.1 RULES OF EVIDENCE
FED.R.EVID. RULE 702

36. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.1 FRYE STANDARD
Frye v. U.S.,
293 F. 1013
(D.C. Cir. 1923)

37. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.1 FRYE STANDARD

38. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.1 FRYE STANDARD

39. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
Daubert v.
Merrell Dow
Pharms.,
509 U.S. 579
(1993)

40. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
509 U.S. at 587

41. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
509 U.S. at 588

42. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
509 U.S. at 590

43. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
509 U.S. at 593

44. 4.2.1 FED.R.EVID. RULE 702
4.2.1.2 DAUBERT STANDARD
509 U.S. at 597

45. 4.2.2 FED.R.EVID. RULE 703

46. 4.2.3 FED.R.EVID. RULE 704

47. 4.2.4 FED.R.EVID. RULE 705

48. 4.2.5 FED.R.EVID. RULE 706

49. 4.4.1 FED.R.CIV.P. RULE 56

50. 2.1 MARKETING SERVICES
 CONSULTING
 Provide Information to Attorney
 Assist Attorney Getting Experts
 Assist Attorney with Treatises
 FORENSIC
 Assist Attorney with Discovery
 Deposition – Answer Questions
 Trial Testimony – Educate Jury

51. 2.2 MARKETING CONSIDERATIONS
 SOCIAL MEDIA
 Networking Sites
 Blogs
 ATTORNEY REFERRALS
 CLIENT REFERRALS
 LEARNED WRITINGS
 Peer Reviewed
 Textbooks
 Presentations
 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
 TRADE ADVERTISING

52. 2.3 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
 APPROPRIATE FEES
 Retainer
 Review
 Travel
 Testimony
 CONTRACTS
 Résumé/CURRICULUM VITAE
 COMMUNICATION
 Telephonic
 Reports
 Notes

53. 3.2 EXPERT CONDUCT
 PROFESSIONALISM
 Ethics
 Integrity
 Honesty
 DISCLOSURES
 Conflict of Interest
 Material Disclosures
 IDENTIFY
 Issues
 Attorneys
 Parties
 Insurance Carriers

54. 4.5 NEGLIGENCE*
 DUTY
 Standard of Care
 National
 Community
 BREACH
 PROXIMATE CAUSE
 DAMAGES
* Burdon of Proof–Preponderance of Evidence

55. 7.2.2 THE TESTIFYING EXPERT
 LISTEN CAREFULLY
 THINK BEFORE ANSWERING
 ARTICULATE CLEARLY
 CORRECT ANY MISTAKES
 REMAIN ALERT & FOCUSED
 STAY WITHIN AREA OF EXPERTISE
 EXPRESS OPINIONS IN LAY TERMS
 ALWAYS BE TRUTHFUL

56. 8.3 TRIAL
 JURY SELECTION
 OPENING STATEMENTS
 CLAIMANT’S/PROSECUTOR’S CASE
 Examination
 Cross Examination
 Re-Direct
 DEFENDANT’S CASE
 Examination
 Cross Examination
 Re-Direct
 CLOSING ARGUMENTS

57. 8.3.3 FORENSIC TRIAL TESTIMONY
 DRESS APPROPRIATELY
 ARRIVE EARLY
 ENTER COURT WHEN CALLED
 ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL
 EDUCATE THE JURY
 REMAIN IN CONTROL
 KEEP EYE CONTACT WITH JURY
 BE YOU/BE THE EXPERT

58. 9.1 FORENSIC CREDIBILITY
 PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION
 BE PREPARED
 BE HONEST
 SPEAK AUTHORITATIVELY
 ALWAYS REMAIN CALM
 DO NOT EXAGERATE
 DO NOT ATTACK OTHER EXPERTS
 BE ORGANIZED