Presenting Evidence Using Narratives

Developing Narratives, Using Experts to Tell the Story, and Minimizing Discoverability Risks and Daubert Challenges

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A

Conducted on Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Recorded event now available

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Program Materials

This webinar will prepare litigators to effectively present evidence in the form of narratives using expert witnesses, while avoiding discoverability risks and overcoming Daubert challenges. The panel will offer concrete case studies on using narratives to demonstrate "why it happened" rather than just "what happened."

Description

Presenting evidence in a manner to engage the jury and get the jury on your side is key for all litigators. People generally tend to process information more cohesively in the context of a story rather than a series of facts, information or data that aren't always obviously connected.

Jurors will create their own narrative of how the evidence fits together, so counsel should control that narrative. Narratives are important in personal injury and products liability cases where there are complex issues at hand, technical evidence, expert witnesses, and extensive evidence to process.

Most litigators are skilled at using narratives in opening and closing arguments. Jurors, however, accord more credibility to witness testimony than attorney statements. Witnesses, particularly experts, are an effective way to integrate multiple concepts and medical or technical data into a coherent story.

Listen as our authoritative panel of litigators uses concrete case studies to illustrate how to use narratives and how they can be more effective than just presenting "what happened" but discussing "why it happened." The panel will discuss how to collaborate effectively with expert witnesses to create narratives, how to minimize discoverability risks, and best practices for overcoming a Daubert challenge.

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Outline

  1. Importance of narratives in presenting evidence to jury
  2. Using experts to deliver narratives
  3. Overcoming challenges of using narratives
    1. Discoverability
    2. Daubert challenges
    3. Educating the expert
  4. Case studies

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • Why are narratives important in presenting complex information or data to a jury?
  • What are some of the challenges litigators face in presenting evidence in the form of a narrative?
  • Why are expert witnesses a good vehicle for presenting a narrative?
  • What are some of the unique challenges in using expert witnesses to present the narrative?

Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.

Faculty

David Darden
David Darden
Partner
Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs

He practices business litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, and consumer finance. He has...  |  Read More

Additional faculty
to be announced.

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Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include program handouts.

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