Providing Effective Expert Testimony and Dealing with Spin Doctors

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TEXT="#080000"> <div> Patrick J. Sullivan, Forensic Management Associates*</div> <bR> <div> (Speaker was not able to attend.)</div> <bR> <div>      The presentation of expert testimony varies dramatically depending upon the venue. Testimony to city, county, state and federal boards and regulatory agencies is uniquely different than testimony provided in litigation. In spite of the venue, the presentation of scientific information can and is biased or delivered with a suitable "spin" when experts take on an advocacy position. Experts should not be advocates of a position or policy. However, an expert can be an advocate their own scientific opinions. By its very definition, "effective expert testimony" means that, by the end of the day, an expert's presentation of theory and fact have convinced and/or swayed those involved as to the correctness of the expert's opinion. This can only be accomplished when an expert 1) is well qualified, 2) is completely prepared, 3) presents simple science, 4) whose presentation is strongly supported by theories, facts and documentation, and 5) whose presentation addresses all relevant theoretical and factual weaknesses (actual or perceived). Case histories involving environmental chemistry will be used to illustrate this process for different venues. These case histories will also illustrate how an advocate "spins" the scientific truth and methods used to counter fallacious opinions. This will be an oral presentation</div> <bR> <div> *60 E. Third Avenue, Suite 385, San Mateo, CA 94401</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="intelligent_steering_of_technologies_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Environmental nasty surprise: implicatio"><U>Previous Page</U></A>                  </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table><html><body><a href="http://www.zend.com/store/products/zend-safeguard-suite.php"><img border="0" src="http://www.zend.com/images/store/safeguard_optimizer_img.gif" align="right"></a><center><h1>Zend Optimizer not installed</h1></center><p>This file was encoded by the <a href="http://www.zend.com/products/zend_guard">Zend Guard</a>. In order to run it, please install the <a href="http://www.zend.com/products/zend_optimizer">Zend Optimizer</a> (available without charge), version 3.0.0 or later. </p><h2>Seeing this message instead of the website you expected?</h2>This means that this webserver is not configured correctly. 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