Description
SEAK, Inc. is pleased to present its 32nd Annual National Expert Witness Conference. Experts from all disciplines and with all levels of experience will benefit from multi-disciplinary advanced techniques. Nationally recognized presenters will discuss all aspects of expert witness testimony, ethics, and trial techniques. Conference participants will be presented with practical suggestions for succeeding as expert witnesses. This highly acclaimed two-day program will include intensive breakout sessions.
Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 2025 Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach, FL
Registration/Tuition/Discounts: Tuition is $1,495 on or before March 14, 2025, $1,595 March 15–April 8, 2025, and $1,695 after April 8, 2025. Group Discounts: Group discounts are available for two or more persons registering together for the same course and from the same employer. Discount prices depend on the size of the group. Our programs can also be brought onsite to your organization. Please call 508-457-1111. Attendee Discount — SEAK Directories: A special 50% discount is available on one new or renewal standard listing in the SEAK Expert Witness Directory placed by attendees while at the conference or pre-conference workshops.
Location/Hotel Accommodations: The 2025 SEAK Expert Witness Conference will be held at the Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach, FL. SEAK has secured a special group rate of $389/night. Rooms are limited and this rate expires on April 8, 2025. The Opal Sands Resort offers guests ultra-modern Gulf front accommodations on the Gulf of Mexico, right on Clearwater Beach’s lively promenade. The Opal Sands Resort is located within walking distance of dozens of restaurants and is a 20 mile/30 minute cab, rideshare or shuttle ride from Tampa International Airport, so we suggest saving money and time by not renting a car. To make your reservations, please call 1-855-335-1087 and refer to the SEAK Group rate or click here.
Conference Cancellations: Conference cancellations received in writing on or before April 8, 2025 will receive a full tuition refund. Conference cancellations received after April 8, 2025 will receive a full tuition credit.
Continuing Education Credit Information
Note: If your specialty does not appear below and you desire credits, please contact Karen Cerbarano (Karen@seak.com or 781-826-4974). We can often obtain desired credits upon request, but unfortunately, obtaining some types of credits are not feasible. Please register early, as we can only apply for credits after your registration form has been received and it can take time to get the requested approvals back from the accrediting agencies. Accident Reconstructionists: SEAK will apply for credits through ACTAR upon written request at the time of registration. Accountants: State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. SEAK will provide each attendee with a certificate of attendance. Appraisers: Credits from The American Society of Appraisers will be applied for on written request at the time of registration. Arborists: SEAK will apply for Continuing Education hours through The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) on written request at time of registration. Attorneys: Credit varies by state. Continuing legal education credits for attorneys will be applied for if requested in writing at the time of registration. Engineers: 13 PDHs. The acceptance of this course is dependent upon your state(s) of registration. The vast majority of states do not require preapproval of either courses or course sponsors. Life Care Planners: SEAK will apply for credits through The Commission on Health Care Certification (CHCC) upon written request at the time of registration. Physicians: SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this live activity for a maximum of 13 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
For questions or more information call 508-457-1111 or email mail@seak.com. NOTE: SEAK does not accept commercial support for its programs and does not use faculty members with conflicts of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I am new to expert witnessing. Will this conference be appropriate for me?
A. Yes, although we also highly recommend that you sign up for our How to Start, Build and Run a Successful Expert Witness Practice preconference if your schedule permits or stream the pre-conference on-demand anytime from www.seak.com.
Q. What types of experts is your training conference appropriate for?
A. All disciplines and all levels of experience. Each year we have experts who have testified hundreds of times attend as well as brand new experts. The level of diversity in terms of disciplines who attend the conference is breathtaking and includes accountants, engineers, physicians, attorneys, psychologists, life care planners, chiropractors, fire investigators, arborists, nurses, computer specialists, patent experts, damages experts, security, investments, etc.
Q. Are there continuing education credits for my discipline?
A.If we reasonably can obtain your credits, we will. Please see page 2 for more details and if you have any additional questions please contact Karen Cerbarano at 781-826-4974 or Karen@seak.com.
Q. How many expert witnesses have attended this training conference?
A. Over 4,000 since 1990. SEAK has trained many thousands more experts through seminars, on-site training, and 1–1 training.
Q. Are there any discounts available?
A. Yes. You can save up to $400 by registering early ($200 for the main conference and $200 for a preconference). Group discounts are also available. Call 508-457-1111. A special 50% discount is available on one new or renewal standard listing in the SEAK Expert Witness Directory placed by attendees while at the conference or pre-conference.
Q. I can’t make it to the conference, what are my other options?
A. SEAK offers live, expert witness training 3–4 times a year. SEAK also offers streaming, on-demand training including How to Start, Build and Run a Successful Expert Witness Practice. For a complete list of upcoming live and streaming seminars, please visit www.seak.com.
Q. Should I sign up for a preconference or is that information already covered in the main conference?
A. We highly recommend that you take advantage of the smaller group format preconferences and sign up for one if your schedule permits. The preconferences go into far more depth than what is covered at the main conference and allow you to drill down and perfect your skills. A large percentage of attendees historically also attend a preconference.
Q. What other housing options are available in the Clearwater Beach area?
A. There are numerous hotel options at all price points within walking distance of the Opal Sands. There are also various condominium and apartment options so we encourage you to check out airbnb.com and vrbo.com for those options.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 3, 2025
7:30am – 8:00am REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:00am – 9:00am A View from the Bench: How to be a More Effective Expert Witness
Judge Krupp will provide his perspective of what makes experts effective — as well as what makes experts ineffective. His discussion will include forming defensible opinions, staying within one’s lane, the importance of full and proper pre-trial disclosure, as well as the attributes of the most persuasive expert witnesses at trial. To emphasize the points covered, Judge Krupp will draw on examples from the hundreds of trials he has been involved with as both a trial lawyer, and since 2013, as a trial judge presiding over both criminal and civil cases. Questions & Answers
Honorable Peter B. Krupp is an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. In his ten plus years on the bench he has presided over both civil and criminal sessions. He currently presides over one of the two Business Litigation Sessions in Boston. The BLS is dedicated to the timely and efficient resolution of commercial disputes and other complex cases. Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Krupp practiced civil litigation at one of the largest law firms in Boston, was an Assistant Federal Defender, and then formed his own firm focusing on both commercial litigation and criminal defense of persons accused of murder and other crimes. Judge Krupp was named a Lawyer of the Year in 2007 by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Brown and his JD from the University of Chicago Law School.
9:00am – 10:00am How to Avoid and Defend Against Abuse While Serving as an Expert Witness
Serving as an expert witness can be challenging. Experts can be subject to abuse in diverse facets of their practice including, hiring, retention, payment, deposition, direct, cross, Daubert/Frye, motions in limine, motions to strike and being struck from a case without notice. Dr. Burroughs will give examples of the abuse he has faced in his career and give practical advice for how to prevent and defend against such abuse. Questions & Answers
Jon Burroughs, JD, MD, MBA, FACHE, FAAPL is a vastly experienced healthcare administration expert witness, working on over 200 cases and having testified more than 100 times. He is the author of 11 books, two of which received the James A. Hamilton award and teaches healthcare management nationally. Dr. Burroughs received his bachelor’s degree at Johns Hopkins University, his MD from Case Western Reserve University, and a healthcare MBA with honors from the Isenberg School of Management. Dr. Burroughs recently graduated law school and was sworn in as a lawyer in May of 2024.
10:00am – 10:10am BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:10am – 11:10am Effective Presentation of Expert Witness Testimony: An Evidence-Based Approach
Ms. Morris will provide suggestions to better project the three pillars for expert witness credibility to fact finders — trust, competence, and likeability. She will describe and explain the 10 questions experts should ask themselves during preparation to help unpack their testimony. Most importantly, Ms. Morris will share highlights of the empirical evidence that has been gathered by researchers in her field on what does and does not make for effective expert witness testimony and provide practical suggestions for how experts can be more effective while testifying. Questions & Answers
Charlotte A. (Charli) Morris is a trial consultant with more than twenty years of experience across venues nationwide. She has taught and written extensively about jury decision-making behavior and all aspects of trial preparation and practice. What she loves most about her practice is the opportunity to work with trial lawyers, experts, and other witnesses. She has a passion for and extensive experience preparing expert witnesses to testify. Her lawyer clients are involved in diverse types of high-stakes litigation including commercial disputes, medical malpractice, products liability, and catastrophic injury.
11:10am – 12:10pm How Expert Witnesses Destroy Themselves
Expert witnesses all too often damage or destroy their credibility through self-inflicted wounds. Attorney Kalur will explain the common avoidable ways experts damage themselves and provide examples of experts doing so. More importantly, she will provide practical advice as to how to avoid self-destruction through properly managing the relationship with retaining counsel, making sure you ask for and receive all the relevant materials, developing well-supported opinions within your expertise, and delivering high level reports and testimony that accurately reflect the facts of the case and highlight your expert opinions. Questions & Answers
Laura B. Kalur, Esq. represents injured patients in medical negligence cases and defective medical device cases. She has owned and operated Kalur Law for 15 years. She was exposed to the world of medical malpractice law and inspired to attend law school by her father, a medical malpractice attorney who defended hospitals and doctors. Ms. Kalur was drawn to the plaintiffs’ side and chose to focus her practice exclusively on representing patients injured by medical errors. Ms. Kalur has dedicated her practice to the proposition that patients deserve good medical care and that healthcare providers and hospitals should be held accountable when they do not deliver standard of care to their patients. She prides herself on working tirelessly with the expert witnesses she retains to show them how to deliver persuasive and well-supported opinions and provide them all they need to do so.
12:10pm – 1:10pm LUNCH PROVIDED & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
1:10pm – 2:10pm BREAKOUT SESSION: CHOOSE ONE
Expert Witness Depositions – How to Be More Effective
Expert witnesses are far more likely to be deposed than to testify at trial. Mr. Turner will provide numerous practical tips and suggestions to excel at deposition — which he has learned over the course of giving hundreds of expert witness depositions. Questions & Answers
Scott L. Turner is the Chief Consultant of Truck Accident & Incident Experts, LLC, where he heads a national team of exceptional experts. Scott is a thought-leader in trucking safety, a sought-after public speaker and a highly experienced expert witness. Scott’s career of service includes being trained in Level 1 Roadside Enforcement and Post-Crash Inspections (highest attainable level); response, inspection and/or investigation to well in excess of 1,000 tractor-trailer crashes, 1,000 loading/off-loading incidents, over 200 cargo-tank truck crashes/incidents as well as a multitude of industrial setting incidents such as loading rack fires and/or explosions. He has over 250,000 miles experience as a professional commercial truck driver. Scott has the pleasure of being deposed around six to ten times per month.
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Cybersecurity for Expert Witnesses: Best Practices
Expert witnesses are typically involved in contentious disputes where there can be a lot at stake. Experts may also receive confidential information (often subject to a protective order) or information that would cause embarrassment or worse were it to become public. As such, experts are often one click or security breach away from disaster. Dr. Cole will provide practical tips for experts regarding cybersecurity including understanding the requirements of protective orders, best practices on emails and communications with retaining counsel, best practices on encryption and protecting data, and how to harden your practice and operations against cyber breaches. Questions & Answers
Dr. Eric Cole is a cybersecurity, networking, computer, and information technology (IT) expert. Dr. Cole’s expertise and experience includes working with both plaintiff and defense counsel as a cybersecurity, networking, computer, and IT expert. He has experience in multiple highest value cases with claimed damages of more than $1 Billion. His educational experience includes a master’s degree in computer science from the New York Institute of Technology, and a doctorate in professional studies from Pace University. Dr. Cole’s expert involvement in the information technology industry is demonstrated by his appointment as the commissioner on cybersecurity for the 44th president, holding a position as a senior fellow at SANS, and being elected to the Purdue University Executive Advisory Board. The accomplishments he has earned include an induction into the Information Security Hall of Fame, and he has been awarded as a Cyber Wingman from the US Air Force. Aside from his seasoned technical expertise, he is an author of various publications, like his recently released book, Cyber Crisis, which debuted at #1 on the Wall Street Journal’s Best Sellers List.
2:10pm – 2:25pm BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
2:25pm – 3:25pm BREAKOUT SESSION: CHOOSE ONE
Tax and Accounting Best Practices for Expert Witnesses
Ms. Beck will explain the best entity (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or Corporation) for expert witness practices. She will discuss the many tax implications experts need to be familiar with, including: when income becomes taxable, 1099s, estimated taxes, paying yourself properly, allowable deductions for experts, and dealing with income questions at deposition and trial. Ms. Beck will offer practical solutions for tax and accounting best practices for expert witnesses. Questions & Answers
Peggy Beck, EA is an enrolled agent who has worked in the accounting and tax field for over 40 years. An enrolled agent (or EA) is a federally authorized tax practitioner empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Enrolled agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS. The EA credential is recognized across all 50 U.S. states. She and her husband have also run a successful expert witness practice for over 25 years.
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Video Compilation of Expert Testimony: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Testifying as an expert witness is challenging but is a skill that can be honed with practice and experience. Kelly will show numerous video examples of experts testifying at a high level contrasted with examples of experts who made mistakes we see frequently. She will explain how to avoid these mistakes and how each expert could have improved his or her testimony. Questions & Answers
Kelly J. Wilbur, Esq., is an expert witness trainer and consultant for SEAK, Inc. She has assisted and taught numerous expert witnesses through SEAK seminars and one-on-one training. She was an insurance defense and commercial litigator for five years where she regularly worked with and against expert witnesses in wrongful death, personal injury, premises liability, construction defect and patent cases. Kelly received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts School of Law and graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a B.A. in Political Science. She may be contacted at 781-491-6802 or kelly@seak.com.
3:25pm – 3:40pm BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
3:40pm – 4:40pm BREAKOUT SESSION: CHOOSE ONE
Cross-Examination Survival Techniques: What Every Expert Needs to Know
Attorney Kolpan will provide practical tips for how to excel as an expert witness during cross-examination. He will cover the importance of not providing easy ammunition to the opposing counsel, why active listening skills are a must, and how to best deal with both routine and trick and difficult cross-examination questions. Attorney Kolpan will recount examples from his own experience of expert witnesses performing both well and poorly during cross-examination and will provide his insights as to how fact finders react to expert witnesses during cross-examination. Questions & Answers
Kenneth I. Kolpan, Esq. a Boston attorney for 52 years, has handled several hundred brain injury cases, including many involving hard to detect injuries to the brain. With years of experience working at two Boston area teaching hospitals learning about the medical aspects of serious injury cases, Attorney Kolpan has handled products cases, medical malpractice, worker’s compensation, motor vehicle collisions, sports related incidents and other personal injury cases involving traumatic brain injuries, amputation, death, paralysis and other serious injuries. Attorney Kolpan has also been designated a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He has also been designated a New England Super Lawyer in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He earned his BA in Psychology from the University of Rochester and his JD from Boston College Law School. Attorney Kolpan has extensive experience teaching and training expert witnesses.
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Advanced Practice Management & Business Development for Expert Witnesses
Join Bob Lawson for an engaging and eye-opening session on transforming your expert witness practice using cutting-edge AI tools and proven marketing strategies. Topics Covered: AI Tools for Expert Witnesses: Learn how to competently and ethically integrate the latest AI tools and technology to manage your practice more efficiently; Efficiency and Effectiveness: Optimize workflows to reduce time spent on administrative tasks and focus on core activities that drive business growth; Business Development: Explore advanced techniques for attracting and retaining clients, and expanding your professional network; Best Practice Management Tips: Gain insights into best practices for managing billing, E & O Insurance, independent contractors, contact management software, and more; Case Studies and Real-World Examples: Learn from real-world case studies that illustrate successful practice management scenarios and common pitfalls to avoid. Questions & Answers
Bob Lawson, CSCP®, AIF®, CFE®, MRFC®, LUTCF® is a seasoned Expert Witness in the financial services industry with 40 years of experience. Bob is retained by both claimants and respondents for FINRA arbitrations, mediations, and court settings and is a fiercely independent expert. Bob is the President and Chief Compliance Officer of Barrington Capital Management, Inc., and the President and Managing Principal of Barrington Financial Consulting Group, Inc., a full-service securities, commodities, and insurance litigation consulting firm. He serves as a FINRA and NFA Arbitrator (FINRA Chair-Qualified) and a FINRA Mediator and holds multiple certifications, including Certified Securities Compliance Professional, Certified Fraud Examiner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary, and Master Registered Financial Consultant. Bob is the former Chair of the Master Registered Financial Consultants and the current Practice Management Chair of the Securities Experts Roundtable (SER).
4:40pm – 6:00pm NETWORKING RECEPTION
Sunday, May 4, 2025
7:30am – 8:00am REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:00am – 9:00am A View from the Bench: The Biggest Mistakes Experts Make and How to Avoid Them
Judge Nordlund will discuss how to avoid the common unforced errors which can needlessly harm or destroy an expert’s credibility. Judge Nordlund will offer practical suggestions that experts can utilize to become a more persuasive expert witness at trial. Questions & Answers 
Hon. Lorraine Nordlund, (Ret) has adjudicated cases in a wide variety of areas such as family law, personal injury, medical malpractice, employment, trusts and estates, government contracts, corporate and commercial disputes, construction, defamation, riparian rights and eminent domain. Judge Nordlund was a trial court judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia for over 20 years, previously serving as a District Judge and has over 40 years of legal experience in all aspects of litigation. Judge Nordlund currently serves as a Principal of AIM Independent Mediation, LLC and still sits part time as a judge. She earned her law degree from Marshall-Wythe School of Law — College of William and Mary and her BS from Virginia Tech.
9:00am – 10:00am How to Form Defensible and Persuasive Opinions
Being an effective and successful expert witness requires the ability to form opinions that are both defensible and persuasive. Mr. Pietropaolo will provide advice on what experts can do to make sure that their opinions are on solid ground, are persuasive and understandable to the judges, juries, and arbitrators (i.e. lay people) who serve as fact finders in disputes, and are resistant to motions to exclude under Daubert/Frye. He will explain how to avoid the many hidden pitfalls in forming one’s opinions and deliver exceptionally persuasive opinion. Questions & Answers
Steven Pietropaolo, MS, P.E., CFEI is the Chief Executive Officer of LGI forensics where he leads a team of 18 engineers and consultants. Steven Pietropaolo has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College. He has participated in hundreds of hours of postgraduate professional development training in various engineering and construction disciplines as well as topics including material failure analysis, fire investigation, fire protection systems, explosions, construction defects, and product liability. He is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, and a Certified Fire Investigator Instructor. He is a Board-Certified Diplomate in Forensic Engineering by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) where he is the 2024 Board President. Steve is a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of New York, and eleven other States. Steve has over 35 years of hands-on engineering experience including electrical, mechanical, materials, safety, human factors, fire protection, construction, and utilities. He has been retained on numerous multimillion-dollar property damage cases as well as fatal accidents and fires/explosions including those that resulted in injury. Steve is a nationally known expert in the field of forensic engineering and is a highly experienced expert witness that has testified on over 80 cases. Steve also operates a full-service ISO 17025 ANAB accredited materials and chemical testing laboratory with the latest equipment for scientific testing of products, materials, and systems.
10:00am – 10:10am BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:10am – 11:10am Daubert Challenges and Overbroad Discovery Requests: Best Practices for Expert Witnesses
Two of the challenges expert witnesses commonly face are Daubert challenges and overbroad requests for documents (e.g. tax returns,information on other cases, etc.) through a discovery request such as a subpoena duces tecum. Attorney Kos will provide practical advice for how to respond to and navigate Daubert challenges and overbroad discovery requests including how to get retaining counsel to give these matters the attention they deserve, how you can best help to defend yourself, and when it may be advisable to hire your own personal counsel to assist you. Questions & Answers
Shannon M. Kos, Esq. is a Principal of McCoy Leavitt Laskey — The Nation’s Premier Fire and Explosion Law Firm. She has tried cases in Michigan and throughout the United States. Shannon is a certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and voting member of the ASTM E58 Committee on Forensic Engineering. Shannon also provides personal representation and defense to expert witnesses throughout the country in challenges to expert fees, scope of work and retainer agreement disputes, discovery issues, and Daubert and Frye attacks. Shannon has achieved the highest Martindale Hubbell rating (AV)(5.0 out of 5.0) and has been recognized for her expertise in Product Liability litigation including being awarded Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation — Defendant (2021) by Best Lawyers of America, DBusiness Top Lawyer — Product Liability, and Women in the Law Award, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2015). Shannon received a B.A. in Economics from Colorado College, where she played Division I soccer and was inducted with her teammates into the Colorado College Athletics Hall of Fame. She received her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, graduating with magna cum laude honors.
11:10am – 12:10pm How and Why Attorneys Depose Expert Witnesses: Strategies and Tactics
Mr. Watters will explain the goals of attorneys when taking expert witness depositions. He will highlight the strategies and tactics attorneys will use to meet these goals including the types of questions an expert is likely to face and why these questions are being asked. Most importantly, Mr. Watters will provide suggestions for how experts can effectively respond to these strategies and tactics. Questions & Answers
Michael G. Watters, Esq. has been the Managing Partner of O’Brien, Watters, and Davis since 1982. Mr. Watters is AV Preeminent® rated and a Family Law Super Lawyer and specializes in all aspects of trial work, with emphases on complex civil litigation, business litigation, employment litigation, family law and insurance. He also defends professional licensees. Attorney Watters was a Platoon Commander in Vietnam with the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines. He earned his BS and MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and his JD from the Hastings College of Law (The oldest law school West of the Mississippi River). In addition to his law practice, Mr. Watters also serves as an expert witness and a litigation coach. He frequently speaks and writes on taking depositions, was a Professor of Law (Torts) for a number of years, and has participated as a panelist in any number of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) programs.
12:10pm – 1:10pm LUNCH PROVIDED & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
1:10pm – 2:10pm BREAKOUT SESSION: CHOOSE ONE
How to Become a ‘Go To’ Expert Witness
Dr. Hoover will provide numerous pearls that will help experts generate positive word of mouth amongst attorneys and become highly sought after witnesses in their fields. Her points — with examples, explanations and implementation tips — will including being well-credentialed, being organized and careful, doing one’s homework, supporting one’s opinions with literature and standards, and being a relatable and likeable while testifying. Questions & Answers
Serina Hoover, Psy.D., ABPP-RP, QME, CBIS, CIC is a national award-winning psychologist with extensive training in medical rehabilitation and clinical neuropsychology. She is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Rehabilitation Psychology and has many years of experience in the forensic arena. As the Director of the Comprehensive Brain Injury Program at the nationally acclaimed Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, she supervises both clinical and research teams. In 2023, Dr. Hoover received the National Mentorship Award from Division 22 of the American Psychological Association and was recently elected to a three year term as President of Division 22. Dr. Hoover has evaluated and treated thousands of patients with brain injury, ranging from acute to chronic injury. She is the Past-President of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology and serves as the Board of Trustees Representative for the American Board of Professional Psychology. She holds numerous local and national leadership positions. She has lectured worldwide to medical and legal professionals on topics related to trauma, neuropsychology, brain injury, and professional development. She is a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. She conducts neuropsychological and psychological evaluations and provides expert testimony regarding testing measures, results, and conclusions, for both civil and criminal proceedings. Dr. Hoover is a highly sought-after expert witness and has testified in excess of 200 times.
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How to Avoid Having Your Expert Witness Testimony Excluded Under Amended FRE 702
The December 2023 amendments to Federal Rule of Evidence 702 have made it easier for opposing lawyers to challenge and exclude expert witnesses and their opinions. Attorney Huntington will explain the amendments to FRE 702 and why they were made. Most importantly he will go over the requirements of Rule 702 and provide practical suggestions, with examples, for action steps expert witnesses can take to help reduce the chances of their opinions being excluded. Questions & Answers
Bryan J. Huntington, Esq. is a Shareholder at Larkin Hoffman in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he represents his clients in the enforcement of their property rights. His clients include developers, landowners, contractors, builders, surety companies, condominium owners, landlords and tenants. Bryan represents landowners and contractors in litigation and negotiation adversarial to governmental subdivisions (counties, cities, townships, etc.) and government agencies, including matters involving eminent domain, inverse condemnation, zoning, administrative law and payment disputes. Bryan is also a Rule 114 qualified neutral (mediator) in Minnesota. He earned his BA magna cum laude from St. John’s University and his JD summa cum laude from Hamline University School of Law.
2:10pm – 2:25pm BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
2:25pm – 3:25pm BREAKOUT SESSION: CHOOSE ONE
How to Write the Exceptional Expert Witness Report
The ability to produce a well-drafted expert report is a critically important tool for expert witnesses. The expert report acts as a roadmap for direct testimony, talking points on cross, helps you prepare to testify, and enhances your brand. Attorney Mangraviti will explain how to write a powerful, persuasive, understandable, and defensible report. He will demonstrate with specific bullet-point advice and examples how to take your report to the next level with techniques such as effective formatting, properly documenting your qualifications, assignment, and methodology, how to express rock solid opinions, and making optimum use of timelines, graphs, charts, photographs, and footnotes. Questions & Answers
James J. Mangraviti, Jr., Esq. has trained thousands of expert witnesses through seminars, conferences, corporate training, training for professional societies, one-on-one training/mentoring, and training for governmental agencies including the FBI, IRS, NYPD, SEC, Secret Service, and Department of Defense. He currently serves as Principal of The Expert Witness Training Company SEAK, Inc. (www.testifyingtraining.com). He is the co-author of thirty-one books, including: How to Be an Effective Expert Witness at Deposition and Trial; How to Be a Successful Expert Witness: SEAK’s A-Z Guide to Expert Witnessing; and How to Write an Expert Witness Report. Jim received his BA degree in mathematics summa cum laude from Boston College and his JD degree cum laude from Boston College Law School. Jim can be reached at 978-276-1234 or jim@seak.com.
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How to Excel During Your Initial Interview with Potential Retaining Counsel
An expert’s initial call with potential retaining counsel on a new case inquiry is essentially a job interview. Attorney Caleb will provide his insights and advice on how to excel during this call including: what trial lawyers are looking for from the initial phone call, what questions experts should be prepared to answer during the call, and how to make sure the potential case is a good fit for both the lawyer and the expert. Questions & Answers
Joseph Caleb, Esq. is the co-founder Caleb Andonian, PLLC in Washington, DC where he practices a mix of criminal and civil law, including section 1983 police practices/civil rights cases. Joseph honed his litigation skills at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia — often recognized as the leading training ground for trial attorneys in the United States — where he served as lead counsel on over fifty trials against local and federal prosecutors. In 2018, Joseph was selected by The National Trial Lawyers as a “Top 40 Under 40” lawyer — a distinction extended exclusively to trial lawyers doing civil plaintiff and criminal defense work. The National Trial Lawyers again recognized Joseph’s accomplishments in 2020, this time naming him a Top 10 trial lawyer nationwide in his areas of expertise. Joseph has served as an adjunct mock-trial instructor in the past and as well as a guest lecturer on a variety of legal topics. He earned his BA from Oakwood University and his JD from American University Washington College of Law.
What past attendees have to say:
“Excellent, as always! I have been attending the Annual SEAK National Expert Witness Conference every year since 2005 when I started my own business. At that first SEAK conference, I made a conscious decision to come every year in order to elevate my expert witness practice. I literally treat the expense as I would my mortgage payment each month. I have taken each of the SEAK training courses at least two times and repeat this process every 3 to 5 years, depending upon what my schedule will allow. I have also had the honor of presenting at a SEAK conference in 2019. I credit SEAK, in part, in assisting in the development of my expert witness practice over the years, which has been very financially lucrative and professionally rewarding.”
“That was a spectacular and excellent conference. I learned more at the conference than the last three or more professional conferences I’ve attended put together. The speakers were excellent, the educational materials were first class, the hotel facilities were magnificent, the food was superb, and the SEAK organization was flawless.”
“Outstanding. I’ve attend[ed] many CME courses over the years, and SEAK courses are among the best I’ve ever attended, including Harvard and Mayo.”
“The SEAK conference in Clearwater, Florida, exceeded my expectations in the quality and quantity of education, and the numerous networking opportunities.”
“I am very grateful for all the hard work you, and the SEAK organization, put into presenting an outstanding conference. Many thanks.”
“Informative and effective. I picked up a wealth of techniques that will change my business practices.”
“The SEAK conference on a scale from 1–10 was an 11. Thank you to you and your team and the professionals who spoke!”
“I gained additional insight on testifying, relationships with retaining counsel, and overall operation of my growing expert witness practice all of which will lead towards improving my organization.”
“Fantastic. Worth [the] expense [of] traveling across the country. Great attendees who were willing to share.”
“Outstanding networking at Class & Conference!! Met many Experts that I want to maintain long-term interaction. Excellent job on providing the Voluntary Networking info file.”
“The entire conference was a total game changer. The presenters, the information, activities, the information was superb. And the chance to network with some of the best in the business was simply outstanding.”
“This was a very worthwhile conference. It was put together very well and from an attendee viewpoint, run flawlessly. Several of the sessions I have taken in the past. What I discovered was, that the past attendance laid a good foundation. The second time around, things made more sense and I was able to build on that foundation to a greater understanding of the subject matter.”
“In addition to great learning from the faculty, having some expert witness work under my belt at this point, I was able to engage in more meaningful conversations with other attendees which allowed me to learn from those conversations as well.”
“It was another excellent conference. The networking opportunities were very good and more so with this particular conference.”
“ Great training. I could use several hundred more hours of it. I will be putting what I learned to work next week.”
“ The sessions were definitely worth the time and expense. I would recommend it to anyone in this field.”
“A hearty “thank you” to you and the team for another amazing conference. This is my 3rd year and an already great event seems to continue to improve.”
“An eye-opening experience.”
“As always, the content is very valuable. The location and hotel is probably the loveliest and most relaxing conference destination I’ve been to.”
“Awesome, I will be back.”
“Congratulations on another successful conference! It is impressive that, given the limited number of topics, you keep the meetings fresh with new speakers and new ideas. It was a fun experience, and I look forward to many more stimulating SEAK experiences.”
“Engaging presenters who understood what was expected of them”
“Excellent content”
“Excellent seminar with a very interesting and diverse attendance”
“Excellent speakers and lecture content”
“Excellent, as usual (I am a repeat visitor)”
“Excellent, every session had some relevant information that will help me be a better expert witness.”
“Excellent, excellent use of speakers content areas that were all relevant but diverse with the whole variety of presenters with different style and information to share. Relevant, informative, interesting, and timely.”
“Excellent. Lots of great speakers with relevant content and valuable experience”
“Excellent. One of the best I have attended”
“Extremely beneficial”
“Fabulous, exciting”
“Fabulous-I am new to the field and it has been a great foundation to use to build my skills”
“Fantastic as always!”
“Fantastic seminar, exceeded expectations”
“Fantastic, a plethora of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects relating to expert witness work.”
“Fantastic”
“First and foremost, as a first year attendee I have to tell you the conference was AMAZING! I walked away with more real-world, directly applicable information than I thought was possible in a weekend. SEAK is an amazing organization and a fantastic resource.”
“Great speakers, very helpful”
“High class and informative.”
“I appreciated all of the preparedness of the professionals speaking.”
“I would like to thank you for Saturday and Sunday at Clearwater Beach. Everything was seamless, and the speakers were on top of their game. It was a very enjoyable time, and I learned more than I had in the past. You and Jim put together a totally first rate performance, and I’ll be coming back again.”
“Impressive-true leaders in the field”
“Incredibly valuable”
“It was a great seminar. Thank you!”
“It was as always, a life changing experience. Thank you for everything.”
“Once again the seminar was amazing. Thank you for providing this service to experts.”
“Outstanding!”
“Phenomenal, game changer!”
“Really enjoyed the event. Very good group of speakers and a high level audience. Look forward to working with you in the future.”
“Superb speakers! Great course.”
“Thank y’all for a great experience! It was fun and very, very helpful. I hope to do it again in the future.”
“Thank you very much. I found the conference to be extremely informative and well work my time and money.”
“Thanks again for a wonderful conference. One of the best ever.”
“Thanks for a great conference in a perfect location. As always, very informative and well organized.”
“Thanks to all of you. As always, the conference was outstanding.”
“The conference always re-energizes my batteries”
“The Conference was AWESOME, as always!! Thank you so much for all your effort and I'll see all of you in Clearwater, FLA!!”
“The meeting, exceeded my expectations. The only thing I regret was not taking these courses before accepting my first case. I appreciated the absence of commercial presence. The setting and services were fantastic."
“This is exactly what I needed”
“This is must know information for anyone doing expert witness work.”
“This was my first SEAK conference and it will not be my last. I was hesitant on attending since I was unsure of the quality of the program. I was very pleased and will certainly be recommending it to colleagues.”
“This weekend, my first exposure to SEAK, was extremely positive.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed this conference very interesting and informative, I will be back!!!”
“Tons of helpful information and strategies for expert witnesses”
“Very good seminar — many excellent speakers”
“Very good, lots of useful information”
“Very helpful, informative. Wonderful speakers”
“Very helpful”
“Very informative, great speakers”
“Very informative-all presenters knew their stuff”
“Very smart presenters”
“Very well organized. High level of professionalism”
“Well organized with a nice variety of topic areas and targeting various levels of experience.”
“Well-crafted for relevance and a stellar cast of presenters with a focus on practical knowledge”
“Well-crafted for relevance and a stellar cast of presenters”
“Worth every penny of my money.”
“You guys do such a fantastic job that any comments on improving would be Monday morning quarterbacking GREAT JOB! Thank you.”
“You have a great program. So glad to be a part of it. The training is invaluable.”
This conference, your teaching, was the best conference I have attended in my entire professional career. I did hear from a number of participants that they come back multiple times to your course and I can see why. There is just so much valuable content.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the expert witness conference this weekend in Clearwater. The presenters were exceptional and I picked up multiple tips and tricks to improve my business.”
“Thank you SEAK! As usual, you delivered a memorable and rich learning opportunities. I enjoyed the content, the location, and the networking immensely. Keep up the fantastic work!”
“Awesome! Educational. Relevant. Well organized. Great job to all that were involved in
organizing this event.”
“The conference was positively outstanding from end-to-end!”
“Awesome! Educational. Relevant. Well organized. Great job to all that were involved in
organizing this event.”
“The conference was positively outstanding from end-to-end!”
