Direct Examination of Lay Witnesses

• Author: Edward L. Birnbaum/Carl T. Grasso/Ariel E. Belen
• Pages: 141-162

DIRECT:

LAY WITNESSES

24-1

CHAPTER 24

DIRECT EXAMINATION

OF LAY WITNESSES

I. GENERAL POINTS

§24:01 Testimony Must Be From Personal Knowledge

§24:02 Witness Must Be Competent

§24:03 Witness May Testify in Multiple Areas

§24:04 Interpreters

II. TYPES OF LAY WITNESSES

A. Friendly and Hostile

§24:10 Friendly Witnesses

§24:11 Hostile Witness

B. Plaintiff ’s Lay Witnesses

§24:20 Party Witness

§24:21 Liability Witness

§24:22 Damages Witness

C. Defendant’s Lay Witnesses

§24:30 Party Witness

§24:31 Witness Who Testif‌ied for Plaintiff

§24:32 Liability Witness

§24:33 Damages Witness

III. DIRECT EXAMINATION

A. General Points

§24:40 Use Simple Questions

§24:41 Use Short Questions

§24:42 Use Simple Terms

§24:43 Confusing Questions

§24:44 Compound Questions

§24:45 Repeating Questions or Answers

§24:46 Impeaching Credibility

B. Leading Questions

§24:60 Avoid Leading Questions

§24:61 Limited Leading Questions Are Sometimes Okay

§24:62 Leading Questions for Memory Problems

§24:63 Leading Questions for Hostile Witnesses

DIRECT:

LAY WITNESSES

New York Trial Notebook 24-2

C. Using Testimony to Lay a Foundation for Other Evidence

§24:70 Overview

§24:71 Foundation for Factual Testimony

§24:72 Foundation for Lay Opinion

§24:73 Foundation for Information Used by Experts

§24:74 Foundation for Exhibits

IV. REDIRECT EXAMINATION

A. Objectives

§24:80 Overview

§24:81 Rehabilitation

§24:82 New Evidence

B. Scope and Form of Question

§24:90 Scope

§24:91 Form of Question