What to Do Before, During, and After the Deposition
| Author | Dorothy Clay Sims |
| Pages | 107-262 |
WHAT TO DO BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER
THE DEPOSITION
3-1
CHAPTER 3
WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING,
AND AFTER THE DEPOSITION
I. INTRODUCTION
II. BEFORE THE DEPOSITION
A. Arrange for Doctor, Plaintiff and Court Reporter to Attend
§3:01 Subpoena Doctor
§3:02 Arrange for Your Client to Attend
§3:03 Confirm Procedures With Court Reporter
B. Review Doctor’s File
§3:04 Review Every Page
§3:05 Bills, Invoices
§3:06 Hours
§3:07 Notes
§3:08 HIPAA Violations
§3:09 AMA Code of Ethics Violations
C. Investigate the Doctor
§3:10 Overview
§3:11 What to Ask For
§3:11.1 General Background Information
§3:11.2 Doctor’s CV
§3:11.3 Medical Abstracts
§3:11.4 Research Grants
§3:11.5 Books Doctor Authored
§3:11.6 State Licenses & Grievances
§3:11.7 Lawsuits in Which Doctor Was a Party
§3:11.8 Other DMEs Performed by the Doctor
§3:11.9 Prior Depositions
§3:11.10 Emails
§3:12 How to Get It
§3:12.1 Google the DME
§3:12.2 Visit Legal Research Websites
§3:12.3 Visit IME Websites
§3:12.4 Check Blog Postings
§3:12.5 Contact the Doctor’s School
§3:12.6 Visit the Doctor’s Website
§3:12.7 Join Listservs
§3:12.8 Call Your Local Police Department
§3:12.9 Ask the Doctor to Sign a Release of Membership Information
WHAT TO DO BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER
THE DEPOSITION
Exposing Deceptive Defense Doctors 3-2
§3:13 Plan Your Approach
§3:13.1 How To Take A Bad Deposition Every Time
§3:13.2 A Better Approach – How to Take a Good Deposition Every Time
§3:13.3 Pay Attention to Unique Traits of the DME
§3:14 Example: How to Read and Analyze the DME’s CV
§3:14.1 Make the Inconsistencies Matter
§3:14.2 Model CV
§3:15 Analysis of Model CV
§3:15.1 Expert’s Name, Address, Contact Information
§3:15.2 Date
§3:15.3 Birth Information
§3:15.4 Education
§3:15.5 Volunteer
§3:15.6 Awards
§3:15.7 Licenses
§3:15.8 Board Certification
§3:15.9 Employment
§3:15.10 Hospital Privileges
§3:15.11 Publications
§3:15.12 Grants
§3:15.13 Patents
§3:15.14 Speeches/Seminars
§3:15.15 Television
D. Read the DME’s Report and Set Up Your Questions
§3:16 Overview
§3:17 Three-Step Process
§3:17.1 Step 1: Know Your Expert
§3:17.2 Step 2: Read the Report…Backwards
§3:17.3 Step 3: Use the Report to Craft Questions in Ten Specific Categories
§3:17.4 Step 4: Read the Report Again
§3:18 Sample DME Report, Analysis and Cross-Examination Questions
E. Read and Understand All Plaintiff’s Medical Records
§3:19 What to Look for
§3:19.1 Emergency Room Records
§3:19.2 Medical History
§3:19.3 Abbreviations and Medical Shorthand
§3:19.4 Other Important Records-Related Issues
§3:20 Don’t Be Fooled by Common Defenses
§3:20.1 Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence
§3:20.2 Illogical, Inconsistent Symptoms Do Not Mean Malingering
§3:20.3 Drugs Play Tricks With a Patient’s Mind
§3:20.4 Reading the Treating Doctor’s Records
III. DURING THE DEPOSITION
A. Use Technology to Your Advantage
§3:21 Connect to the Internet
§3:22 Have an Expert Listen In
B. Three Stages of a Deposition
§3:23 First Stage: Convert
§3:24 Second Stage: Neutralize
§3:25 Final Stage: Expose
C. Tips & Techniques
§3:26 How to Establish an Authoritative Source
§3:27 When the DME Makes a Mistake, Leave Him an Out
WHAT TO DO BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER
THE DEPOSITION
3-3 What to Do Before, During, and After the Deposition
§3:28 Create a Timeline
§3:29 Polarize the Case
§3:30 Limit Doctor to Two Choices
§3:31 Expose Doctor’s Ignorance
§3:32 Discuss Pain
§3:33 Force DME to Show You the Science
§3:34 Show That Doctor Does Not Know Case Facts
§3:35 How Long Should It Take?
§3:36 Fire a “Shot Across the Bow”
§3:37 Find Common Ground
§3:38 Use Religion to Your Advantage
[§3:39 Reserved]
D. At the Daubert/Frye Hearing
E. Sample Questions
§3:40 Initial Questions
§3:41 Examination Questions
§3:42 Questions re: Positive Test Results
§3:43 Questions re: Prior Trial Testimony; Bias
§3:44 “Briarpatch” Questions
§3:45 Background Questions
§3:46 Questions About Money
[§§3:47-3:49 Reserved]
IV. AFTER THE DEPOSITION
A. Subpoena DME to Trial as Adverse Witness
§3:50 Why Subpoena the DME?
§3:51 What to Have Him Bring (and Not Bring)
B. Make DME’s Testimony Simple and Memorable for Fact-Finder
§3:52 Create Graphs/Charts From Records and Testimony
§3:53 Create a Mediation Tool
§3:54 Create a PowerPoint Presentation
[§§3:55-3:59 Reserved]
V. DAUBERT/FRYE DEPOSITIONS: SETTING UP THE MOTION IN LIMINE
A. What to Do Before, During and After the Deposition
§3:60 Challenge DME’s Method
§3:61 Attack (and Defend) the Science
§3:62 Subpoena DME
§3:63 Prepare Your Expert
[§3:64 Reserved]
B. Depose the DME
§3:65 Failure to Produce Documents at Deposition
§3:66 Proving DME’s Lack of Scientific Method
§3:67 Using Daubert/Frye to Limit DME’s Opinions on Honesty and/or Causation
§3:68 Epidemiology (Your New Best Friend)
C. At the Hearing
§3:69 Avoid These Common Mistakes
§3:70 Tips for Success
§3:71 When You File a Daubert Motion
[§§3:72-3:74 Reserved]
VI. PREPARE PLAINTIFF’S EXPERT FOR DEPOSITION AND TRIAL
§3:75 Introduction
§3.76 Your Expert’s Background
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