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1: Why Court 9
The Last Option 10
2: Why Me? 13
I Am Not Involved 14
How Subpoenas Work 14
Availability 14
Quashing a Subpoena 15
I Don’t Belong Here 15
Passion 15
What Now? 17
Elements of a Court Case 17
3: Witness 21
What is a Witness? 21
Reason for a Witness 22
They Know You Are Coming 22
Types of Witnesses 23
Can't Pay Witness to Not Testify
27
4: Testimony 29
Reasons You Want to Testify 29
Black and White 29
Your Agenda 30
Skeletons 31
Defending Yourself 32
Strategy 32
Worst Reasons 32
Refusing to Testify 33
In Contempt 33
Failure to Testify 34
Don’t Want to Testify 34
Failure to Disclose Sources 36
Failure to Appear 36
5: Unusual
Situations 37
Interpreter/Translators 37
Switching Sides 38
Stealth Witness 39
Whose Case is This? 39
6: Discovery 41
Interrogatory 41
7: Evidence 45
Types of Evidence 46
Producing Documents 46
Admissible Evidence 47
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree 48
Timeline 48
Demonstrative 48
Equipment 48
Computer 49
Data Recovery 49
Email and More 50
Linguistic Sleuthing 51
Cyberspace 51
Phones 51
Emergency 911 51
Tape Recorder 52
Videotapes 52
Burden of Proof 52
8: Your Testimony
53
Testimony Terror 53
Types of Testimony 53
Self-Conscious 54
Self-Confident 54
Content of Testimony 54
Did You See What I Saw? 55
Purpose of a Pre-Trial Meeting 55
Non-Issues 55
Your Assignment 56
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics 56
Last Review 57
Four Important Rules 58
Aid to the Enemy 59
Espionage 59
9: Perjury 61
Oath 61
Variations of Oath 62
Recalling a Witness 62
Subordination of 62
False Swearing 62
Conflicting Truths 63
Court Calls a Liar a Liar 64
Proof or Poof 64
Defense Against Lies 64
Theirs Against Them 64
Witness Statements 65
Non-Fatal Flaw 65
Your Lies 65
Sue for Allegations 67
10: Visual Impact
69
First Impression 69
Halo Effect 70
Court Attire 70
Especially for Men 70
Especially for Women 70
Tattoos 71
Skin Piercing 71
Tongue Piercing 71
Are You Adorned? 71
Body Language 71
Defensive Behaviors 72
Positive Behaviors 72
Aggressive Behaviors 72
Delay Behaviors 73
News Flash Junkies 73
Friendly Fire 73
11: Deposition 75
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
75
What is a Deposition? 76
Types of Depositions 77
Admissibility 77
Reasons 78
Attorney at Deposition 78
Use of Depositions 78
Impeachment 79
Pre-Depo Meeting 80
Rules of Deposition 81
Costs for Deposition 81
Best Time 81
Second Deposition 81
Personal Preparation 82
Instructions from the Opposition
82
Instructions 83
Deposition Outline 84
Your Deposition 85
End Deposition 87
Check Deposition 87
Deposition Format 88
Correcting Mistakes 90
Errata Sheet 90
Objection 91
Post-Deposition 91
12: Video
Deposition 93
Court Case of the Future 93
Uses 94
Fear of the Camera 95
Showing the Pain 96
Challenging Video Deposition 96
Synchronized Deposition 97
General Rules 97
Important Differences 98
Deposition Induces a Trial 98
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13:
Confidentiality 99
Children or Parents 99
Your Spouse 99
Professional Services 100
Accountant 100
Attorney 100
Clergy 101
Doctors 101
Medical Records 102
CPS 102
Court 102
Documentation 102
Breach/Compromise 103
You 103
14: Work-Related
105
Listing of
Professions 105
15: Experts 113
Loose Cannon 113
Can Do 114
Experts Only 114
Physician Consultant 115
Physician’s Responsibility 115
Responsibility 115
Some Are Prostitutes 115
Confidentiality 116
Before Court 116
Mock Trial Court 116
In Court 117
Questions to Expect 118
Complex Evidence 118
Traps to Avoid 118
Opposition Expert 119
Your Opinion of Their Expert 119
Avoid Metaphors 119
Challenging Experts 119
After Testifying 120
16: Attorneys 121
Only Protects Client 121
Not an Accessory 122
Good-Ole-Boy System 123
Attorney Types 123
Ol’ Buddy 124
Inquisitor 125
Confessor 125
Faster Than a Speeding Bullet 126
Crazy Quilt 126
Word Butcher 126
Ambusher 127
New Kid 127
Mad Dog Attorney 127
At Deposition 127
Handling the Dog 128
Roamer 128
Silent Waiter 129
The Exposer 129
17: Judges 131
Black Robes 131
Judge’s Influence 134
About Judges 134
Can’t Do 135
Judicial Immunity 136
Abuse of Discretion 136
18: Court 137
Court’s Function 137
What Happens 138
Types of Courts 138
Court Appearances Equal? 138
Know the Arena 139
Prepare for Court 139
Five Days Before Court 139
Night Before Court 140
Court in the Morning 140
Later in the Day 140
Day in Court 140
Behavior in Court 142
Court Joker 143
Smoke and Mirrors 143
Exclusion 143
Submitting Evidence 143
Your Testimony 144
Confidentiality 145
Stages of Trial 145
Arguments 146
Exparte Communication 146
Connecting 146
Conduct at Trial 147
19: Questions? 149
Types of Questioning 149
Direct Examination 149
Cross-Examination 150
Re-Direct 150
Types of Questions 151
General Rules 153
Objections 154
Improper Objections 156
Dodging Tricky Questions 156
20: Answers 159
Worry About Looking Stupid 159
On a Scale of 159
Question by Design 160
A Lamb to Slaughter 160
Safe Answers 160
Not Sure! Not Sure? 165
Do You Know It All? 165
Absolute No-No’s 166
Impeach 166
21: Children 167
Oath of Truth 168
Child’s Attorney 168
Alternatives to Open Court 168
Ten Tips to Help 168
Confidentiality 169
Children Feel Guilt 169
Need to Know 169
They Don’t Lie Well 169
Don’t Tell Children to Lie 170
Who’ll Know? 170
Trauma 170
Competence 170
Truth from Lie 171
Record Testimony 171
Ryan Factors 173
Challenge 174
Suppress 175
Fear, Bias, Prejudice 175
22: Appeal 177
Appealed Decision’s Standing 177
Many Appeals are Filed 178
Few are Perfected 178
No Pro Bono Appeals 178
Glossary of Terms 181
Index 221
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