New Medical File Review Consultants Directory from SEAK, Inc.

SEAK, Inc., has just launched a new Directory of Medical File Review Consultants.

File review consulting work is varied and includes: (Utilization reviews, peer reviews, underwriting reports, disability opinions, pre-authorizations, chart reviews, medical necessity reviews, etc.) can be done at home, does not require any patient contact or travel and almost never results in having to testify. It is also an ideal way to generate additional income.

To place your listing please click here.

Your profile will be published in our new Directory which will be sent to over 15,000 Independent Review Organizations, Health Insurers, Disability Insurers, Life Insurers, Casualty Insurers, Workers' Compensation Insurers, Self-Insureds, Life Insurance Settlement Organizations, Attorneys, Medical Management Companies, Utilization Review Companies, Third Party Administrators, State Medical Boards, Hospitals, and other key contacts that regularly hire contract physicians to perform medical file reviews (a.k.a. record, chart or peer reviews).

Your profile will also be listed on our new website www.FileReviewConsultants.com.

For additional information, please contact Alex Babitsky, MBA at (508) 457-5150 or Alex@seak.com

Daubert Challenges Routine in Class Actions

A recent article in the National Law Journal "Opposing Class Certification With A One-Two Punch: A Daubert Motion Plus A Brief Opposing Certification May Work" ( April 20, 2009) makes several important points for expert witnesses to be aware of.

The authors, Hanselman and Diver, recommend that counsel opposing class certification routinely file a Daubert motion as a method to defeat class certification.

Experts who do get involved in class action litigation should expect and anticipate that their opinions will undergo a "rigorous analysis" and a "searching inquiry".

When a novel or complex theory is proposed by the expert a Daubert challenge is all but guaranteed.

Conclusion
Expert witnesses need to be aware of the level of scrutiny and the likely Daubert challenge they face when accepting assignments in class action litigation.

Expert Witness Marketing

An excellent workshop on Expert Witness Marketing by SEAK, Inc.

This interactive program will teach you how to grow your expert witness practice. It is taught utilizing interactive lecture, case studies and question and answer sessions. Each attendee will leave with a concise, customized plan to grow their expert witness practice. Marketing and Growing Your Expert Witness Practice is appropriate for experts of all levels of experience. Each registration includes continental breakfast and lunch with faculty and a course book which is not available anywhere else.

Here are the highlights:

• Understanding How Much Each New Client is Worth
• Positioning Yourself to Best Grow Your Expert Witness Practice
• The Special Dynamics of Marketing an Expert Witness Practice
• Word of Mouth—How to Build an Impeccable Reputation
• Networking
• Speaking and Writing
• Advertising, Web Sites, and Internet Marketing
• Drafting Your Customized Individual Marketing Plan
• Takeaways, Conclusions, and Evaluation

Click here for more information.

Expert Witness Fee Setting During a Recession

In the past few weeks we have received numerous requests from our clients regarding whether they should reduce their fees due to the ongoing recession. We have researched this problem and the answer is no.

In response to these requests we have polled attorneys across the United States and found that there is no expectation of fee reductions from expert witnesses. While attorneys may try to control the engagement process a bit more, no attorneys are expecting expert witness fee reductions.

Here is a representative sampling of what trial attorneys have said in their own words in responding to our question, "What changes, if any, will you be making in 2009 in hiring expert witnesses?"

"No changes."

"No changes immediately come to mind. However, given the economy, I anticipate clients will want more detailed budgets for an expert's work, such that I may need to obtain detailed budgets from experts prior to their work in a matter."

"I'll be seeking a written estimate of all activities/projects that the expert or I believe will result in billing in excess of $2,000."

"Most critical analysis these days involves choosing the most qualified and knowledgeable expert, who has credibility with the governing body. Too often we see the retention of the same folks on each side which, in short, fails to fairly and effectively educate the parties and the courts."

"I'm not sure, frankly, but will say somewhat like the past, where I tried to hire the best academic and peer tested "resume" my client could reasonably afford, I am looking more and more to battle tested experts who are litigation savvy and who have actually been in trials before."

"I don't think I am making any changes in 2009 in hiring expert witnesses."

"No changes - However, I will continue to ensure that the expert I ultimately retain is deeply committed to the cause. An expert who gives a half-hearted but supportive position is as good as no expert at all. They usually cave on the stand."

Regards,

Alex Babitsky, MBA
SEAK, Inc.
http://www.seakexperts.com/index.aspx

SEAK, Inc. 2009 National Legal Fiction Writing Competition for Lawyers

SEAK, Inc. is sponsoring the nation's 8th Annual Legal Fiction Writing COMPETITION for Lawyers.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage lawyers to become more interested in and adept at writing legal fiction.

FORMAT
A short story or novel excerpt in the legal fiction genre should be submitted. The submission should be typed and not exceed 2,500 words (This will be strictly enforced).

DEADLINE
March 31, 2009

JUDGING
The submissions will be judged on originality, quality of writing, and the potential of the author.

Here’s what a previous winner had to say:
“Winning the SEAK contest was the thrill of a lifetime.”
-Mark Diamond, Esq.

PRIZES
FIRST PRIZE: $1,000 cash
SECOND PRIZE: $1,000 SEAK Gift Certificate
THIRD PRIZE: $500 SEAK Gift Certificate

GUIDELINES
1. The competition is open to any licensed attorney in the United States and its territories.
2. The attorney’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address should be contained in the submission.
3. Only entries received by SEAK, Inc. on or before March 31, 2009, will be considered.
4. Only one entry should be submitted by each attorney.

Click here for more information

SEAK, Inc.

How to Find IME Doctors

We often get contacted by Insurance Companies, IME Companies, Claims Managers, Adjusters, Case Managers, Self-Insureds, Third Party Administrators, Attorneys, Legal Nurse Consultants, etc., looking for IME Doctors.

SEAK publishes the National Directory of Independent Medical Examiners, which is a great resource if you need to find IME doctors. You can search by Specialty and Location, and the network is free to search.

If you are an IME doctor who is looking to expand his/her IME practice or someone who may need to locate IME doctors, the directory is a nice resource for your bookshelf.

HOW TO BECOME A “GO-TO” EXPERT WITNESS - New Whitepaper by SEAK, Inc.

SEAK’s new white paper, How to Become a "Go-To" Expert Witness, shows experts how to attract a large volume of interesting and more lucrative cases.


The white paper features:

• The importance of selecting the correct niche


• How to identify, evaluate, select and develop a lucrative niche


• How to optimize your expert witness image


• The eleven crucial areas that affect an expert’s image


• The nine most effective way to attract new clients


• The latest research on what attorneys are looking for in go-to expert witnesses


• The ten areas to fine tune an expert’s practice to attract new clients


• How to promote and grow your expert witness practice


• Critical analysis of the six major marketing techniques to become a go-to expert including; cost effectiveness, likely results, reputation effect, credibility impact, tracking ability and how to implement.

Click here for additional information or to purchase

Top 5 Ways to Find Expert Witnesses

Top 5 ways to find expert witnesses

1) Expert Witness Directories – Most expert witness directories are free to search. The experts pay to be listed in the Directory, and the Directory makes the experts’ information available to the public. Some Directories are online, some are printed, and some are available both online and in print.

2) Expert Witness Referral Agencies – Expert referral agencies typically charge the attorneys who are looking to hire the experts, usually by marking up the experts’ hourly fee. Most often, there are no fees for the experts to list themselves with the referral agencies. Nice resources if you are looking for a very obscure or hard to find expert witness.

3) Web searches – Google etc. – Most experts now have their own web pages. However, because experts should be cautious about the material they post on their websites, sometimes it is difficult for them to obtain high rankings on the search engines and therefore more difficult for attorneys to come across them.

4) University Professors – An underutilized resource to find professionals who you may use as an expert. Professors often have a well polished teaching style about them, which comes across well in court.

5) Word of Mouth - Referrals from colleagues. A great way to get the “real scoop” on how the expert prepared, preformed, etc. If a colleague had a poor experience with a particular expert, they are usually not afraid to let you know about it.


Attributes that Counsel is Looking for in an Expert Witness:

• The Expert Must Be Qualified to Testify and Withstand a Daubert Hearing.
• The Expert Must Possess Integrity and Credibility.
• The Expert Must Be Reasonably Available.
• The Expert Must Be Willing and Able to Properly Prepare.
• The Expert Must Be Articulate.
• The Expert Should Be Likeable and Personable.
• The Expert Must Be Able to Think on Their Feet.
• The Expert Should Want to Work With Attorneys.
• The Expert Needs to Be Able to Roll With the Punches.

SEAK, Inc. National Directory of Experts

SEAK, Inc. Personal and Confidential One-on-One Expert Witness Consulting

SEAK, Inc. Personal and Confidential One-on-One Expert Witness Consulting

As the leading authority on expert witness training, SEAK is pleased to announce that we are now available for Personal and Confidential One-on-One Expert Witness Consulting. This can be done via phone, email or in person.

We have trained thousands of experts and would like to assist you in bringing your expert witness practice to the next level. Customized Expert Witness Practice Building is designed to increase the size of your forensic practice and can include one or more of the following:

• Creating a customized, professional marketing plan that will enhance your credibility and profitability,
• Review of your current contracts with attorneys, past cases, reports and depositions (style and content),
• Review of your C.V. and suggestions for any changes to make it more amenable to expert witness work,
• How to find your best niche,
• Determining your strengths and potential weaknesses for the development of your niche,
• How to leverage past clients,
• Precisely who to network with,
• Analysis of the ways to reach the attorneys and other potential clients who may be interested in retaining you for expert witness work,
• Developing a customized expert witness marketing plan,
• How best to promote and build a successful expert witness practice,
• Building your brand as the "Go To" expert in your niche.

For those wishing the most individualized expert witness training possible, SEAK offers One-on-One Expert Witness Training. This one-on-one training is customized to each client's needs, is completely confidential, and can include one or more of the following:

• Review and critique of your deposition transcripts, trial transcripts or video depositions from a past case or cases,
• Review and critique of your past reports,
• Mock direct and cross-examinations, videotaped with critique,
• Mock depositions, videotaped with critique,
• Suggestions on finding the right lucrative niche,
• Review and critique of your website,
• Review and critique of your C.V.,
• Customized suggestions on how to make you less vulnerable during cross examination,
• Expert Witness crisis management.

Please contact Steve Babitsky, Esq. at (508) 548-9443 if you would like to explore SEAK customized One-on-One Expert Witness Consulting.

Expert Witness Cross Examination Questions

Expert Witnesses need to be effective when questioned by opposing counsel during cross-examination. Anticipating the areas of likely inquiry and preparing accordingly will increase an expert’s effectiveness. The following outline describes some of the most important lines of inquiry opposing counsel may follow.

Click here to read.