Litigation’s Unsung Hero: Glory to the Direct Examination of the Expert Witness

Contrary to the expectations of many litigators and fans of courtroom dramas, close cases often are resolved not through brilliant openings and thunderous closings but through careful direct examinations. While directs may not be as glamorous as cross-examinations, the effective direct examination of an expert witness often is pivotal and can be the difference between winning or losing at trial. Successful trial attorneys must pay at least as much attention to selecting, preparing with, and eliciting testimony from an expert witness as they would in preparing for opening or summation.