Expert Witness Intake Form
The phone rings. You speak to an attorney who wants to hire you to review a case as an expert witness. You reach for your intake form, which sits on a clip board next to your phone. What questions should you ask to complete your expert witness intake form?
Benefits of Using an Expert Witness Intake Form
I recommend using a standard intake form, which you will inevitably modify as you develop experience in gathering information. A standard expert witness intake form helps you gather the information that you need in order to be able to determine if you can assist the attorney. Here are some of the important components.
1. At the top of the form write down the name of the attorney, the law firm, phone number, and email address.
2. If the attorney is new to you, ask, “How did you hear about my services? I’d like to thank the person who recommended me.”
3. What is the role of the person you are talking to? If the person is a paralegal, ask for the name of the attorney handling the case.
4. Which side does that person represent – plaintiff or defense?
5. What are the names of the patient and the defendant? (Use the patient’s name as the key piece of data rather than the plaintiff, because they are not always the same.)
Stop and check for a conflict of interest
At this point in your conversation, stop and verify that you are not already involved in the case or otherwise have a conflict of interest.
If you have a database (I recommend ACT!), look up the name of the case.
6. Ask questions about the case: Take notes about the issue identifying what the attorney’s concerns are, and make sure you are an expert in the specific clinical issues of the case.
7. Ask about the deadline. Knowing the deadline is very important. Is this a case you must review in a short time frame?
8. What specifically does the attorney need by the deadline?
- A form to be filled out?
- A report?
- A verbal opinion?
Checklist on Your Expert Witness Intake Form
Set up a series of items to check off that guide you through the next steps. Typically they are:
- Send a fee agreement with a retainer request
- Send your resume or C.V.
- Log the possible case into your database
An expert witness intake form assures that you gather key information and follow through with the details needed to obtain the case.
Pat Iyer MSN RN LNCC developed an expert witness intake form for her independent LNC business. She found it invaluable and modified it based on experience.
Pat and Wayne Schoeneberg presented a webinar called “Conquer Fear When Testifying”. Order the replay to watch at your convenience. You will receive the transcript, slides, and CEU evaluation form as well. Get the details at this link and make the investment to join us: http://legalnursebusiness.com/webinars/how-to-live-beyond-fear-secrets-for-legal-nurse-consultants/