Experts Discussions & Joint Statements

This pre-recorded webinar examines the importance and features of experts’ meetings and the creation of a joint statement.

In this webinar Giles Eyre and Alison Somek look at the legal and practical frameworks for taking part in an effective joint discussion and the importance of a clear and focussed joint statement.

Outline

1. The law and the lawyers perspective 
2. CPR 35, PD & The Guidance
   • Why Experts’ Discussions & Joint Statements are so important
   • Preparation
   • Agendas
3. Putting the law into practice – the reality!
   • More on preparation
   • Managing the meeting
   • Behaviour
   • The statement
   • Difference between liability & quantum (costs) statements 
   • Have you done it all? Have you done it all correctly?
   • Pinkus v Direct Line – supervision with caution
4. Questions & Discussion

Webinar Objectives

This webinar is aimed at all expert witnesses of all levels of experience. It will cover the fundamentals in terms of understanding your duties & discuss some of the nuances & realities.

At the end of the webinar delegates should:

• be clear about their legal duties in respect of Experts’ Discussions & Joint Statements
• understand the importance of this function of the EW’s role
• be clear about the process, from agendas to conclusion of the meeting & statement
• know how to prepare for the meeting
• be aware of some of the nuances & difficulties that can occur & have some strategies for dealing with these
   

Running time: 2 Hours
CPD Certificate: 2 Hours

Forthcoming Dates

Speakers

Giles Eyre

Giles Eyre is a barrister (recently retired) who practised from 9 Gough Square, London. Giles has extensive experience of conducting claims for personal injury, industrial disease and clinical negligence. He is a Recorder and a mediator on the CEDR Solve Lead Mediators Panel. He is a contributing editor of Asbestos Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure, published by 9 Gough Square and Clinical Negligence Claims - A Practical Guide, published by 9 Gough Square. He is also the co-author of Writing Medico-Legal Reports in Civil Claims, now in its second edition.

Giles regularly presents seminars for lawyers on a wide variety of topics and for expert witnesses on effective expert report writing and giving evidence.

Alison Somek

Alison Somek qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1976 and hasworked mainly in the field of Trauma and Orthopaedics, gaining most of her clinical experience at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London and Stanmore. She has experience of all aspects of orthopaedics, including specialist areas such as bone tumour surgery and amputee rehabilitation, but specialises in hands and upper limb injuries, particularly brachial plexus lesions, in both adults and children (including Erb's Palsy / Obstetric brachial plexus lesions).

She has been an expert witness for over 30 years and has written a considerable number of, mainly quantum, reports on matters relating to care and rehabilitation needs, in cases involving orthopaedic, general medical or surgical conditions. She has given evidence in court on a number of occasions.

After 24 years Alison left the National Health Service to set up Somek and Associates, a Medico-Legal Consultancy with approximately 200 expert witnesses from a variety of health professional backgrounds (including Occupational Therapists / Care Experts, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Nurse and Midwives). With her senior expert colleagues, she trains the quality assurance team and provide post-graduate training in the medico-legal processes including CPR, the role of the expert witness, report writing, and court procedure. 

She is passionate about the important role of expert witnesses, and the imperative for professionalism, integrity and independence. She is a member of the EWI Membership Committee.