No case can be won on sheer brilliance alone. Evidence is the backbone on which effective advocacy is borne. Are you making the best use of all types of evidence in each case? In this comprehensive legal guide, experienced attorney faculty share their tips on how to recognize key evidence and then traverse the obstacle course of qualifying rules and opposing counsel's attempts to strike it, to deliver it to the decision maker unscathed and introduce it for maximum impact. Learn to use the rules of evidence with surgical precision – order today!

1. Determining Admissibility
2. Hearsay Objections and Exceptions
3. Witnesses
4. Expert Reports and Scientific Evidence
5. Ethics
6. Electronic Discovery Update
7. Handling Evidence at Trial

1. DETERMINING ADMISSIBILITY
   9:00 - 9:50, Written by Gregory J. McDonald.
   Presented by Julie J. Baxter in Baton Rouge and Gregory J. McDonald in New Orleans.
   1. Determine Applicability of Rules: State and Federal
   2. Is it Hearsay?
   3. Is it Relevant?
   4. Reasons to Exclude
      1. Exclusion on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time
      2. Other Reasons Based on the Types of Evidence
         1. Character Evidence or Evidence of Habit
         2. On Subsequent Remedial Measures
         3. Of Witness Credibility
   5. Is the Evidence Authentic?
   6. Is There a Proper Foundation?
   7. If Evidence is a Writing, a Recording or a Photograph, is the Best Evidence Rule Satisfied?
   8. Admissibility of Evidence of Subsequent Remedial Measures
   9. Stipulations
   10. Proper Way to Introduce Items Into Evidence
2. HEARSAY OBJECTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS
   9:50 - 10:40, Written by Julie J. Baxter.
   Presented by Julie J. Baxter in Baton Rouge and Gregory J. McDonald in New Orleans.
   1. Formal Exceptions to Hearsay
   2. FRE 801(d) Exceptions
   3. Anticipating and Minimizing Hearsay Objections
   4. Hearsay in the Direct Examination of Your Client: How to Elicit What You Need Without Inviting Hearsay
   5. Hearsay Problems When Your Client, or Opposing Party, is Deceased
   6. Hearsay in Medical Records: When it Comes in, When it Doesn't
   7. Recent Case Law
3. WITNESSES
   10:55 - 11:40, Written by Keith C. Armstrong.
   Presented by Keith C. Armstrong in Baton Rouge and Celeste R. Coco-Ewing in New Orleans.
   1. Qualification
   2. Opinions and Firsthand Knowledge
   3. Deposition/Examination Procedure
   4. Impeachment
      1. Prior Inconsistent Statements/Contradiction
      2. Bias
      3. Character-Related
      4. Other
   5. Dealing With Missing Witnesses, Evidence and Documents
   6. Disclosures to Opposing Counsel
   7. Complying With the Scheduling Order
4. EXPERT REPORTS AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
   11:40 - 12:30, Written by Celeste R. Coco-Ewing.
   Presented by Keith C. Armstrong in Baton Rouge and Celeste R. Coco-Ewing in New Orleans.
   1. Assessing the Potential Weight of Scientific Evidence
   2. Qualifying Experts and Verifying Methodologies/Theories
   3. Admissibility of What You Give Your Expert
   4. The Logistics of Obtaining, Analyzing and Admitting Expert Opinion Reports
   5. Looking out for Red Flags and Errors
5. ETHICS
   1:30 - 2:30, Written by Jerome M. Volk Jr.
   Presented by Murphy F. Bell Jr. in Baton Rouge and Jerome M. Volk Jr. in New Orleans.
   1. Facilitating Efficiency, Reliability and Overall Fairness of the Adversary Process
   2. Complying With Time Constraints
   3. Asserting and Challenging Privileges Under Rule 502(d)
   4. Abusive Litigation Practices and Their Remedies
   5. Keeping the Client Informed
   6. What to do When Your Client is Dishonest
6. ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY UPDATE
   2:45 - 3:15, Written by Murphy F. Bell Jr.
   Presented by Murphy F. Bell Jr. in Baton Rouge and Jerome M. Volk Jr. in New Orleans.
   1. Sedona Principles
   2. Litigation Holds Case Law Update - Helping Business Clients be Prepared
   3. Identifying and Communicating With Data Custodians
   4. E-Discovery Technology Tools and Vendors - A Necessary Evil?
   5. Top 10 Mistakes That can Jeopardize Admissibility of Electronically Stored Evidence
7. HANDLING EVIDENCE AT TRIAL
   3:15 - 4:30, Written by Robert W. Hallack.
   Presented by Robert W. Hallack in Baton Rouge and Jerome M. Volk Jr. in New Orleans.
   1. Pretrial Attempts to Exclude Evidence – Motions in Limine
   2. Introduction of Exhibits
      1. Authenticating Exhibits
         1. Stipulations
         2. Self-authenticating
         3. Authenticating – Laying the Foundation for Admissibility
      2. Use of the Deposition at Trial
      3. Common Mistakes in Introducing Exhibits
      4. Missing Evidence - Spoliation
   3. Demonstrative Exhibits
   4. Taking Testimony at Trial
      1. Method of Taking Testimony
      2. Common Mistakes and Objections
   5. Making Objections During the Trial
      1. Contemporaneous Objection Rule
      2. Curtailing Speaking Objection
      3. Use of the Sidebar Conference
      4. Jury Instructions After the Objection

KEITH C. ARMSTRONG is a general partner in the law firm of Chaffe McCall, L.L.P., where he works primarily in the areas of medical malpractice defense; pharmaceutical litigation; civil litigation, including personal injury defense; life and casualty defense; products liability; professional liability defense; and workers' compensation related matters. He was a special lecturer on "Trial Tactics and Tips" for the Paul M. Hebert Center of Louisiana State University and has previously lectured for National Business Institute on Medical Malpractice. Mr. Armstrong earned his B.S. degree from the Louisiana State University and his J.D. degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State University. He subsequently clerked for the Hon. William H. Brown, Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial District Court. Mr. Armstrong is admitted to practice in Louisiana and is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and the Louisiana State and Baton Rouge bar associations.

JULIE J. BAXTER practices with the Rhorer Law Firm, where, since 2009, she has served as litigation counsel in state and federal jury trials on matters ranging from serious personal injury cases to employee whistleblower claims. Recently, the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Ms. Baxter to serve as one of five attorneys and judges on the Committee to Study Plain English Civil Jury Instructions. She earned her J.D. and B.C.L. degrees from the LSU Law Center. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Baxter spent 14 years reporting for radio and television on statewide politics, elections and high profile criminal trials.  In 2001, she was awarded the prestigiousEdward R. Murrow award for Investigative Reporting in Television.  In her practice today, Ms. Baxter handles a variety of civil litigation, including cases involving wrongful death, automobile accidents, business litigation and legal and medical malpractice. She is an active member on many non-profit boards in her community, including Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge-Capital City Rotary Club, Brave Heart Children in Need and the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation.

MURPHY F. BELL JR. is a partner with the Baton Rouge law firm of Jackson-Bell Attorneys At Law, LLC, where he practices in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury and criminal law. He earned his B.B.A. degree from Howard University and his J.D. degree from Southern University. Mr. Bell is a member the Federal Court (Middle, Eastern and Western districts) and the Louisiana State Bar Association.

ROBERT W. HALLACK is the principal of Hallack Law Offices in Baton Rouge. He earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Southern University Law Center. Mr. Hallack was an associate editor for the Southern University Law Review by virtue of his article, "Louisiana's Comparative Fault Doctrine and the Mitigation of Damages," which was cited by the Louisiana Supreme Court. During his last year of studies, he was awarded the West Publishing Award for Scholastic Achievement. Since 1989, Mr. Hallack has devoted his practice to personal injury and wrongful death cases, including vehicle accidents, medical negligence, nursing home negligence, professional malpractice, maritime accidents, premises accidents and injuries at work. He has lectured extensively on medical malpractice, nursing home abuse/negligence, alternative dispute resolution, proving damages, evidence and workers' compensation issues. Mr. Hallack is a member of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana State bar associations, as well as all Federal courts in the state. He also is a member of the Wex Malone Inns of Court.

CELESTE R. COCO-EWING is a member of the New Orleans law firm of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C., where she focuses her practice on commercial litigation, insurance coverage, securities arbitration, securities litigation and products liability. Ms. Coco-Ewing is involved in all aspects of complex litigation. She began her career as a litigation attorney at Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittmann & Hutchinson, L.L.P. Ms. Coco-Ewing is a co-author with Judy Y. Barrasso of "Federal Jurisdiction: Will Abbott Laboratories Federalize Diversity Class Actions?," Com. & Bus. Litig. J. 15 (Winter 2000-2001). She is a member of the Louisiana State, Federal and American bar associations. Ms. Coco-Ewing earned her B.A. degree from Tulane University and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Tulane University Law School and clerked for Judge James L. Dennis at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

GREGORY J. McDONALD is a partner in the New Orleans law firm of Bienvenu Foster Ryan & O'Bannon LLC, where his practice focuses on insurance defense and coverage litigation. He earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Lycoming College and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University. Mr. McDonald has lectured to various professional groups on insurance related matters. He is a member of and frequent lecturer for the Council on Litigation Management. Mr. McDonald is a member of the Louisiana State and American bar associations, The Florida Bar, the Defense Research Institute, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and the New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel.

JEROME M. VOLK JR. is a partner with the Kenner law firm of D'Aquila, Volk, Mullins & Contreras, APLC, where his areas of practice include business and insurance litigation. Mr. Volk is a member of the Louisiana State and American bar associations, the Louisiana Association for Justice, The American Association for Justice, the Defense Research Institute, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.

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