{"id":3034,"date":"2020-10-30T15:42:28","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T19:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timothydimoff.com\/?p=3034"},"modified":"2020-10-30T15:43:58","modified_gmt":"2020-10-30T19:43:58","slug":"expert-witnesses-testify-via-videoconferencing-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timothydimoff.com\/2020\/10\/30\/expert-witnesses-testify-via-videoconferencing-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Witnesses Testify Via Videoconferencing [COVID-19]"},"content":{"rendered":"
The global coronavirus pandemic has and continues to have a profound effect on the way we do business, interact with others socially, and even how we conduct court cases, especially in the area of expert witnesses.<\/p>\n
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In the past, the preferred method for this type of testimony was to fly the experts in, prep them for a day or two, and have them testify. They were not considered to be “experts” until the judge and jury could see them, and each side could grill their credentials.<\/p>\n
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Since March, all of that has been tossed on its head. Depending on the state and case, expert witnesses<\/a> have been eliminated or reduced for months. However, because there is no definitive end date to COVID-19 and many states are concerned about the escalating rates of this disease, remote appearances are taking shape, and judges are warming up to this way of testimony.<\/p>\n During this time of COVID-19, U.S. federal and state courts are taking various measures, including restricting visitors to court buildings, canceling or deferring hearings, and conducting only essential matters face-to-face.<\/p>\n One of the measures being adopted by courts to limit the risk of spreading the virus includes encouraging or requiring more effective use of videoconferencing in place of face-to-face hearings. There are many benefits to using this technology, including:<\/p>\n While it has advantages, there are also associated concerns that should not be overlooked. A person’s presence is ‘mediated’ by the technology in ways that make the experience of appearing by videoconference, especially if the bandwidth is slow and the technology is not state-of-the-art in both locations. Here are a few things to consider:<\/p>\n Most of these concerns can be addressed by improved technology, including a 4K resolution solution<\/a>. Some of the benefits of newer technology include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Videoconferencing technology plays an essential role in delivering justice in many court systems today. It is a logical step in a pandemic to consider expanding its use to minimize the number of people that need to be brought together in close physical proximity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The pandemic has “opened our eyes to uses of technology we hadn’t considered,” Rick Klinger, Stow Municipal Court<\/a> Administrator, stated. “It forced us to think about it and come up with solutions. They’ve turned out to be good short-term fixes and \u2014 several of them \u2014 long-term fixes.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Tim Dimoff is considered one of the nation’s leading authorities in high-risk workplace and human resource issues. He is a nationally recognized expert on violent behavior and criminal investigation. Over the last several years, Tim has traveled all over the United States to testify in cases involving law enforcement and security. He will travel for court cases but is also available via videoconferencing if the court allows it.<\/p>\nCourts and Coronavirus<\/h2>\n
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Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Timothy Dimoff is a National Expert Witness<\/h2>\n