Please join CSCE for a webinar on how to be an expert witness by David T. Williams, Ph.D., P.E., PH, CFM, CPESC, F.ASCE, F.EWRI, BC.WRE, at 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 3, 2027. This webinar is 90 minutes long. People may earn 1.5 NYS PDHs at this event.
In today’s litigious atmosphere, professionals are often asked to be expert witnesses in civil suits or to simply provide services for mediations, arbitrations, and forensic investigations. While this can be a nerve-wracking experience, there are various techniques you can employ to become an effective expert witness. Join Dr. David T. Williams as he helps you understand what to expect when asked to participate in legal processes, how to prepare, and how to minimize your organization’s exposure to possible legal actions.
Most expert witness courses are taught by attorneys. Instead, Dr. Williams brings to the table practical, industry-related experience as an expert witness in more than 40 court actions. He will leverage the acumen he has gained to impart proper behavior to adhere to throughout the process, including ethical conduct, how to handle oneself under pressure, and the role of the expert witness as a non-advocate and servant of the court.
This course will enable you to represent yourself as a competent and knowledgeable expert witness who is in control, credible, and - most of all - unbiased.
Learning Objectives & Take-Aways
After attending this course, you will know the principles and concepts related to being an expert witness in court related cases, leading to an understanding of the requirements of an expert witness as well as what to expect during the process.
You will know the procedures and psychology of the court process.
You will be prepared to deal with contradicting and confusing questions
You will be able to properly interact with your attorney, the opposing attorney, the judge, and the jury.
You will learn how to confidently state opinions and conclusions in an understandable and defensible manner.
You will know the difference between a consulting expert and a testifying expert.
You will know what are binding and non-binding arbitrations.
You gain familiarity with terms such as bench and jury trials, depositions, and discovery.
You will understand what is privileged information.
You will understand how to prepare for deposition and trial.
Speaker(s)
David is President of David T. Williams and Associate in the Denver, Colorado area. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in 10 states, a Certified Professional Hydrologist (PH), a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), a certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), a Life member and Fellow of ASCE, and Fellow of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of ASCE. With over 100 publications in journals and conference proceedings, his education includes a PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and a BS and MS in Civil Engineering, both from the University of California, Davis. His work history includes National Technical Director for Water Resources, PBS&J (now Atkins); National Director for Hydrology and Hydraulics, HDR Engineering; President and co-founder of WEST Consultants; Engineering and Research Development Center (formerly Waterways Experiment Station), Vicksburg, MS; Acting Chief, Hydrology and Hydraulics Section, Baltimore District Corps of Engineers; Nashville District Corps of Engineers; Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC); and Infantry Platoon Officer and Airborne Combat Engineer Officer, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC.
David’s primary experience and interests are hydrology, hydraulics, fluvial geomorphology, streambank protection, risk and uncertainty, and bridge scour and teaches these topics for such entities as ASCE and numerous other professional organizations. He also makes presentations on Professional Ethics.
Important Times
This webinar is 90 minutes long. Webinar will begin at about 12:00 p.m. EST. Please click on the Teams link for the webinar at about 11:45 a.m. EST and enter your first & last names before joining the webinar.
Registration
A Note about Photographs - People participating in CSCE events may be photographed by individuals and/or a photographer hired by CSCE. These photographs may appear without compensation or notice in online, printed or electronic materials related to CSCE. People who do not want to be photographed should contact Amy Petrone, CSCE Administrative Assistant, by email at [email protected] or [email protected] or by phone at (860) 879-2723.
View the Presentation - No NYS PDH: Free
CSCE Members who want to earn 1 NYS PDH: $35 Note: To be considered for CSCE Member registration, people need to be current on their CT Section Dues.
Non CSCE Members who want to earn 1 NYS PDH: $50
Registrations received and accepted a week before the webinar will incur a $5 additional fee.
Payments can be made using Venmo, credit cards and PayPal at the PayPal payment screen in the online registration system.
Please consider a donation to the CSCE scholarship fund to help civil engineering students from Connecticut. All donations will help students in need. To make a donation to CSCE, please click on the link above.
