Subject: minutes Jan 2, 2008
From: RLaRosa331@aol.com

I counted 21 people in the room. Most were members.
 
Due to time constraints, the Expert Witness discussion was first. The distinction between a 
factual witness and an expert witness was made. The expert witness is retained by the lawyer 
for one side of the case and is paid by that lawyer's client. The expert witness is actually 
working for the judge. A lot of the action takes place at the deposition, where factual 
material is exchanged and the lawyer presents his expert witness. The opposing attorney 
refutes and attempts to discredit the expert witness. (Help me out. What happens at the 
trial?) Look directly at the judge when the attorney is questioning you. Engineers make 
the worst witnesses. Best witness answers yes or no. But what happens if asked a yes or 
no question that makes no sense? Try to rephrase the question to turn it into the question 
that should have been asked. Fees ranged from $200/hr to $50,000/day. $7000 was mentioned 
for a whole case. A PE might get $200 to $300/hr for out-of-court work and double for courtroom 
appearance. A PE is presumed to be an expert? National Asademy of Forensic Engineers was 
mentioned. Must be a PE and a member of NSPE to work with this organization. I'll stop here. 
I think I've messed this up enough.
 
Business meeting started at 8:40 PM.
 
Telephone volunteers:
January - John Liguori
February - John Dunn
March - David Rost
April - Len Anderson
 
Dave Rost will look into how to earn some interest on the money we have saved up for a new 
directory.
 
My notes are really sketchy. In addition to my shortcomings, perhaps some of this may be due 
to moving to the next topic without announcing FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR what was decided on the 
topic just concluded.
 
I have no notes at all on the forthcoming directory, but I remember Dave Allen being mentioned 
as on board (or not) and another name who might do it, as the meeting ended and people got up 
to socialize. Can somebody fill in what happened? I don't recall anything about how we're going 
to get a new mailing list.
 
Help!
Dick LaRosa, Secretary