Engaging Experts

Navigating the complex intersection of science and law requires a special kind of expertise—one that Dr. W. Richard Laton has mastered throughout his dual career as a geology professor and expert witness. In this revealing conversation, Dr. Laton pulls back the curtain on the specialized world of environmental litigation, where scientific knowledge meets legal strategy.

Dr. Laton delivers a sobering perspective on global water challenges, explaining how our planet's fixed water volume faces mounting pressure from growing populations and persistent contamination. "Today's water quality is the best it's ever going to be in the future," he observes, highlighting how chemicals like PFAS remain in our environment indefinitely. His insights span from California's water disputes to international regulatory differences, revealing how the United States often leads in setting environmental standards while enforcement varies dramatically worldwide.

The journey from academic expertise to effective courtroom testimony involves significant professional adaptation. Dr. Laton shares the pivotal advice that transformed his approach: success isn't about being "the smartest person in the room" but rather understanding the situation comprehensively and maintaining well-founded opinions with confidence. He offers practical wisdom for navigating depositions, preparing comprehensive expert reports, and handling the unexpected moments that inevitably arise during legal proceedings.

For attorneys working with expert witnesses or professionals considering this specialized field, Dr. Laton's experiences provide valuable guidance on everything from initial client interviews to cross-examination strategies. His balanced perspective, having worked for both plaintiffs and defendants across 15 states, offers unique insights into a field currently experiencing significant generational transition as many experienced professionals reach retirement age.

Discover the strategic approaches that have enabled Dr. Laton to balance 15-25 cases annually while maintaining his academic responsibilities, and learn why thorough preparation, clear communication, and professional flexibility remain essential for anyone navigating the high-stakes world where environmental science meets the legal system.

Dr. John Steinberg is an expert witness in internal medicine, pyrotechnics, accident investigation, and more. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, who graduated from the McDonogh School as a National Merit Honors Finalist. Dr. Steinberg maintains a practice in General Internal Medicine,  with emphasis on addiction medicine.

In this episode…
Our guest, Dr. John Steinberg, is an expert in two distinct areas, internal medicine and pyrotechnics. These contrasting practice areas have led to a very unique perspective as an expert witness, and a range of professional experiences.

On this episode, Michelle Loux interviews Dr. Steinberg, exploring impactful lessons from his career having testified for a range of clients. Michelle and Dr. Steinberg also discuss his case preparation process, as he works between 5-20 cases per year. 

Dr. Douglas Kalman is Senior Vice President of Natural Products and Dr. Susan Hewlings is Director of Scientific Affairs at Nutri Source / GRAS Associates. They are Co-Founders of Substantiation Sciences, a consultant company in nutrition sciences and dietary supplements. Dr. Kalman and Dr. Hewlings have worked individually and as a team on a variety of interesting cases for both the plaintiff and defense.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Dr. Douglas Kalman and Dr. Susan Hewlings to discuss their unique expertise and careers as expert witnesses. They detail the lessons they've learned working with legal teams and how to achieve success in the role. This includes the management of expectations, ensuring good communication and the importance of being concise with case details. Tune in to this episode for all this and much more!

David Harkavy is a Director at Delta Consulting Group in Chicago, IL.  As a consultant and expert, he specializes in the causation and determination of economic damages and the valuation and licensing of intellectual property. David has consulted litigation clients involved in patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright infringement matters, as well as antitrust and breach of contract issues.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with David Harkavy to discuss a range of interesting lessons that he has learned during his time as an expert witness. David details the systems he has in place to keep information fresh when working on multiple cases over extended periods of time. He also explains why it is important to create an outline of your expert report for the Council, as long as it is not discoverable. Tune in to this episode for all of this, and much more!

Dennis McAllister is the founder of McAllisteRx Consulting LLC.  He is  consultant and expert with years of experience in the areas of pharmacy standard of care, negligence, pharmacy laws and regulations, pharmacy automation and development of innovative practice models. 

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Dennis McAlister to discuss some of the things that he wishes he knew when first starting his career as an expert witness. Dennis shares his thoughts on the double edge sword that is the expert's responsibility to support the attorney's case while also providing thoughts and insights on the difficulties associated with winning. He explains his process of looking for gaps in a case that he can help the team address and prepare for, his thoughts on the interview and contract process, and much more. 

Kevin M. Quinley is a thought leader in insurance claims. Currently, he is the Principal of Quinley Risk Associates in the Richmond, VA area and assists clients throughout the country. He has 40+ years experience in managing casualty claims and litigation. He has a BA from Wake Forest University and an MA from the College of William & Mary.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Kevin Quinley to discuss why project management is a powerful skill to possess as an expert witness. Kevin shares some tips on mapping out and planning your work week for a broad-spectrum view of all of your commitments. He also goes into detail on what questions should be explored during an initial interview with prospective clients and how to prepare for deposition. 

Dr. Jolie Brams is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and has assisted attorneys on matters with complicated psycho-legal issues. She views the role of a forensic psychologist as more than just an evaluator, but also as an educator to the attorney and tried of fact, and someone to provide creative and novel approaches to facilitate the resolution of a case.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Dr. Jolie Brams to discuss the importance of simplifying ideas as a forensic expert. Dr. Brams also speaks on how her experience as a clinical psychologist informed her perspective of plaintiff's and defendant's rights in both civil and criminal cases. 

Charles Ehrlich is an expert consultant and witness in insurance matters, including claim handling coverage, good faith, bad faith, errors and emissions, environmental and many others. His perspective as an expert consultant and arbitrator is rooted in almost two decades as a senior Insurance executive and twenty years as a practicing litigation lawyer.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Chuck Ehrlich to discuss what he wishes he had known in his early work as an expert witness. This sparks some valuable lessons, as he recounts the importance of confidentiality under Federal 26, deposition prep, and how to prepare for the role. Charles also details how he transitioned from litigator to expert witness, as he has filled both roles in his career. 

Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., CFS, founded Corvus Blue LLC, a Chicago-based food science and research firm, to assist progressive companies with strategic industry competitive intelligence, innovative new product/technology development and rapid commercialization of honestly healthful foods and food ingredients. She writes and lectures extensively with engagingly candid insights in the health, wellness and business aspects of the food and beverage sector.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Dr. Kantha Shelke to explore what she wishes she had known when entering the expert witness consulting space. These lessons include the importance of having clarity on the breadth of materials provided to her as an expert and how to be concise and precise as a communicator. Dr. Shelke also discusses the culinary and manufacturing knowledge required to succeed as a food science expert witness and a number of pieces of advice she has for anyone pursuing a successful career as an expert. 

Michael A. Einhorn is an economic consultant and expert witness in the areas of intellectual property, media, entertainment, technology, trademarks, publicity rights, and product design. He received a B.A. from Dartmouth College, a Ph. D. in economics from Yale University, and is the author of Media, Technology, and Copyright: Integrating Law and Economics (Edward Elgar Publishers, 2004) and over seventy professional articles in the area of law and economics. He is also a former professor of economics at Rutgers University, a Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories, and an economist at the United States Department of Justice.

In this episode…

In this episode of our podcast Discussions at the Round Table, host Michelle Loux connects with Dr. Michael Einhorn to explore his work as an expert witness and what inspired him to focus on economics. He talks about his work at the Department of Justice, and how that experience provided an opportunity to work with lawyers and evolved into the areas of intellectual property and media. The conversation includes Dr. Einhorn’s perspective on how COVID has impacted the expert witness role, as well as thoughts on how he approaches the formulation of his expert reports.