Expert Witness Continued from Page 29 outcome of the trial. And, never accept an assignment where your fees are on a contingency basis. Statistics indicate that 96 per cent of litigation cases are settled without trial. With the assistance of experts, lawyers, and insurers, claimants assess the merits of their case at the examinations-for-discovery stage, then specu- late what would happen in court. Accordingly, often a settlement is reached without a trial. FINAL REMINDERS Before accepting employment as an expert witness, always ensure there is no confl ict of interest. Penalties for not declaring a confl ict are disqualification as an expert witness and perhaps other punitive actions. Never go to court unprepared. Avoid the lawyer who phones at nine in the morning, and says “I want you in court in an hour,” and you know nothing about the situation. (It has happened to me.) Become an indispensable consultant. Win the battle of experts, but on a fair and non-personal basis. Show respect for opposing counsel, and his/her expert(s). Learn and understand the system and how the court works, the laws of evidence, the canons of ethics, what to say and what to avoid. Remember the rules of competency, credibility and confiden- tiality. Going to court can be fun, and fi nancially rewarding. Still, if you go in with a “beat the hell out of them at any cost” attitude, or are unprepared – or are perhaps a little thin-skinned – it can be a most frightening experience. • Hygenic Corporation/Performance Health Products announces the introduction of the new Thera-Band® Rehab and Wellness Station, a compact, comprehensive, total body rehabilitation centre for active care that utilizes the familiar Thera-Band co- lours and consistent levels of progression for patient improvement. The new Rehab and Wellness Station is the fi rst Thera-Band rehabilitation cen- tre designed for in-clinic strength, bal- ance, and core training, and it features Thera-Band clip-connect resistance tubing, Stability Trainers, and new Pro Series SCP™ Exercise Ball. The multi-dimensional design provides three planes of movement for up- per and lower extremity strength training supported by the most extensive resistance tubing and accessory package available. The system provides clinicians significant fl exibility for patient setup, charting, and documentation through easy slide tracks with one-hand lock-down capability. The Rehab and Wellness Station makes exercise prescription and learning simple by providing four, full-colour wall post- ers with a total of 115 exercises, plus the Thera-Band software CD containing more than 170 exercises of resistance bands or tubing, exercise balls, and balance boards. Health-care providers can create custom patient printouts or make templates of the exercises most frequently prescribed. For information on Rehab and Wellness Station demonstrations at trade events or workshops, visit www.Thera-Band Academy.com. To locate a dealer for placing orders, call 1-800-321-2135. 32 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | MAY 2008 www.canadianchiropractor.ca HYGENIC CORPORATION/ PERFORMANCE HEALTH PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE REHAB AND WELLNESS SYSTEM new products
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor May 08: Page 32
