Dr. John Fildes releases “Technical Investigation in Litigation”

John Fildes, Ph.D. has released a whitepaper and accompanying video interview entitled “Technical Investigation in Litigation”, a thorough and knowledgeable discussion of the methods used to produce expert analysis for litigation purposes and the ways in which this process can be improved. With decades of experience in the field, Dr. Fildes is uniquely qualified to address this subject and does so with the precision of a well-practiced professional.

“The realities of a case are not under anyone’s control, but the effective discovery of those realities and the framing of their meaning and implications are the foundation of achieving a superior outcome,” writes Dr. Fildes. Expert investigations are the core of expert testimony, providing the basis necessary for any case to be built successfully. Dr. Fildes notes that industry has managed to cut the costs and improve the outcome of technical investigations, and he believes that the same is possible in litigation.

The issue, he reveals, is the way in which attorneys approach the initial gathering of information, often failing to correctly gauge the knowledge required, as well as the knowledge which may already exist. “An essential component to improving outcomes while lowering costs in technical investigations is to establish an appropriate focus and scope of work,” Dr. Fildes states. With the proper analytical skills and experience, a technical investigator can identify the key issues and review existing sources of information to discover the gaps that need to be filled, thereby establishing the scope of the work at hand.

By providing better focus and a thorough review of the case’s background, a good technical investigator limits the cost of the testing that may be required and prevents time and effort from being spent gathering information which is already known. With this whitepaper, Dr. Fildes imparts a valuable guideline for litigation efficiency.