Forensic Accounting Specialists Help Attorneys Challenge Their Opponents’ Expert Witnesses

Knowledgeable guidance allows your legal team to exploit weaknesses in expert testimony

Some civil disputes are straightforward, requiring little more than an average person’s commonsense application of the facts. Just about all of us drive, and thus we understand the duty of a driver, and we know when that duty has been breached. Talk on your cellphone while traveling 20 miles over the limit and fail to signal your lane change? It’s pretty clear that you caused the accident. Other disputes, whether over a breach of contract, substandard professional performance, or even a financial crime, require highly technical proof, both as to wrongful behavior and the harm that resulted. That proof generally comes in the form of expert testimony, where qualified professionals explain to the judge or jury what the evidence shows and what conclusions must be drawn. Each side will call its own experts, offering their interpretation of the evidence, giving the judge or jury a choice between two narratives. But attorneys who want to win their case need to do more than put on a credible witness; they must expose the flaws in the opposing narrative.

At North American Forensic Accounting, we provide comprehensive expert witness services for litigation support. This means we not only present our findings in clear, cogent detail, but we evaluate the work product of the opposition’s experts. If there are oversights, mistakes, or misstatements, we identify them. If a conclusion is based on flawed facts or faulty reasoning, we expose these weaknesses. When legal teams retain our services early in the process, we can provide robust support during discovery, to amplify your trial preparation efforts. We can suggest lines of inquiry that dismantle an opponent’s false narrative, so counsel can effectively pursue the client’s litigation goals.

Countering expert witnesses in a wide range of civil actions

NAFA offers services for plaintiffs and defendants, petitioners and respondents, in civil actions related to:

  • Bankruptcy
  • Business interruption claims
  • Business tort claims
  • Business valuation disputes
  • Divorce
  • Economic Damage Claims
  • Embezzlement
  • Employment law disputes
  • Financial fraud
  • Financial reporting compliance
  • Insurance claim disputes
  • Money laundering
  • Personal injury claims
  • Professional malpractice
  • Shareholder derivative lawsuits
  • Wage and hour claims

In many cases, our service is directed towards ascertaining financial losses and damages. However, we also use our investigative skills to determine whether an individual’s actions constitute unlawful conduct. In cases of accountancy malpractice, for example, we offer professional opinions on whether professional standards were breached. We also examine business records for evidence of fraud, which we can often prove by citing patterns of behavior that violate sound accounting principles and/or indicate illegal transfers of assets.

Scrutinizing an opponent’s narrative of the case

Prior to testifying, an expert witness prepares a report of findings or conclusions related to the allegations in the case. We apply our investigative skills to evaluating the accuracy and veracity of this report. We pinpoint any discrepancies which weaken the argument the opposition hopes to put forth. In performing this investigation, we work closely with counsel, providing:

  • Guidance on document demands and lines of questioning for interrogatories
  • Insights from document reviews, including business records and expert witness reports
  • Findings from detailed data analysis
  • Assistance prior to and during depositions of opposing expert witnesses
  • Assistance preparing cross examination at trial of opposing expert witnesses

Additionally, we provide our own expert report, offering a straightforward and compelling counter-narrative, supporting the client’s case.

Of course, as John Adams famously said, “Facts are stubborn things,” and they do not always support a client’s contentions. Our services, conscientiously rendered, may expose the weakness of a client’s position. In such a case, counsel can rely on our findings to guide negotiations toward a reasonable settlement, saving the client the time and expense of futile litigation.

Our NAFA team has earned the right to call ourselves “experts”

When high-stakes litigation is on the line, you can’t rely on newly minted credentials. Our NAFA professionals have advanced training and extensive experience to rank as true experts. The professional titles our team members have earned include:

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Master Analyst in Financial Forensic
  • Certified Fraud Examiner
  • Certified Financial Forensics
  • Certified Valuation Analyst
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional
  • Certified Business Continuity Professional
  • Certified in Ethics and Compliance Management
  • Certified in Risk Management and Assurance
  • Certified Internal Auditor
  • Chartered Global Management Accountant
  • Registered Pharmacist

Additionally, several team members have earned one or more master’s degrees, while serving 20 years or more in their field.

Contact North American Forensic Accounting to win the battle of the experts

North American Forensic Accounting provides expert witness services you can rely on for your civil litigation. NAFA serves clients from offices throughout the United States, including in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, and the Tampa Bay Area. To learn more, call us at 347-286-4860 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.