July 7, 2025
Every case is unique. And Angela Rockwell’s recent experience providing expert testimony is no exception. Below, in her own words, she shares key lessons and insights, offering a deeper understanding of her approach and how her expertise contributed to a successful outcome.
The power of collaboration
- In this case, I worked closely with a large, diverse team—five co-defendant clients, five law firms, and multiple experts spanning diverse fields. As the statistical expert, it was essential for me to quickly integrate into this dynamic and understand the technical opinions on both sides in order to test the competing theories against the data.
- Effective collaboration was crucial given the complex subject matter and multiple moving parts. I needed to quickly familiarize myself with the case specifics and share insights on the data and statistical analysis. It was a balancing act: prioritizing relevant information, developing a clear strategy, and ensuring seamless communication among all parties.
Mastering the details
- A thorough command of the data was my greatest asset during my testimony. I knew the data inside and out, and I knew I could respond to any question thrown my way.
- Opposing counsel made multiple attempts to throw me off balance. By leaning on my detailed knowledge of the data and statistical models, I confidently and successfully countered all attempts to reveal weaknesses in my opinions. In fact, thanks to my in-depth understanding of the data, I demonstrated that the opposing statistical expert’s analysis was flawed and was inconsistent with the data, which significantly contributed to the case outcome.
Staying composed under cross-examination
Being cross examined in a high-stakes environment like this can be stressful, as opposing counsel try to undermine your credibility. However, because I had rigorously stress-tested my analyses, I was composed and confident. I was able to stand behind my analysis with a high degree of self-assurance so that the pressure of cross-examination was actually an opportunity to affirm my findings.
