Witness Statements - Drafting Dangers & Pitfalls

Introduction

This introductory session will set out the dangers and pitfalls which you can face when drafting witness statements.

Find out what guidance can be gained from the judgment of YJB Port Ltd v M & A Pharmachem Ltd & Anor and Ceviz v Frawley & Anor on the need to ensure that the witness statement is an account of the witness’s recollections when drafting.

This live session will teach you using back to basic essentials on how to avoid drafting pitfalls and will also consider the dangers arising when the witness’s evidence is different from that set out in the witness statement as highlighted in the cases of Gee v Depuy International Ltd.

What You Will Learn

This session will cover:

• The importance of the witness statement
• The witness statement is concerned with evidence
• Consider your audience
• Rules and requirements for a witness statement
• The structure of the witness statement
• The contents of the witness statement - what to put in and what to leave out
• The dangers posed by poor drafting of the witness statement

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.