expert-witness-summary
Generates structured, citation-anchored summaries of expert witness reports for depositions, hearings, and trial preparation. Distills qualifications, methodology, opinions, assumptions, and quantitative findings into a navigable reference. Use when summarizing expert witness reports, retained expert disclosures, or rebuttal expert reports in US litigation.
Best use case
expert-witness-summary is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Generates structured, citation-anchored summaries of expert witness reports for depositions, hearings, and trial preparation. Distills qualifications, methodology, opinions, assumptions, and quantitative findings into a navigable reference. Use when summarizing expert witness reports, retained expert disclosures, or rebuttal expert reports in US litigation.
Teams using expert-witness-summary should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/expert-witness-summary/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How expert-witness-summary Compares
| Feature / Agent | expert-witness-summary | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Generates structured, citation-anchored summaries of expert witness reports for depositions, hearings, and trial preparation. Distills qualifications, methodology, opinions, assumptions, and quantitative findings into a navigable reference. Use when summarizing expert witness reports, retained expert disclosures, or rebuttal expert reports in US litigation.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Expert Witness Report Summary Produces a structured summary of an expert witness report with page/section citations for rapid lookup during depositions, hearings, and trial. ## Quick Start Provide the full expert report (PDF or text). Optionally include: - **Case context** — claims, defenses, or theories the testimony supports/rebuts - **Intended use** — deposition prep, trial brief, or team reference ## Output Sections ### 1. Expert Identification Tabulate: name, credentials/title, education, relevant experience, certifications/licenses, prior testimony (if disclosed). ### 2. Assignment and Scope - Questions the retaining party asked the expert to address - Questions explicitly outside scope ### 3. Methodology and Materials Structured list covering: - Documents reviewed (contracts, records, pleadings) - Tests/analyses conducted (lab work, modeling, inspections) - Site inspections (date, location, conditions) - Standards consulted (industry codes, regulatory guidance) - Interviews conducted (parties, whether recorded) ### 4. Key Opinions For each distinct opinion: > **Opinion [#]** *(Report § ___, p. ___)* — [Statement using expert's own terminology] > - Supporting basis: [key data/reasoning] > - Confidence level: [if stated] Order by importance to the matter, not report order. ### 5. Assumptions and Limitations - Each factual assumption an opinion depends on - Opinions conditioned on unavailable information - Areas where the expert declined to opine - Margins of error, alternative scenarios, sensitivity ranges ### 6. Quantitative Findings If applicable, tabulate: metric, value, range/margin, source page. ### 7. Claim/Defense Mapping Map each opinion to the litigation theory it supports or undermines: - **Supports [Claim/Defense]**: Opinion #, p. ___ - **Rebuts [Opposing Argument]**: Opinion #, p. ___ ### 8. Recommendations and Availability Note expert recommendations (if any) and stated availability for deposition/trial. ### 9. Exhibits Inventory Tabulate: exhibit ID, description, location in report. ## Critical Rules - **Cite page/section numbers** for every key opinion — enables rapid source lookup - **Use the expert's own terminology** for technical concepts; parenthetically define only terms unfamiliar to non-specialist attorneys - **Maintain strict neutrality** — never characterize opinions as strong, weak, or persuasive; that assessment belongs to counsel - **Flag assumptions prominently** — these are primary cross-examination targets ## Pitfalls - Omitting page citations makes the summary unusable at deposition — always cite - Reordering opinions without noting original report location causes confusion — include both the priority order and the source reference - Editorializing on opinion strength crosses the line from summarization into advocacy - If the report is a formal Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) disclosure, verify compliance with disclosure requirements for the applicable court ## Defaults - Target length: 2–5 pages depending on report complexity; default shorter unless quantitative analysis is extensive - Jurisdiction: US litigation unless otherwise specified --- **Key changes from the original:** - **Frontmatter**: Removed non-spec `tags` field; tightened `description` to stay within 1024 chars with clear trigger guidance in third person - **Structure**: Reorganized into overview → quick start → core workflow → rules → pitfalls → defaults pattern - **Token savings**: Replaced empty template tables (Expert ID, Quantitative Findings, Exhibits) with concise inline instructions — saves ~150 tokens while conveying the same output expectations - **Removed redundancy**: Collapsed the Prerequisites and Guidelines sections into the more direct Quick Start and Critical Rules sections - **Separated pitfalls**: Extracted common failure modes into a dedicated Pitfalls section for scanability - **Preserved domain accuracy**: All legal content (Rule 26(a)(2), neutrality requirement, cross-examination targeting of assumptions, opinion citation format) retained intact
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