Litigation & Appeals

OH Specific

How to Lay a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced in Ohio

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 58 minutes
Angela Lavin
Helen Sudhoff
Todd Kotler
Steven Vinick
With Angela M. Lavin from Wegman Hessler Valore + 3 others
Recorded December 17, 2025.
Product ID 100957

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Overview

Social Media, Texts, Business Records, Expert Witness Testimony, and More

You can't get your evidence admitted without establishing the proper evidentiary foundations. In this practical online seminar, faculty will teach you how to lay a foundation for different types of evidence and avoid being tripped up by objections opposing counsel will throw your way. Navigate the rules of evidence with confidence - register today!

  • Pick up preparation pointers that will help you avoid troubles at trial.
  • Learn how to authenticate social media posts, texts, emails, and other electronic evidence.
  • Find out how to establish a proper foundation for medical records, business records, and more.
  • See how to get your expert's testimony in - and keep theirs out.
  • Hear how to best introduce physical evidence at trial.
  • Convince the court that you've satisfied the fairness requirement for demonstrative evidence.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Essentials of Laying a Foundation
  2. Laying a Foundation for Expert Witness Testimony
  3. Establishing Foundations for Business Records and Other Documentary Evidence
  4. Applying Ethics Rules to Evidence
  5. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence: Satisfying the Foundation Requirements
  6. How to Authenticate Social Media Posts, Texts, Emails, and More
  7. Introducing Physical Evidence at Trial

Related Topics

Product ID 100957

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Essentials of Laying a Foundation

    1. Procedures for Introducing Exhibits at Trial
    2. Authenticity, Reliability, and Relevance
    3. Foundation Requirements for Real, Illustrative, Demonstrative, and Documentary Evidence
    4. How to Handle Evidentiary Objections
    5. Preparing Evidence and Planning for Admissibility Issues Before Trial
    6. Issuing Trial Subpoenas to Witnesses

  2. Laying a Foundation for Expert Witness Testimony

    1. Establishing Competency and Qualifications
    2. Verifying an Expert's Methodologies
    3. Motions in Limine: Bringing or Defending Against
    4. At the Hearing
    5. Case Law Review

  3. Establishing Foundations for Business Records and Other Documentary Evidence

    1. Business Records
    2. Photographs
    3. Models, Maps, Diagrams
    4. Video Recordings
    5. Letters, Writings, and Contracts
    6. Medical Records, X-Rays, and Bills
    7. Establishing Foundations for Other Documentary Evidence
    8. Satisfying the Best Evidence Rule

  4. Applying Ethics Rules to Evidence

    1. Ethics of ESI
    2. Handling Prejudicial Evidence
    3. Candor With the Court
    4. "Coaching" Witnesses

  5. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence: Satisfying the Foundation Requirements

    1. Establishing Relevancy
    2. Battleground for Demonstrative Evidence: Satisfying the Fairness Requirement
    3. PowerPoints
    4. Computer Simulations and Recreations
    5. Handling Numerical Data, Charts, and Graphs
    6. Models, Maps, Diagrams
    7. Photographs and Videos
    8. Case Law Review

  6. How to Authenticate Social Media Posts, Texts, Emails, and More

    1. How to Collect to Ensure Admission Later On
    2. Authenticating Emails
    3. How to Lay a Foundation for Facebook, YouTube Videos, Other Internet Records
    4. Digital Photographs
    5. Authenticating Texts and Other Smartphone Evidence
    6. Real-World Demonstrations
    7. How to Overcome Hearsay Objections
    8. Rule and Case Law Updates

  7. Introducing Physical Evidence at Trial

Who Should Attend

This basic level online seminar is designed for attorneys. Paralegals may also benefit.

Speakers

Angela M Lavin
Angela M.
Lavin
Wegman Hessler Valore
Helen K Sudhoff
Helen K.
Sudhoff
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Todd B Kotler
Todd B.
Kotler
Wayne County Public Defender Program
Steven B Vinick
Steven B.
Vinick
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C.
Speaker bio
Angela M Lavin

Angela M. Lavin

Wegman Hessler Valore
Angela Lavin

is a partner at the Cleveland law firm of Wegman Hessler Valore. She is an experienced litigator and trial attorney, focusing her practice on business litigation. She has considerable experience in matters involving contract disputes, employment litigation, product liability defense, and protection of businesses from trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition. Ms. Lavin regularly appears in state and federal courts and has argued before the Ohio Supreme Court. She also has extensive knowledge and experience in electronic discovery and information management. Ms. Lavin is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan and Ohio State bar associations. She earned her B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her J.D. degree from Cleveland State University College of Law.  Ms. Lavin receive an A-V rating from Martindale Hubbell and has been selected as one of Ohio's Super Lawyers in 2015, 2016 and from 2018 through 2025.

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Speaker bio
Helen K Sudhoff

Helen K. Sudhoff

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Helen Sudhoff

is an attorney at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP. She is an associate in the Labor & Employment Department with experience representing public and private employers and defending public entities and officials in state and federal lawsuits across Ohio. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sudhoff led ongoing federal and state litigation and arbitration proceedings regarding civil rights, employee discipline, discrimination, personal and property injuries, business losses and contract disputes. She earned her B.S degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University and her J.D degree from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.

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Speaker bio
Todd B Kotler

Todd B. Kotler

Wayne County Public Defender Program
Todd Kotler

is an assistant public defender in Wayne County, Ohio, following a 25 year career in general practice with focuses in family law, civil and criminal litigation and education law. Mr. Kotler was one of the few attorneys in Northeast Ohio practicing education law as a parent's advocate, representing clients (often special needs children) and their families through consultations and representing them at Individualized Education Plan team meetings, mediations, expulsion hearings, Manifestation Determination Reviews, Department of Education Due Process hearings, and federal court.  Mr. Kotler is admitted to practice law in all courts of Ohio and the U.S. District Court. His membership activities include the Stark County Bar Association, Akron Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association (where he has held chair and vice-chair positions on several committees), and the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys. Mr. Kotler has presented to several groups on education law, and has taught continuing legal education to fellow attorneys in this area. Additionally, he has received mediation training through the Ohio Supreme Court, Dispute Resolution Section. Mr. Kotler earned his B.A. degree from Bradley University and his J.D. degree from The University of Akron.

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Speaker bio
Steven B Vinick

Steven B. Vinick

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C.
Steven Vinick

is of counsel with the law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C., and practices in the areas of personal injury law, medical malpractice, criminal defense, and general civil litigation. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. He is on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Bar Association, and he is the Treasurer of the Prince George's County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the D.C. Trial Lawyers Association, and the Maryland Association of Justice. Mr. Vinick was the Maryland Association of Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2011. He earned his B.A. degree, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland; and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

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