CA Specific

Litigation & Appeals

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

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 56 minutes
Christopher Onstott
Maya Galicia-Canto
Richard Watters
Tiffany Norman
Andrew Nissen
Erin Hill
With Christopher Onstott from Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard + 5 others
Recorded January 22, 2026.
Product ID 101399

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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. Establishing Foundations for Business Records and Other Documentary Evidence
  3. Laying a Foundation for Expert Witness Testimony
  4. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence: Satisfying the Foundation Requirements
  5. How to Authenticate Social Media Posts, Texts, Emails, and More
  6. Introducing Physical Evidence at Trial
  7. Applying Ethics Rules to Evidence
Product ID 101399

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California 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. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Introducing Physical Evidence at Trial

  7. Applying Ethics Rules to Evidence

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

Who Should Attend

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

Speakers

Christopher Onstott
Christopher
Onstott
Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
Maya Galicia-Canto
Maya
Galicia-Canto
Morgan, Tidalgo, Sukhodrev, & Azzolino, LLP
Richard C Watters
Richard C.
Watters
Miles Sears & Eanni
Tiffany R Norman
Tiffany R.
Norman
TRN Law Associates
Andrew J Nissen
Andrew J.
Nissen
Bear Republic Law, A.P.C.
Erin Hill
Erin
Hill
Jessup University
Speaker bio
Christopher Onstott

Christopher Onstott

Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
Christopher Onstott

is an attorney with the law firm of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard, where he practices labor and employment law. He defends employers against race, sex and disability discrimination and harassment claims, as well as wage claims in both federal and state courts. Mr. Onstott earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University and his J.D. degree, with high honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.

Speaker bio
Maya Galicia-Canto

Maya Galicia-Canto

Morgan, Tidalgo, Sukhodrev, & Azzolino, LLP
Maya Galicia-Canto

is an attorney with Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino, who has worked on a wide range of family law matters including divorces, parentage actions, and domestic violence restraining orders. She has assisted with obtaining child and spousal support orders where opposing parties have attempted to misrepresent their financial situations, represented clients to obtain their requested child custody and visitation orders in high conflict situations, and negotiated property division in high asset divorces. Ms. Galicia-Canto attended San Francisco State University and University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Speaker bio
Richard C Watters

Richard C. Watters

Miles Sears & Eanni
Richard Watters

is a partner with Miles, Sears & Eanni, where he practices civil litigation with a focus on plaintiffs' catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, UM/UIM, product liability, and aviation accidents. Over the course of his career, he has completed more than 97 civil jury trials to verdict in state and federal court, including 13 significant jury verdicts since 2000. He is recognized as a fellow of the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers - American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) - Co-Trial Lawyer of the Year 2006-California, and he has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer every year since 2005. Mr. Watters is admitted to practice in California, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Central districts of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his bachelor's degree, cum laude, and M.B.A. degree from California State University, Fresno, and his J.D. degree from the University of Santa Clara.

Speaker bio
Tiffany R Norman

Tiffany R. Norman

TRN Law Associates
Tiffany Norman

is a solo practitioner at TRN Law Associates. She represents plaintiffs with real estate litigation, unlawful detainers and bankruptcy. Before starting her own law firm, Ms. Norman worked at prominent plaintiffs and defense firms. She has been a key speaker at her bar association on several occasions. Ms. Norman has written educational articles for fellow attorney’s education regarding current developments in real estate law. In addition, she gives seminars at real estate agencies and brokerage firms throughout California. Ms. Norman is a member of the San Francisco Bar Association, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association and the National Association of Consumer Attorneys. She has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition 2013. Ms. Norman graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and earned her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law.

Speaker bio
Andrew J Nissen

Andrew J. Nissen

Bear Republic Law, A.P.C.
Andrew Nissen

is a partner in the trial law specialty firm Bear Republic Law, A.P.C. located in Orange County, California. The civil litigation firm has particular expertise in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, insurance bad faith, business disputes, insurance claims, medical malpractice, and transactional matters. Mr. Nissen studied and began his career in Silicon Valley and Boston, Massachusetts. He is a contributing editor of the widely used California Practice Guide, California Causes of Action, co-authored by Stanton Mathews, and published by James Publishing. Mr. Nissen earned his B.A. degree from Santa Clara University and his J.D. degree from New England Law in Boston. He is a member of trial organizations such as the American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California, Orange County Trial Lawyers, and the Orange County Bar Association.

Speaker bio
Erin Hill

Erin Hill

Jessup University
Erin Hill

, JD, LL.M., MPM, CIPM, CFC, CRP, is the VP of Strategic Projects, Project Management Office (PMO) director, Paralegal Program chair, and professor at Jessup University. Professor Hill is a technology pioneer who created an AI-focused Paralegal Certificate for Jessup+AI, one of the first AI-assisted learning platforms. She is a member of the Higher Education IT Strategy Leadership Council, working on white papers, policy recommendations, and events. Ms. Hill's educational background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and management, a Juris Doctorate, an LL.M. (post-doctorate) in International Tax and Financial Services, and a Wealth Management Certificate. She maintains active involvement in several community service organizations, such as paralegal curriculum boards and interview panels, as a pro bono advisor. She is a Core Registered Paralegal who mentors students with career development and provides certification workshops. Professor Hill has also assisted several students in obtaining paralegal scholarships with the SVPA and NFPA.

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