Monday, June 16th

Session 1
10:15 - 11:45

PREPARING FOR TRIAL ASSESSMENT LITIGATION
I.                 INTRODUCTION
II.               HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
III.             WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS
a.      Summons and Complaint
b.     Answer
c.      Court scheduling order
            i.     Plaintiff’s Witness List and Report
            ii.     Defendant’s Witness List and Report
            iii.     Discovery End Date                                
1.     Request for production of documents
2.     Interrogatories
3.     Depositions
             iv.     Pre-Trial Motions
               v.     Pre-trial meeting
               vi.     Trial
IV.            PREPARATION
a.      Working with your attorney - Understanding your role
                i.     Legal expertise
                ii.     Assessment expertise
                iii.     Communication
                iv.     Shared responsibilities
b.     Preparing the theory of the case
                  i.     Identifying the issues
                 ii.     What are your strengths?
                iii.     What are your weaknesses?
BREAK
c.      Anticipation of your opponent’s case
                   i.     Has it been communicated prior to summons?
                  ii.     Do you understand it? 
                 iii.     How does it relate to your weaknesses?
d.     Preparing your report                                                             
                   i.     Assessment and “acceptable appraisal practices”
                   ii.     Mass Appraisal to Single Appraisal                          
                  iii.     Uniformity
e.      Preparing for a deposition
                     i.     What is a deposition?
                     ii.     What are the goals of a deposition? 
                   iii.     Surviving a deposition – some tips                            
f.       Preparing for trial
                       i.     Plaintiff goes first – Direct, Cross, Re-Direct
                      ii.     Defendant goes second
                      iii.     What is an expert witness?  
                       iv.     Preparing (practicing) for direct examination
                        v.     Preparing for Cross-Examination – some tips
V.  Questions and Answers/Discussion

PETER WEISSENFLUH has been involved with the assessment profession for over 30 years.  He has been the Chief Assessor for the City of Milwaukee since 1985.  His assessment experience began at the entry appraiser level for the City and he has advanced and experienced all phases of the assessment process.  Mr. Weissenfluh has been active in the International Association of Assessing Officers, speaking at such events as the IAAO’s legal seminar and its Metropolitan Jurisdiction Council.  He has served as the co-chair of the Ethics Committee.  He was the Co-Chair of the Local Host Committee for the 72^nd Annual International Conference on Assessment Administration. Locally, Peter has had a long involvement with the Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers.  He has been a member since 1974, past president, 1992, recipient of presidential citations, and its most valuable member in 1994. He has chaired and continues to be an active member on various committees.  He is currently its Legislative Chairperson.  Peter has made numerous presentations for the Wisconsin League of Municipalities, the Wisconsin Association of Assessing officers, and has been called as an expert witness on Wisconsin exemption and valuation cases.  Peter has taught appraisal and assessment classes at Waukesha County Technical College.