Page 42 - Expert Witness

apportionment. Division into proportionate shares, especially the division of rights and liabilities
between two or more persons or entities.

arbitration. Method of dispute resolution involving one or more neutral third parties who usually
are agreed to by the disputing parties and whose decision is binding.

arbitrator. A neutral person who resolves disputes between parties, especially by means of formal
arbitration.

arraignment. The initial step in a criminal prosecution whereby the defendant is brought before the
court to hear the charges and enter a plea.

assurance services. An audit, review, compilation, or other attestation performed in compliance
with applicable AICPA and other professional standards. fn 21

attorney-client privilege. The attorney’s client’s right to refuse to disclose, and to prevent any other
person from disclosing, confidential communications between the client and the attorney.

attorney work product privilege (work product rule). Qualified immunity of an attorney’s work
product from discovery or other compelled disclosure.

audit trail. In an accounting package, any program feature that automatically keeps a record of
transactions so that one can backtrack to find the origin of specific figures that appear on reports.

bail. (1) A statutory procedure by which a (usually insolvent) debtor obtains financial relief and un-
dergoes a judicially supervised reorganization or liquidation of the debtor’s assets for the benefit
of creditors. (2) A case under the Bankruptcy Code (Bankruptcy, U.S. Code [USC] 11).

bates-stamp. To affix a mark, usually a number, to a document or the individual pages of a docu-
ment for the purpose of identifying and distinguishing it in a series of documents.

bench trial. A trial before a judge without a jury.

bifurcated (trial). A trial divided into two stages, such as for liability and damages.

bribery. The corrupt payment, receipt, or solicitation of a private favor for official action.

brief. (1) A written statement setting out the legal contentions of a party litigation, especially on ap-
peal. (2) A document prepared by an attorney as the basis for arguing a case consisting of legal
and factual arguments and the authorities in support of them.

bulk storage. Devices used to store massive amounts of computer data, including clusters of hard
drives, optical disks, and magnetic tape. Synonymous with mass storage.

burden of proof. A party’s duty to prove a disputed assertion or charge.

fn 21 Source: AICPA Litigation Consulting Task Force of the 2008 AICPA Forensic and Valuation Committee.

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