microsoft excel functions used for bankruptcy lawyers

Microsoft excel functions used for bankruptcy lawyers code#
Microsoft excel functions used for bankruptcy lawyers trial#

Microsoft excel functions used for bankruptcy lawyers code#

The Importance of Native Electronic Format for Excel Spreadsheetsĭiscovery rules typically allow a party to ask for a specific format of electronically stored information, and the producing party must produce in that format unless there is a valid objection (see, e.g., Rule 34 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure California Code of Civil Procedure § 2031.030(a)(2)). Thus, learning Excel’s functions will help the litigator understand similar spreadsheet programs. Note that although this post will focus on Excel, competing spreadsheet programs are similar (e.g., such as the spreadsheet provided by Google Docs). Thus, counsel led a witness through the calculation using Excel displayed on a screen for the jury. In that trial, counsel presenting the spreadsheet sought to establish the numerical total of the column of 1,525 entries, and opposing counsel objected to it (lack of foundation).

Microsoft excel functions used for bankruptcy lawyers trial#

This spreadsheet is a simplified and redacted version of an actual spreadsheet presented recently in a jury trial by a Cogent Legal client. For the post and video, I’ll use a spreadsheet with a single column of 1,525 numerical entries. In this post, I’ll discuss some of why native Excel files are important, and provide a simplified video reenactment showing how Excel was used in a cross-examination of a witness in which the goal was to establish the results of an Excel calculation. Attorneys who understand Excel will be able to obtain, manipulate and use this evidence to prove their case. Numerical evidence in litigation often appears in Excel spreadsheets because witnesses often use Excel to record data and perform calculations. To master the presentation of numbers, attorneys should learn some basic skills in Microsoft Excel, the computer program most often used in business for calculations. However, showing and explaining numbers and calculations in trial can present challenges, particularly with hard-to-interpret spreadsheets and non-cooperative, adverse witnesses. Litigators must master the presentation of numbers and calculations in trial because numbers often prove damages and/or liability. This article was first published by Michael Kelleher on the Cogent Legal Blog at /blog/2014/06/excel-for-litigators/