News & Insights

Lightfoot’s Harlan Prater and Logan Matthews Write Law360 Article on Dr. Tobin Testimony at Chauvin Trial

April 21, 2021

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC partner Harlan Prater and associate Logan Matthews published an article with Law360 on the compelling testimony of Dr. Martin Tobin, a pulmonologist who was called as a witness for the prosecution in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Dr. Tobin provided testimony as an expert witness on breathing and what he believed to be the cause of death for Mr. George Floyd last May. 

In the article, Prater and Matthews note that Dr. Tobin’s testimony captured the attention of jurors, with reports from the courtroom noting they paid close attention, took notes and even palpated their own necks during one of his demonstrations. Prater and Matthews write that trial lawyers of all types can take lessons from this in how to prepare witnesses, and what makes for a credible expert on the stand. Dr. Tobin, they say in the article, was credible because his testimony was organized, used common language and effective demonstrations, and he rebutted alternative theories.

Read the full article here.

Prater has represented clients in product liability, pharmaceutical, medical device, environmental and business litigation matters for more than 30 years. He is one of a select few who are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Matthews serves clients in a variety of practice areas, including product liability, employment and labor law, government litigation and white-collar defense.  He previously clerked for the University of Alabama System and for the Honorable W. Harold Albritton III, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.