--- title: 2026 October url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october --- # [2026 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october "2026 October") [![Advocate October26 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2026/10-october/Advocate-Oct26-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2026/October2026/html5/Advocate-Oct26-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [The expert you didn’t know you had](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/the-expert-you-didn-t-know-you-had "The expert you didn’t know you had") When a treating physician becomes an expert witness [Lior Behdadnia](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lior-behdadnia "Lior Behdadnia") ## [Sitting on their shoulders](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/sitting-on-their-shoulders "Sitting on their shoulders") Using one defense expert to take apart the next one [Lourdes De Armas](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lourdes-de-armas "Lourdes De Armas") ## [Building the record that survives summary judgment](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/building-the-record-that-survives-summary-judgment "Building the record that survives summary judgment") How discovery, evidence, and expert opinions combine to create triable issues of fact on employer liability and related derivative claims [Brigitta Railla](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/brigitta-railla "Brigitta Railla") [Erika Contreras](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/erika-contreras "Erika Contreras") ## [Expert designation: Not just a deadline, a case-shaping event](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/expert-designation-not-just-a-deadline-a-case-shaping-event "Expert designation: Not just a deadline, a case-shaping event") The do’s, the don’ts and the practical strategies of expert designation [Tatevik Gasparyan](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/tatevik-gasparyan "Tatevik Gasparyan") ## [Litigating the AI decision](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/litigating-the-ai-decision "Litigating the AI decision") How do you prove harm when the decision lives inside an AI agent alleged to be a “proprietary black box”? [Andrew T. Haling](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/andrew-t-haling "Andrew T. Haling") ## [The clock starts now](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/the-clock-starts-now "The clock starts now") Using trial preference as a strategic litigation tool without letting discovery become your weakness [Olivia Ratiner](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/olivia-ratiner "Olivia Ratiner") [Vlad Idelman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/vlad-idelman "Vlad Idelman") ## [Make discovery earn its keep](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/make-discovery-earn-its-keep "Make discovery earn its keep") Effective discovery is measured not by volume, but by what can be used at trial [Christopher Kim](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christopher-kim "Christopher Kim") ## [Expert depositions in the age of AI](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/expert-depositions-in-the-age-of-ai "Expert depositions in the age of AI") Opportunity, risk, and the new battlefield for plaintiff lawyers [Donna M. Maryanski](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/donna-m-maryanski "Donna M. Maryanski") ## [Lessons from my first PMQ deposition for a government premises-liability case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/lessons-from-my-first-pmq-deposition-for-a-government-premises-liability-case "Lessons from my first PMQ deposition for a government premises-liability case") Six recently learned practical tips [Robert Winter](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/robert-winter "Robert Winter") ## [They said it didn’t exist](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/they-said-it-didn-t-exist "They said it didn’t exist") Challenging a defendant’s “diligent search and reasonable inquiry” after Higginson [Aram Zohrabian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aram-zohrabian "Aram Zohrabian") ## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/appellate-reports-62 "Appellate Reports") Duty of care in drug development; also, insurance policy-limit demandS and summary judgment [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Around the golf course or around the world](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/around-the-golf-course-or-around-the-world "Around the golf course or around the world") How you can support trial lawyers’ charities [Griselda S. Rodriguez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/griselda-s-rodriguez "Griselda S. Rodriguez") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [Legislative highlights 2026](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/legislative-highlights-2026 "Legislative highlights 2026") An incredibly difficult year of which we can all be extremely proud [Nancy Peverini](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nancy-peverini "Nancy Peverini") ## [Back in season](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/back-in-season "Back in season") Football, friendship, and OCTLA’s fall lineup [Clare Lucich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/clare-lucich "Clare Lucich") ## [CAALA Vegas 2026 breaks records](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-october/caala-vegas-2026-breaks-records "CAALA Vegas 2026 breaks records") 4,152 attendees celebrated education, community, and the future of our profession [Elizabeth A. Hernandez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-a-hernandez "Elizabeth A. Hernandez")