> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.litigationlabs.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Witnesses and Elicits

> Understanding witness profiles and the key facts you must extract

# Witnesses and Elicits

Effective examination requires understanding both who you are questioning and what information you need to obtain. This page explains how witnesses and elicits function within LitigationLabs.

## Witness Profiles

Every witness in a simulation operates according to a defined **profile** that determines their knowledge, behavior, and relationship to the case.

### Profile Components

A witness profile contains:

| Component                | Description                       | Example                                                             |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**                 | The witness's identity            | "Dr. Sarah Chen"                                                    |
| **Role**                 | Their alignment in the case       | Plaintiff, Defendant, or Neutral                                    |
| **Background**           | Professional and personal context | "Chief Financial Officer at Acme Corp since 2019"                   |
| **Knowledge Boundaries** | What they know and do not know    | Aware of quarterly reports; unaware of CEO's private communications |
| **Demeanor**             | How they respond to examination   | Professional, evasive, hostile, cooperative                         |

### Knowledge Boundaries

Witnesses cannot testify beyond their knowledge. The profile defines:

* **Direct knowledge**: Facts the witness personally observed or participated in
* **Hearsay knowledge**: Information learned from others (subject to objection)
* **Gaps**: Topics the witness genuinely does not know about

Asking about matters outside a witness's knowledge produces responses like "I don't know" or "I wasn't involved in that"—not because the AI is being difficult, but because the witness genuinely lacks that information.

### Witness Alignment

A witness's **role** affects their testimony posture:

| Role                 | During Your Direct          | During Cross                    |
| -------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Your witness**     | Generally cooperative       | Resistant to harmful admissions |
| **Opposing witness** | Resistant, defensive        | Cooperative with OCA            |
| **Neutral witness**  | Depends on question framing | Depends on question framing     |

Understanding alignment helps you calibrate your examination strategy. Your witnesses require gentle, open questions. Opposing witnesses require careful impeachment technique.

## Understanding Elicits

**Elicits** are the key facts you must extract from witnesses during examination. They represent the core objective of your questioning.

### What Is an Elicit?

An elicit is a specific piece of testimony or admission that advances your case theory. Examples:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Contract Dispute Scenario">
    * "Witness confirmed the contract was executed on January 15, 2024"
    * "Witness admitted they received the shipment two weeks late"
    * "Witness acknowledged the damage exceeded \$50,000"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Employment Discrimination Scenario">
    * "Witness stated the plaintiff was qualified for the promotion"
    * "Witness confirmed no performance issues existed prior to the complaint"
    * "Witness admitted the decision-maker made age-related comments"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Personal Injury Scenario">
    * "Witness confirmed the traffic light was red"
    * "Witness estimated the vehicle was traveling over the speed limit"
    * "Witness observed the defendant using a mobile phone"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Elicit Properties

Each elicit has associated properties:

| Property     | Description                                                 |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Label**    | The fact to be established (what you're trying to prove)    |
| **Weight**   | Point value reflecting importance and polarity (see below)  |
| **Category** | Grouping for organization (liability, damages, credibility) |
| **Hint**     | Optional guidance on how to approach the elicit             |

### Weighted Importance

Not all facts are equally important. Elicit weights reflect this:

* **High weight (3-5 points)**: Critical admissions that significantly impact the case
* **Standard weight (1-2 points)**: Important facts that build your narrative
* **Low weight (0.5-1 point)**: Background facts that establish context

Your score reflects both the number of elicits obtained and their cumulative weight.

### Elicit Polarity

Elicit weights also indicate **polarity**—which side the fact helps:

| Polarity     | Weight Sign  | Meaning                                                          |
| ------------ | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Positive** | + (e.g., +2) | Supports the witness's side; benefits you on direct examination  |
| **Negative** | - (e.g., -3) | Undermines the witness's side; benefits you on cross-examination |

The absolute value determines points awarded. A -3 weight elicit is worth 3 points when successfully established.

**Example:**

* For a plaintiff's witness, a +2 elicit helps the plaintiff's case (active during plaintiff's direct)
* For a plaintiff's witness, a -3 elicit hurts the plaintiff's case (active during defendant's cross)

This polarity system helps you understand which facts to prioritize in each examination phase.

## How Elicit Matching Works

The system uses **semantic matching** to determine whether a witness's answer establishes an elicit. This approach recognizes that testimony rarely mirrors exact target phrasing.

### Semantic Similarity

Rather than requiring exact matches, the system evaluates meaning:

```
Elicit: "Witness admitted the meeting occurred in the morning"

Answer 1: "Yes, the meeting took place around 9 AM"
→ Strong semantic match (90%+) → Elicit established

Answer 2: "We met before lunch, probably mid-morning"
→ Good semantic match (70%+) → Elicit established

Answer 3: "There was a meeting that day"
→ Weak match (30%) → Elicit NOT established (too vague)
```

### Matching Thresholds

The system applies tiered evaluation:

| Match Level  | Similarity Threshold | Interpretation                         |
| ------------ | -------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Strong       | 60%+                 | Direct admission or clear paraphrase   |
| Standard     | 40%+                 | Related concept adequately established |
| Insufficient | Below 40%            | Answer too vague or tangential         |

### Partial Credit

Some scenarios support partial elicit completion:

* If an elicit has multiple components, establishing some components earns proportional credit
* Partial admissions that move toward an elicit without fully establishing it may trigger progress indicators

## Viewing Your Progress

The platform provides multiple ways to track elicit progress:

### Witness Toolbar

The toolbar displays:

* **Completion percentage**: Fraction of elicits established for current witness
* **Elicit list**: Individual elicits grouped by category with status indicators
* **Locked/unlocked badges**: Visual markers for established facts
* **Phase-based focus**: Elicits are visually emphasized based on the current examination phase

#### Focus Filters

The witness toolbar includes focus filters to help you prioritize:

| Filter      | Description                                                  |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **All**     | Shows all elicits for the witness                            |
| **Elicit**  | Shows facts that strengthen your case (green indicators)     |
| **Counter** | Shows facts that weaken the opponent's case (red indicators) |

#### Phase-Based Visual Cues

During examination, elicits are displayed with visual emphasis based on relevance:

* **Active elicits**: Displayed prominently with visible color (green = helps you, red = helps opponent)
* **Inactive elicits**: Muted/grayed out with a hint showing when they become relevant

For example, during your direct examination of a friendly witness:

* Positive polarity elicits are **active** (visible, emphasized)
* Negative polarity elicits show "OC's cross" indicating they'll be relevant during opposing counsel's cross-examination

#### OCA Coverage Tracking

When opposing counsel (OCA) establishes an elicit during their examination:

* The elicit displays with a red background and the OCA symbol (π or Δ)
* Points are tracked for both sides
* The toolbar temporarily expands to show newly covered elicits

### Score Popups

When you successfully establish an elicit:

1. A popup appears showing the fact established
2. Points are added to your running score
3. The elicit badge updates to "unlocked" status

### Session Summary

After completing a session:

* Full breakdown of elicits by witness
* Comparison of obtained vs. available points
* Identification of missed opportunities

## Strategic Considerations

Understanding the elicit system informs examination strategy:

### Progressive Disclosure

Witnesses rarely admit critical facts immediately. Effective examination often requires:

1. **Foundation questions**: Establish context and credibility
2. **Incremental questions**: Build toward the target admission
3. **Direct questions**: Request the specific fact once foundation is laid
4. **Follow-up questions**: Clarify or expand on partial admissions

### Question Framing

The same fact can be elicited through different approaches:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Open Question">
    "What happened after you received the document?"

    *Gives witness latitude; may produce rich testimony or evasion*
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Closed Question">
    "Did you sign the document on January 15th?"

    *Directs witness to specific fact; clearer but more objectionable on direct*
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Leading Question">
    "You signed the document on January 15th, correct?"

    *Suggests the answer; appropriate for cross, objectionable on direct*
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Handling Resistance

When witnesses resist providing information:

* **Rephrase**: Try different question formulations
* **Use documents**: Reference exhibits to refresh memory or impeach
* **Build incrementally**: Establish surrounding facts first
* **Challenge credibility**: If appropriate, question the witness's accuracy

Not every elicit can be obtained from every witness. Some facts require examination of multiple witnesses to establish.