A lawyer brings you on board because of your specialized knowledge of an issue in their case. In discussions with the lawyer, ask what the technical issue is that they want you to testify on at trial. Confirm your knowledge, professional experience, and credentials in your conversations.
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An outline for eliciting the expert's qualifications can be as follows: 1. Topic Areas for Qualifications (a) Education; (b) Special Training; (c) Experience; (d) License/Certification; (e) Publications; (f) Teaching Experience; (g) Experience as an Expert Witness/Prior In-Court Testimony. [Vol. 15:215
Jun 30, 2021 · The judge agreed that the attorney’s testimony must be limited: “While expert witnesses may testify to the ultimate matter at issue…this refers to testimony on ultimate facts; testimony on ultimate questions of law, i.e., legal opinions and conclusions, is not favored.”. Accordingly, the judge prohibited the witness from testifying ...
Mar 02, 2022 · When you testify, it’s best to assume the jury is unfamiliar with the technical topic in your expert testimony. Lay some groundwork for them with the basics on the subject. Define any terms as you use them so it’s easy for laypeople to follow you and understand your testimony.
For this kind of generalized testimony, Rule 702 simply requires that: (1) the expert be qualified; (2) the testimony address a subject matter on which the factfinder can be assisted by an expert; (3) the testimony be reliable; and (4) the testimony “fit” the facts of the case.
Most witnesses testify about facts: What they heard and saw, the order of events, measurements, and the like. Opinion evidence involves interpretation of the facts, with an expert witness sharing a theory of what the facts mean, how the pieces fit together.
Any witness who is not testifying as an expert is a lay witness (non-expert witness). Normally, a lay witness is expected to testify to the facts of a case, and allow the jury to determine what the facts mean.
Historically, before a witness was allowed to provide expert testimony it was often necessary to detail an expert's background to a court, then to formally request that the court recognize the witness as an expert.
This page within Virginia Tort Case Law is a compilation of cases on expert testimony reported by the Virginia Supreme Court and summarized by Brien Roche dealing with the topic of Expert Testimony-Adequate Basis for Admissibility and the related topic of personal injury . For more information on expert witnesses see the pages on Wikipedia.
Va. Code § 8.01-401.1 which allows expert testimony in civil actions without necessity of posing hypothetical questions and allows such expert testimony to rely upon facts not necessarily admissible into evidence.
2015 Hyundai Motor Company v. Duncan, 766 S.E.2d 893.#N#Fourteen-million-dollar judgment is reversed based upon inadequacy of expert testimony. Plaintiff’s airbag expert stated that the sensor was placed in the wrong location.
Remember that the main point of the expert testimony is to support the theory of your case and enhance its presentation. While an expert will generally have a far greater grasp of the technical or scientific topics at issue in the litigation than you, remember that you are best situated to educate the expert on the facts and applicable substantive law, without which the expert cannot present his or her opinions persuasively. Before the expert begins drafting a report, you will need to spend time revisiting the facts and legal theories with the expert. Additionally, you will want to spend time with the expert identifying with precision what their opinions will be; the methodologies the expert will use; documents and evidence that support their opinions; any assumptions underlying their opinions; and any potential lines of attack.
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable state court rules, qualified experts may provide opinion testimony at trial, enhancing the presentation of your case. An expert witness who has not been properly prepared, however, may undermine your case rather than strengthen it. While effective expert witness preparation may seem intimidating to a young attorney, it is crucial to any successful trial strategy. This article provides helpful tips for young attorneys preparing experts to testify.