Often, multiple potential expert witnesses with the necessary background are available for any particular case. Some of the available experts have extensive experience participating in litigation, either in a consulting role, as testifying witnesses, or both. Others may have little…
Not all expert witnesses are required to testify at trial. A legal team may also choose to hire an expert as a consultant to provide key information and context about technical or complex issues the case presents. While there are…
Finding the ideal expert witness can feel like prospecting for gold. Once you’ve found the person with the right blend of skills, experience, and personability on the stand, you may wish to bring them into every conceivable case where they…
The general purpose of expert testimony is to help clarify issues of fact that are beyond the purview of the typical fact finder. Obviously, the types of experts needed on a case are wholly dependent on the litigation subject matter.…
Psychologists are highly trained in the study of the human mind and behavior. So it’s no surprise that they can offer unique perspectives in legal proceedings. For instance, psychology experts may testify about the mental state of a defendant or…
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 calls for expert witnesses to possess “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” in the field in which they will testify as an expert. Acquiring field-specific acumen can be done in a number of ways, from…
Neurosurgeons, who specialize in the surgical treatment of diseases and injuries affecting the nervous system, are frequently called upon to consult and testify as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. Neurosurgeons may speak to the standard of care for cases…
With over one million restaurants in the United States and an estimated $828 million in projected sales last year alone, the restaurant industry is big business. And thanks in no small part to reality television, there is no shortage of…
In a legal context, the phrase “dram shop” refers to establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, including bars, restaurants, taverns, bowling alleys, and the like. A “dram” is a unit of measurement in the apothecary system of measurement which can refer…
While hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence, a number of exclusions and exceptions allow statements that meet the definition of hearsay to be presented in court. Expert witnesses frequently rely on the work of other experts to inform their…