The significance of a Daubert exclusion for the expert witness, counsel, and the client cannot be overstated. In the Anthony Payne, v. C.R. Bard, Inc., Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc., March 31, 2015, the court dealt with the issue of whether counsel should be permitted additional time to designate an expert when his original expert witness [...]
The Scott Hutchison, Plaintiff v. John R. Parent, Defendant, United States District Court, N.D. Ohio, Western Division, April 27, 2015 case dealt with a Daubert challenge to an expert who offered an alternative business valuation based on admittedly “incompetent data.” The court claimed the Daubert challenge finding that the analysis was in line with the [...]
Are expert witnesses required to produce prior expert reports from unrelated cases during discovery? The US District Court in Colorado in CAROL VON SCHWAB, v. AAA FIRE & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-00183-CMA-NYW, April 21, 2015 held no. The court dealt with an insurance claim due to hail storm event. The court rejected [...]
Washington Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Washington Civil Rule 26(b)(5)(A)(ii) allows a party to depose all experts its opponent expects to call at trial. Washington Rules do not specifically limit the time allowed for the taking of a deposition, but Rule 30(b)(3) states that a court may increase of decrease the allowed time [...]
Indiana Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories There is no general right to depose expert witnesses in Indiana, even those that are expected to testify at trial. However, Rule 26(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure provides that, upon motion, a court may order discovery beyond the generally allowed means, discussed in the [...]
Virginia Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories Rule 4:1(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia allows for the deposition of experts who are expected to testify at trial. Virginia Rules do not specify a time limit for the taking of depositions, but Rule 4:5(b)(3) provides that the court may increase or [...]
Massachusetts Rules Regarding Expert Witness Depositions and Interrogatories There is no general right to depose expert witnesses in Massachusetts, even those that are expected to testify at trial. However, Rule 26(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure provides that, upon motion, a court may order discovery beyond the generally allowed means, discussed in the [...]
The Louisiana Court in the case of THE ESTATE OF LOUIS D. HAEUSER, v. WESTCHESTER SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY, Civil Action No. 13-5631 United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana (March 10, 2015) dealt with a bad faith insurance claim as a result of Hurricane Isaac. The Court denied an attempt to halt discovery of a [...]
Expert Witness: Tax Returns & 1099’s The court in SHARON R. OLSON v. STATE FARM FIRE COMPANY, Case No.C14-0786RSM United States District Court, W.D. Washington, Seattle (February 23, 2015) dealt with a motion to quash a broad subpoena for the tax records and 1099’s of a medical expert. The court denied the attempt to force [...]
All expert witnesses should be familiar with the standard jury instruction given by judges to jurors on expert witnesses. It reads as follows: JURY INSTRUCTION ON EXPERT WITNESSES The rules of evidence normally do not permit witnesses to testify as to opinions or conclusions. There is an exception to this rule for "expert witnesses." An [...]