Real Estate Expert Witness On Appraisal Review

In Appraisal Review in a Litigation Support Role real estate expert witness Jack P. Friedman, Ph.D., MAI, CPA, ASA, CRE, describes how the appraisal review process and review appraiser are used effectively in litigation support.

When engaged, or rather enmeshed, in litigation, an attorney will often solicit support from a review appraiser. Typical areas of assistance the attorney needs are:

1. To review appraisal(s) prepared at the request of opposing counsel, identifying areas of strength or weakness as an aid to the attorney in preparing the case, and to provide rebuttal testimony.

2. To review appraisal(s) prepared at the attorney’s request for the same purpose: to assist the attorney in preparing the case and to offer suggestions as to how the appraiser could make the report or presentation clearer or more effective to the fact finder.