Psychiatry expert witness Dr. James Missett took the stand Wednesday in the final day of testimony in Marshall Doud’s murder trial. Doud, 43, is accused of smothering his wife, Morgana, on Sept. 4, 2007, but has testified that he has no recollection of killing her. The couple’s three teenage children…
Elizabeth G. Rudolph, lawyer, nurse and legal nurse consultant, is the founder of Memphis-based Jurex Center for Legal Nurse Consulting. Rudolf writes on nurses as expert witnesses: Expert witnesses for legal issues involving medical matters aren’t always doctors because nurses often have more firsthand knowledge about a disputed practice or…
In The Attorney-Expert Relationship: Unraveling the Complexity, Peter T. Tomaras writes on his experience as a premises liability expert witness: “I do not want legal research regarding theories, defenses, etc. I want my liability expert to provide opinions on the facts.” That rebuke came from an attorney who did not…
In Daubert: Very Convoluted, Usually Confusing to Many, Nevertheless Elegant, Armand Rossetti writes: Pretrial Daubert hearings are essentially motions in limine that ultimately decide whether an expert is qualified, and whether that expert: 1) has based an opinion on sufficient facts or data; 2) will be able to testify using…
In Agricultural and Grounds Maintenance Equipment, agricultural engineering expert witness Richard L. Parish, PhD, PE, writes: When a personal injury or wrongful death case involves agricultural or grounds maintenance equipment, it will usually be necessary to retain an agricultural engineering expert to assist with the case. In most such cases,…
In Physicians giving expert testimony are regulated by law, professional associations, B. Sonny Bal, MD, JD, MBA; Lawrence H. Brenner, JD write: Both the legal and medical professions must contend with self-declared expert witnesses, who promote their availability to testify before courts in return for financial compensation. Reports of lucrative…
Petrochemical expert witness Douglas Buchan testified for the plaintiff in the U.S. District Court in Green Bay and describes how the lawsuit led to the State of Wisconsin changing the law to cover and protect the public with the installation of propane systems. The Higdon family filed a complaint against…
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission acknowledges that numerous agency policies were violated during the June 28 inspection of the Rainbow Lounge, Fort Worth, TX, and that disciplinary actions are pending against the agents involved. “There were so many violations that one could readily assert that they had no business walking…
In Survey Research to Support Litigation, survey research expert witness Dr. Larry Chiagouris writes: Survey research is used to provide greater levels of understanding in a wide variety of disputes. Issues such as consumer confusion, misleading advertising claims, disparagement, copyright infringement and trademark disputes can be better assessed as a…
In Positive Trend for Defendants in Product Liability, Nick Rees of PublicNuisanceWire.com interviews Jim Beck, of counsel at Dechert LLP in the mass torts and product liability group. PNW: How has the use of expert witnesses evolved? BECK: Daubert v. Merrrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. really brought a revolution in expert…