November 2007 Archives

If discoverable documents are even inadvertently destroyed by your expert witness, there may be consequences. These four suggestions prevent administrative hassle, as well as the legal repercussions for spoliation. One such approach: Limit your experts' writing--and exercise caution when creating any documents.

Not all doctors charge the same hourly rate. Will you know enough about your expert's specialized field to be able to negotiate her fee? For billing insights, review Round Table Group's details about the top-five most requested physician-specialist categories: surgeons, cardiologists, oncologists, psychiatrists, and infectious disease experts.

http://www.roundtablegroup.com/expertadvisor/2007/10/medical-expert-witness-billing-rates.html

This is a short study examining the average fees that expert witnesses charge across a variety of fields. Could help in negotiating with an expert on billing rates.

For anyone practicing in multiple jurisdictions, the following publication might be of some help in pinning down each state's exact expert witness requirements. There currently is no completely uniform standard. I was actually a co-author on the publication but gain no benefit whatsoever from its sale.

http://www.dri.org/DRI/open/Detail.aspx?ProdID=2005-07CD

DRI's large Daubert compendium also details numerous cases where an expert's qualifications have been challenged.

http://www.dri.org/DRI/open/Detail.aspx?ProdID=2006-11CD

The attorneys and research analysts of Round Table Group, the premier expert witness referral firm, have launched a new blog entitled Engaging Experts: Can I Get a Witness?. This blog will focus on information and commentary of use to any practicing attorney who works with expert witnesses. Topics will include expert witness news, expert procedure and vetting tips, and Daubert updates.