Expert Witness Financial Records May Be Discoverable to Demonstrate Bias

Ronald Miller, over at the Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog, notes a recent Alaska Supreme Court decision holding that the financial records of an expert witness may be "discoverable and admissible" in order to demonstrate possible bias. The concern is that if an expert derives too much of his or her income from a particular side, say the plaintiff, or a specific attorney or firm, it is reasonable then to question that expert's impartiality. Lawyers in a narrow field who use the same expert repeatedly may want to utilize a variety of experts in order to avoid such an appearance.

Check out the Alaska Supreme Court holding.