Expert Witness Blog

Are Expert Witness Tax Returns and Financial Information Discoverable in California?

California’s Code of Civil Procedure governs what information is discoverable in regard to expert witnesses. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 843 (West 2017). § 843 requires that in regard to financial information, the amount that a witness is compensated to testify must be disclosed. Id. Further, § 2017.010 of the Code of Civil Procedure states that any information that is not privileged is discoverable. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 2017.010 (West 2017). Discoverable information need not be admissible to be considered discoverable. Seahaus La Jolla Owners Ass’n. v. Superior Court, 169 Cal. Rptr. 3d 390 (Cal. Dist. Ct. App. 2014). In regard to whether disclosure of expert witness financial information is required, an expert’s “private financial affairs … will not be ordered without justification based on the real needs” of the party requesting an expert’s financial information. Hecht, Solberg, Robinson, Goldberg & Bagley v. Superior Court, 40 Cal. Rptr. 3d 446 (Cal. Dist. Ct. App. 2006).

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