Expert Witness Blog

Practical guidance for expert witnesses — testimony, report writing, depositions, fees and building a successful practice.

November 8, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Vermont

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Vermont are outlined in Vermont Civil Jury Instructions § G. Vt. Civil Jury Instr. § G (2008). This rule instructs the jury that individuals with “special knowledge, training, or experience” are experts and they are permitted to testify as to their opinion on the case at hand. Id. The jury is told to consider

November 7, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Utah

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Model Utah Jury Instructions, Rule 121. Model Utah Jury Instr. 121 (2014). This rule instructs the jury on the factors that should be considered when the jury evaluates a witness’s testimony. Id. The jury is allowed to believe or disregard an expert’s testimony given the credibility factors outlined in the rule. Id.

November 6, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Texas

General jury instructions in Texas are outlined in Texas’s Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 226a Instructions to Jury Panel and Jury. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §10 (West 2017). These rules provide an overview of what the court should tell the jury regarding the evidence that is presented during trial. Id. There are not specific instructions relating to

November 5, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Tennessee

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Tennessee are outlined in Tennessee’s Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, Rule 2.30. TENN. PRACTICE PATTERN JURY INSTR. CIVIL 2.30 (2017). This rule instructs the jury that expert witnesses are able to testify as to their opinions regarding the matter at hand. Id. The rule also provides that the jury has the authority to determine how

November 4, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in South Dakota

Jury instructions in South Dakota regarding expert witnesses are not as readily outlined as those of other states. Instead, case law is more revealing of the relevant instructions to a jury regarding expert witness testimony. To begin, the reason for allowing experts to testify is to help the jury understand the case and not to instruct the jury as to

November 3, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in South Carolina

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in South Carolina are outlined in Anderson’s South Carolina Requests to Charge, Civil § 1-6. ANDERSON’S S.C. REQUESTS TO CHARGE, CIVIL § 1-6 (2016). This rule instructs the jury on the differences between expert testimony and other witness testimony, mainly that given the expert’s expertise and experience it is allowed to testify to its opinions

November 2, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Rhode Island

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in New Hampshire are outlined in New Hampshire’s Jury Instructions Civil § 105.3. R.I. Jury Instr. Civil § 105.3 (2002). This rule explains to the jury that expert witnesses are permitted to testify as to their opinions on the case at hand because they have special “education or experience” that qualifies them as an expert.

November 1, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Pennsylvania

Jury instructions regarding expert witness testimony are outlined in Pennsylvania’s Suggested Standard Civil Jury Instructions. PA. SSJI (Civ), §4.100, §4.80 (2013). This rule provides that the jury is not required to accept an expert’s testimony simply because the witness is an expert. Id. The rule instructs the jury to consider a variety of factors when determining the amount of weight

October 31, 2017

What do Courts Consider to be a Reasonable Expert Witness Fee/Rate for an Actuarial Expert Witness?

In this case, plaintiffs requested expert witness fees for an actuarial witness. Cohen v. Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer, No. 2:16-cv-11484, 2017 WL 3616485 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 23, 2017). The court was inquired to determine whether the fees requested for the expert’s services were reasonable. Id. The court described the fee requested as “eye popping” and established an appropriate rate for an

October 31, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Oregon

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Oregon’s Uniform Civil Jury Instructions on Expert Witnesses. OR. UNIFORM CIVIL JURY INSTR. 10.06 (2015). This rule instructs the jury that expert witnesses can testify as to their opinions on matters that the expert “has special knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.” Id. The jury is told to weigh the expert’s testimony