Expert Witness Blog

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

September 21, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in California

Expert witness jury instructions in California are outlined in the Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions, Rule 219. Ca. Civ. Jury Inst. 219 (2017). This rule provides for the court to instruct the jury that experts can state opinions regarding their areas of expertise. Id. Also, the rule alerts the jury that it does not have to accept a

September 19, 2017

Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in Wyoming

The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Wyoming’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. Wyo. Stat. Ann. R. Evid. § 6-615 (West 2017). This rule requires the court to exclude a witness from the courtroom when requested by a party or through an order of its own. Id. The rule has three exceptions of individuals that cannot be excluded and expert

September 18, 2017

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

Expert witness discovery is governed by Wisconsin’s Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 804.01. WIS. STAT. ANN. § 804.01 (West 2017). This rule allows for the discovery of any information pertaining to an expert that falls in line with the qualifications of material listed previously in the rule. Id. The rule generally allows discovery into information that is not privileged and

September 18, 2017

Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in Wisconsin

The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Wisconsin’s Rules of Evidence, § 906.15. WIS. STAT. ANN. § 906.15 (West 2017). This rule requires the court to exclude a witness from the courtroom as to not hear testimony of other witnesses when requested by a party or if the court orders on its own. Id. The rule has four exceptions and

September 16, 2017

Are Expert Witness Tax Returns and Financial Information Discoverable in West Virginia?

Expert witness discovery in West Virginia is governed by West Virginia’s Rules of Civil Procedure. W. VA. CODE ANN. § 5-26 (West 2017). This rule outlines discovery of expert witnesses but does not mention fees, expenses, or financial information of experts. Id. Case law does not discuss financial information of experts, but it does note that the trial court is

September 16, 2017

Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in West Virginia

The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under West Virginia’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. W. VA. CODE ANN. § 6-615 (West 2017). This rule requires the court to exclude a witness from the courtroom as to not hear testimony of other witnesses when requested by a party or through an order of its own. Id. The rule has four exceptions

September 15, 2017

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

Discovery regarding expert witnesses is governed by Washington’s Superior Court Civil Rules, Rule 26. WASH. REV. CODE ANN. § 5.26 (West 2017). This rule does not specifically note whether financial information relating to expert witnesses is discoverable or not. Id. Similarly, case law does not specifically address the financial information of expert witnesses, but it does note that rules governing

September 15, 2017

Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in Washington

The sequestration of expert witnesses falls under Washington’s Rules of Evidence, Rule 615. WASH. REV. CODE ANN. § 6-615 (West 2017). This rule allows the court to exclude a witness upon request to do so by a party or upon its own order. Id. The rule has three exceptions and experts fall under the third. Id. The third exception is

September 14, 2017

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

Discovery regarding expert witnesses is governed by Virginia’s Rules of the Supreme Court, Rule 4:1. VA. CODE ANN. § 4-1 (West 2017). This rule does not specifically note whether expert witness’s financial information is discoverable, and there is scant case law on the matter. Id. However, generally, requests for discovery that are broad and unrelated to the matter have been

September 14, 2017

Law and Rules Regarding Expert Witness Sequestration in Virginia

The sequestration of expert witnesses in Virginia has different guidelines for civil and criminal cases. In the criminal context, § 19.2-265.1 governs. VA. CODE ANN. § 19.2-265.1 (West 2017). This rule requires that the court exclude a witness from the courtroom as to not hear testimony of other witnesses if requested by a party or through the court’s own order.