Expert Witness Blog

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

September 27, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Massachusetts

Jury instructions regarding witnesses in Massachusetts are outlined in Massachusetts’s Superior Court Civil Practice Jury Instructions, §1.2.8. MASS. SUP. CT. CIVIL PRACTICE JURY INSTR. § 1.2.8 (2016). There is not a separate rule for expert witnesses, but §1.2.8 applies to all witnesses. Id. This rule instructs the jury to decide what witnesses to believe and how much weight to give

September 26, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Arizona

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses in Arizona are outlined in Arizona’s Pattern Jury Instructions for Civil cases. ARIZ. PATTERN JURY INSTR. CIVIL (2017). This rule instructs the jury that expert witnesses are permitted to state their opinions as long as it is within the expert’s area of expertise, and the expert can also explain his reasoning for his opinion. Id.

September 25, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Illinois

Jury instructions regarding expert witness testimony are outlined in Illinois’s Pattern Jury Instructions, Rules 3.08 and 4.08. Ill. Pattern Jury Instr. Civ. 3.08, 4.08 (2017). Rule 3.08 provides instructions for all opinion witnesses and states that the jury need not accept all testimony presented by witnesses during the trial. Id. The rule also provides that the jury is to give

September 24, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Georgia

Jury instructions regarding expert witness testimony are outlined in Georgia’s Suggested Civil Pattern Jury Instructions. GA. SUGGESTED PATTERN JURY INSTR. CIV. 02.120 (2017). These instructions remind the jury that expert witnesses are permitted to give opinions as part of their testimony, but the jury is not required to accept those opinions and testimony. Id. Additionally, the jury is to decide

September 23, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in Florida

Jury instructions regarding expert witnesses are outlined in Florida’s Standard Jury Instructions for Civil Cases, section 600. Fla. Standard Jury Instr. Civ. 601.2 (2015). These instructions require the jury to answer the questions presented to them by the court by weighing the evidence provided during the trial. Id. In regard to witnesses, the jury is allowed to evaluate each witness’s

September 22, 2017

Expert Witness Sample Jury Instructions in New York

Expert witness jury instructions in New York are outlined in New York’s Civil Pattern Jury Instructions. N.Y. Pattern Jury Inst. Civil 1:90 (2017). These instructions provide the general instructions to be given to a jury regarding an expert witness and the witness’s testimony. Id. The instructions remind the jury of the expert, what the expert testified to, and alert the

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