There is no such thing as a one-size fits all, ideal expert witness report format. Every case is different and every expert witness is different. Indeed, in many cases, retaining counsel may not even want their expert witness to write a report at all. That said, below is a sample expert witness report example outline:
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- Cover Page
- Assignment
- Qualifications of the Expert Witness
- Document Review, Research & Investigation
- Opinion(s)
- Boilerplate Disclaimers
- Attachments (e.g. C.V. of expert witness and supporting materials).
Free Whitepaper: How to Draft a Powerful, Persuasive, and Understandable Expert Witness Report
For expert witnesses testifying in civil cases in federal court, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(B) mandates the following expert witness report requirements:
(i) a complete statement of all opinions the witness will express and the basis and reasons for them;
(ii) the facts or data considered by the witness in forming them;
(iii) any exhibits that will be used to summarize or support them;
(iv) the witness’s qualifications, including a list of all publications authored in the previous 10 years;
(v) a list of all other cases in which, during the previous 4 years, the witness testified as an expert at trial or by deposition; and
(vi) a statement of the compensation to be paid for the study and testimony in the case.
Expert witnesses should strive to write the best expert witness report possible. A solid report will immensely help the expert witness’s brand. In addition, a well-written report will make deposition, direct examination and cross examination much easier. Using a proper report format is the first step to drafting a superior expert witness report.
For detailed information on expert witness report formats and expert witness report examples, please see SEAK, Inc.’s text How to Write an Expert Witness Report.
SEAK, Inc. also provides one-on-one assistance with expert witness report writing.
