Following Federal Rules of Civil Procedure When Writing an Expert Witness Report

Posted: Nov 06, 2010 |Comments: 0 | Views: 116 |

Your expert, or primary, report is a formal report whose subject matter and structure is addressed in Rule 26 of the Federal regulations of Civil Procedure. This Rule defines the general provisions of the law regarding discovery and disclosure of facts in a lawsuit. In section (a)(2)(B), the Rule explains in detail the disclosures that an expert witness has to make in a written report, prepared and signed by you, the expert witness. It says:

"the report shall contain a complete statement of all opinions to be expressed and the basis and reasons therefore; the data or other information considered by the witness in forming the opinions: any exhibits to be used as a summary of or support for the opinions: the accomplishments of the witness, including a list of all publications authored by the witness within the preceding 10 years: the compensation to be paid for the analyse and testimony: and a listing of any other cases in which the witness has testified as an expert at trial or by deposition within the preceding four years."

When you finish your report, sign and date it, and list any peer reviewers who reviewed your findings and report.
The report has to be yours. You have to think out what you want to say, and what sections you want to create in it.  After you write your report your attorney may ask to read or review it before you submit it formally. A simple review that uncovers errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling is not a problem. However, substantive changes such as the suggestion that you add extra text or entire sections to the report can be a problem.
If the opposing attorneys and the court find out that your attorney influenced any substantial subject matter of your report, the court has the right and the responsibility to reject all or part of your report.
In this instance, the attorney may seem solicitous or casual, or may simply suggest 'minor' changes in wording or subject matter. Deciding what constitutes a 'minor change' is up to you. In the end, the expert report has to contain your wording and your opinions. You have to stand behind every word; you cannot honestly accept changes in major subject matter.
The job of coming to an opinion is yours. At most, the attorney may help you with minor phraseology in expressing your opinions.

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