Expert Witnesses 101

Michael J. FarrellFarrell, Farrell & Farrell, L.C.Huntington, West Virginiahttp://f3.farrell3.com

http://f3.farrell3.com.\evidence

This power point presentation will be available for downloading on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at this address.

The Impact of an Expert

“An expert witness has the potential to be both powerful and quite misleading.” --Daubert

Bottom Line of Daubert/Gentry

The issue under a Daubert/Gentry analysis is not whether the expert opinion is correct;

rather is it reliable.See TFWS, Inc. v. Schaefer,325 F.3d 234 (4th Cir. 2003)

One Missed Step Is Enough

“Any step that renders the analysis unreliable…renders the expert testimony inadmissible.”“This is true whether the step completely changes a reliable methodology or merely misapplies that methodology”

In re Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litig., 35 F.3d 717, 745 (3rd Cir. 1994)

Rule 702—Federal and State Rules Are Different

If scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education, may testify thereto in the form of opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.

Gentry Analysis Begins Before You Retain An Expert Witness

What issues need unavailable factual testimony that will assist the trier of fact. What is the relevancy of the proposed expert testimonyWhat is the reliability of the proposed expert testimonyWhat does my client/insurer get for the money paid to the expert

Issues The Need Experts

DutyBreach of DutyProximate CausationDamages

Examples of “Duty” Experts

Medical Malpractice----defining the standard of careProduct Liability----defining the duty of a reasonably prudent manufacturer regarding manufacturing quality control, design alternatives and adequacy of warningsPlaintiff’s Conduct----e.g. in a medical malpractice case testimony regarding the duty of the patient to follow instructions, provide an accurate and complete history and/or take medications

“Breach” Experts”

Malpractice----explain how the physicians’ conduct did not comply with the standard of careProduct Liability----identify the product manufacturing defect, defective design and/or defective warningPlaintiff’s Conduct----explain what a reasonably prudent patient should have done in the same or similar circumstances

“Causation” Expert Witnesses

Probably the most important need in a vigorously contested caseAffirmative and negative obligations– Affirmatively must connect the dots from “duty” and “breach” to

“a proximate cause”– Negatively must debunk, discount and/or destroy the defense

that something unrelated to his client’s conduct was the proximate cause

Plaintiff’s Conduct----explain the unreasonableness that it could be a proximate cause and/or that a reasonably prudent person would have done it

“Damages” Experts

Mental and Physical Health----preference is treating physician so long as he or she is supportiveIf treating physician is not supportive, an expert is neededSpecialized experts for future damages----must prove permanency of injury and reasonable certainty of damages to occur– Economist– Vocational specialist– Life care Planner

Selecting the Expert

Know and narrowly define the field of expertise Search the relevant professional literature to identify the de facto leaders in the fieldInvestigate the potential leaders in the field– Solicit resumes– Check references with other lawyers, judges, court personnel– Collect deposition and trial transcripts– Check computerized indicies– Google the witness– Lexis the witness– Westlaw the witness

Evaluating the Potential Expert

Scientific,Technical or other Knowledge that Qualifies the Witness pursuant to Daubert, Kumho, and/or Gentry

Testimony must be relevantTestimony must be reliableCommunication skillsWork EthicPhysical AppearanceListening Skills

The Rule 26 Expert Report and State Court Rule 26 Disclosure

Identify the field of expertiseIdentify the training, education and experience that qualifies the expert to testifyState the opinionsState the predicate facts relied uponIf the opinions of an adverse expert are addressed directly, quote the predicate opinionsState compliance with the admissibility evidentiary admissibility threshold e.g. reasonable degree of medical probability, reasonable degree of medical certainty

Motion in Limine

Identify each expert to be challengedIdentify the legal basis for the challenge:– Relevancy– Reliability– Both

Identify the factual basis for the challenge:Identify the Daubert principle that is violatedExplain the application of the rule, standard of scope of research that should have been performed and the prejudice caused by admitting it now.

Rule 104(a)

Federal and State Rule Identical“Preliminary questions concerning the qualification of a person to be a witness, the existence of a privilege, or the admissibility of evidence shall be determined by the court….”

Qualifications & Relevancy—Conduct a Mock 104(a) Exam

Test the Qualifications of the Witness– Education, experience or training in a field that is

relevant – to the issue presented and – that will assist the trier of fact

Match and Compare the Qualifications with the Actual Opinion Proffered – Expert may be qualified in some field—is it this one

Reliability—The More Difficult Rule 104(a) Hurdle

Is the reasoning and methodology underlying the opinion scientifically validFocus on the principles and methodology not on the expert’s conclusions.Falsifiability—theory tested or capable of being testedPeer reviewed and publishedKnown or potential error rateExistence and maintenance of standards for the methodologyGeneral acceptance in the relevant scientific community

Reliability—Medical Diagnosis

What is the standard medical practice for diagnosing the disease?For the actual diagnostic testing, who established the criteria—lawyers or physicians?Training of people taking histories and/or performing testsPerformance and legal compliance of testing device e.g. American Thoracic Society standards for a spirometer (Ecodes); governmental testing of an x-ray machine.

Reliability Tests Beyond The Express Holding of Daubert

Economic incentives e.g. pay v. no pay for favorable silicosis opinions.

In re Silica Products Liability Litig., 2005 WL 1593936 (S.D. Tx. June 30, 2005)

See also Allison v. McGhan Med. Corp., 184 F.3d 1300, 1321 (11th Cir. 1999); Allen v. Pennsylvania Eng’g Corp., 102 F.3d 194, 197 n.3 (5th Cir. 1996).

More Reliability Tests Beyond Text of Daubert, p. 2

Toxic Exposure Cases—Medically Untrained Personnel (lawyers and temps) took medical histories that were used by physician who made the ultimate diagnosis.

In re Silica Products Liability Litig., 2005 WL 1593936 (S.D. Tx. June 30, 2005)

Consider also: Rule 703— “…facts on which expert relies must be reasonably relied upon by other experts in the field.”

More Reliability Tests Beyond Text of Daubert, p. 3

Toxic Exposure Cases: Insufficient data regarding:Dosage of harmful toxic substanceDuration of exposure to harmful toxic substance

In re Silica Products Liability Litig., 2005 WL 1593936 (S.D. Tx. June 30, 2005)

See also Christopherson v. Allied-Signal Corp., 939 F.2d 1106, 1114-15 (5th Cir. 1991)

More Reliability Tests Beyond Text of Daubert, p. 4

Diagnoses resulting from “mass screenings”“…the screening business was competitive, without large numbers of positive diagnoses, the screening companies would lose money or would lose the law firm account to a competitor.”These were “legal diagnoses”, not “medical diagnoses.”

In re Silica Products Liability Litig., 2005 WL 1593936 (S.D. Tx. June 30, 2005)

Exception to Daubert Validation

Generally accepted and tested within our adversarial system over time.Fingerprint identification*Handwriting analysis*

*See United States v. Crisp, 324 F.3d 261 (4th Cir. 2003) (King, J.) (Dissent; Michael, J. Daubert did not approve acceptance by the legal community as a substitute for acceptance by the scientific community)

Generally Accepted that it be Excluded Without Daubert

Polygraph—Per Se Rule of Exclusion Challenged

See United States v. Prince-Oyibo, 320F.3d 494 (4th Cir. 2003)(Hamilton, Senior Judge, dissenting)

Within the Abuse of Discretion

Excluded because it would not have been helpful to the juryExcluded because it was not beyond the common experiences of the juryExcluded because underlying research examined the occurrence of the wrong tumorExcluded because alleged proof of does response relationship was unreliable

Establishing Abuse of Discretion in Admitting Expert Testimony

Double StandardWrong Application

Lay Witness Opinion Testimony

Authorized by both Federal and State Rule 701Scenario #1: When witness’ personal knowledge is used to authenticate or identify something that otherwise would be established by expert proof e.g. handwriting, voice identificationScenario # 2: When a lay witness’ experience when combined with personal knowledge provide the basis for the expression of a Rule 702 expert opinion e.g. truck design opinion from former truck mechanic and service manager

Helpful Sources For Assessing Daubert/Gentry Issues

Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers, Fourth Edition—Lexis PublishingRobin Jean Davis, Admitting Expert Testimony in Federal Court and Its Impact on West Virginia Jurisprudence, 104 W. Va. L. Rev. 708 (2002) Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence—West Publishing CompanyManual For Complex Litigation Third—West Publishing Company

http://f3.farrell3.com\evidence

his power point presentation will be available for downloading on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at this address