Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Worst Expert Testimony Ever

  • Published:
Psychological Injury and Law Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Much of the literature on expert testimony addresses ways to improve witness credibility. A smaller body of knowledge examines instances of testimony in which the expert makes stylistic or substantive errors. In the present paper, a case of expert testimony is presented in which an expert witness under the duress of strong cross-examinations lost emotional control and spoke inappropriately. The circumstances of the testimony are discussed and alternative paths towards managing such situations are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. In this case and the following one, we have changed the context and content for brevity and for deidentification. However, the statements by Dr. Alpha are presented as seen and reported.

References

  • Brodsky, S. L., & Gutheil, T. G. (2016). The expert expert witness. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodsky, S. L., Griffin, M. P., & Cramer, R. J. (2010). The witness credibility scale: an outcome measure for expert witness research. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 28, 892–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southwick, S. M., & Charney, S. S. (2012). Resilience: the science of mastering life’s greatest challenges. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0348, USA

    Stanley L. Brodsky

  2. Office of the District Attorney, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Jason K. Wilson

Authors
  1. Stanley L. Brodsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jason K. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stanley L. Brodsky.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Brodsky, S.L., Wilson, J.K. Worst Expert Testimony Ever. Psychol. Inj. and Law 9, 272–274 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-016-9261-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-016-9261-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation