Abstract
This chapter describes the most important rules and principles that govern the admissibility of expert testimony. It also demonstrates ways in which trial consultants can maximize the likelihood that their own research and opinions will be admitted into evidence and suggests strategies for mounting effective attacks against the expert evidence submitted by opponents. The chapter begins with an overview of the discovery rules governing expert testimony in civil and criminal cases. It then proceeds to describe the evidentiary rules and principles that most directly affect expert witnesses.
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Rules and Statutes
U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 1 (2007).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 (2007).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 (2006).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35 (2006).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 (2006).
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 1 (2008).
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12.2 (2006).
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 101 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 102 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 401 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 404(2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 412 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 608 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 609 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 701(2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 703 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 704 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 705 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 706 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 802 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 803 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 804 (2006).
Federal Rule of Evidence 1101 (2006).
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Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter v. Cedar Point Oil Co., Inc., 73 F.3d 546, 571 (5th Cir. 1996).
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Steele v. Shah, 87 F.3d 1266, 1271 (11th Cir. 1996).
Synthes Spine Co., L.P. v. Walden, No. CIV.A. 04-CV-4140, 2005 WL 3591982 (E.D. Penn. Dec. 21, 2005).
Taylor v. Illinois, 484 U.S. 400, 408 (1988).
Tracinda Corp. v. DaimlerChrysler AG, 362 F. Supp. 2d 487 (D. Del. 2005).
Trigon Ins. Co. v. United States, 204 F.R.D. 277, 281–84 (E.D. Va. 2001).
Trost v. Trek Bicycle Corp., 162 F.3d 1004, 1008 (8th Cir. 1998).
United States v. Anderson, 446 F.3d 870, 874–76 (8th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Batts, 171 F. App’x 977, 982 (4th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Beltran-Arce, 415 F.3d 949, 953–54 (8th Cir. 2005).
United States v. Campbell, 81 F. App’x 532, 535 (6th Cir. 2003).
United States v. Conroy, 424 F.3d 833, 838 & n.2 (8th Cir. 2005).
United States v. Cruz, 363 F.3d 187, 196 n.2 (2d Cir. 2004).
United States v. Dixon, 185 F.3d 393, 400 (5th Cir. 1999).
United States v. Duvall, 272 F.3d 825, 828–29 (7th Cir. 2001).
United States v. Eff, 461 F. Supp. 2d 529 (E.D. Tex. 2006).
United States v. Figueroa-Lopez, 125 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 1997).
United States v. Finley, 301 F.3d 1000, 1018 (9th Cir. 2002).
United States v. Foote, 898 F.2d 659, 665–66 (8th Cir. 1990).
United States v. Ganier, 468 F.3d 920, 927 (6th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Gowan, 32 F.3d 1466, 1469–70 (10th Cir. 1994).
United States v. Jackson, 51 F.3d 646, 651 (7th Cir. 1995).
United States v. Jasper, No. 00CR825(PKL), 2003 WL 223212, at *1, 4 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 31, 2003).
United States v. Johnson, 228 F.3d 920, 924–26 (8th Cir. 2000).
United States v. Liner, 435 F.3d 920, 924 (8th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Mamah, 332 F.3d 475, 478 (7th Cir. 2003).
United States v. Martin, 391 F.3d 949, 954 (8th Cir. 2004).
United States v. Morales, 108 F.3d 1031, 1038 (9th Cir. 1997).
United States v. Mull, 40 F. App’x 300, 303 (8th Cir. 2002).
United States v. Novaton, 271 F.3d 968, 1007–08 (11th Cir. 2001).
United States v. Perkins, 470 F.3d 150, 155–56 (4th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Perry, 438 F.3d 642, 650 (6th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Philip Morris USA Inc., 223 F.R.D. 1 (D.D.C. 2004).
United States v. Red Elk, 185 F. App’x 716, 720–25 (10th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Shepard, 462 F.3d 847, 865–66 (8th Cir. 2006).
United States v. Thompson, 923 F. Supp. 144, 145–46 (S.D. Ind. 1996).
United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 64 n.6 (2002).
United States v. White, 492 F.3d 380, 407 (6th Cir. 2007).
United States v. Wintermute, 443 F.3d 993, 1001 (8th Cir. 2006).
Woodworker’s Supply, Inc. v. Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co., 170 F.3d 985 (10th Cir. 1999).
Zippo Mfg. Co. v. Rogers Imports, Inc., 216 F. Supp. 670, (S.D.N.Y. 1963).
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Pearce, M.W. (2011). The Admissibility of Expert Witness Testimony. In: Wiener, R., Bornstein, B. (eds) Handbook of Trial Consulting. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7569-0_7
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