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The Admissibility of Expert Witness Testimony

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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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Correspondence to Marc W. Pearce .

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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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