1 November Case Updates Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Khan & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 531 Fitness to plead, Capacity, 10. Report Writing, 11. Responding to questions This case is about whether the judge erred in finding that Ms Soophia Khan had capacity to defend proceedings for contempt of court. This is an important judgment for any psychiatrist called upon to assess fitness to plead and stand trial in a criminal case or litigation capacity in a civil case; and important also for any psychologist whose evidence may be considered in such a case. It is not just because it compares the tests for fitness to plead and stand trial and litigation capacity; it is a rare illustration of not only how a judge at first instance assesses expert evidence in such a case but also of how the court of appeal analyses the judicial reasoning when such a case is appealed.
29 October Case Updates Pfizer Inc v Uniqure Biopharma BV [2024] EWHC 2672 (Pat) 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 07. Working with Instructing Parties, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints The judge in this patent case found that the claimants’ gene therapy expert had developed, quite possibly guided by lawyers, the understanding that the primary duty of an expert witness is not to say anything that may damage the instructing party’s case if it can be avoided.
25 October Case Updates How not to use AI in expert evidence 10. Report Writing, 15. Criticism and Complaints, 16. Maintaining your professional edge, Artificial Intelligence, AI, 09. Records Assessments and Site Visits In this US case, an expert in fiduciary services used Microsoft’s Copilot to cross-check calculations he used in expert evidence. He was unable to recall the prompts he used, state the sources Copilot relied on, or explain how the tool worked and arrived at its outputs. The judge provided some useful insight into the challenges with using AI in expert evidence.
11 October Case Updates Litigation capacity Psychiatry, litigation capacity, 10. Report Writing, 09. Records Assessments and Site Visits, Jersey Although accepting the medical expert's conclusion on the First Defendant's capacity to appear in court, the Bailiff noted that any further application for an adjournment on health grounds would require a much more significant explanation of the First Defendant's medical history, and precise problems and prognosis, to be provided well in advance. Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi and Ors [2024] JRC 086
9 October Case Updates Chifley Holdings Ltd (BVI) v The Commissioners For HMRC [2024] UKUT 301 (LC) 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion, 12. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints, 09. Records Assessments and Site Visits, Surveyors, Valuation The judge found that it was without justification and entirely unecessary for an expert to question the opposing expert's professionalism and motives in selecting evidence, noting that this approach was unhelpful for the tribunal.
17 September Case Updates Cardiotocograph – normal or abnormal Obstetrics, Midwifery, 10. Report Writing, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints This case is primarily of interest to obstetricians, illustrating the court’s approach to the disputed interpretation of cardiotocographic evidence. There were no midwifery issues as such, but it may be of some interest to midwifery experts. The general learning points speak for themselves without reading the summary. Woods v Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2024] EWHC 1432 (KB)
3 September Case Updates Kwik-Fit Properties Ltd v Resham Ltd [2024] EWCC 4 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints The judge noted that that the manner in which two Expert Witnesses in Chartered Surveying gave their evidence was more advocacy than opinion, with one expert’s report reading more like a skeleton argument.
27 August Case Updates Jonathan Ewan Marcus v Edward Quintin Marcus [2024] EWHC 2086 (Ch) 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 11. Responding to questions, 15. Criticism and Complaints In the circumstances of the case, including the absence of a timely challenge to lack of form, the judge gave due weight to an expert report and the answers to questions without subtraction for lack of compliance with CPR 35 and rule 3 of the Practice Directions.
20 August Case Updates Kirk v Culina Group Ltd [2024] EWHC 1431 (KB) 10. Report Writing, 12. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, Accident and Emergency The court considered that there was some substance to the criticisms of an accident and emergency expert for not dealing with matters in his primary report which he then agreed in the joint report with the opposing expert (who had included the issues in his primary report). These were however criticisms for failing to deal with points, rather than criticisms of the opinions he actually expressed in his primary report.
30 July Case Updates JJMC v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] UKAITUR UI2022005862 Immigration and asylum, 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, CV In this appeal of an asylum decision, the court was unable to discern sustainable and tolerably clear reasons as to why the judge rejected the expertise of the expert witness and his expert opinion provided in his report.