7 January Case Updates Alan Prescott-Brann v Chelsea and Westminster’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Anor [2024] EWHC 3314 (KB) 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion The Appellant was given permission to change neurology experts after the judge found that the application was not so late as to be prejudicial to the Respondents, and that the Appellant was not engaging in expert shopping.
19 December Case Updates When expert evidence falls well below the standard of a competent expert witness Psychology, Psychiatry, 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 The judge found that the evidence of the claimants' psychological expert fell well below the standard to be expected of a competent expert witness, both as to form and as to substance. Rashpal Samrai & Ors v Rajinder Kalia [2024] EWHC 3143 (KB)
14 November Case Updates The dangers of a considerable burden of expert work Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion, 12. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, 15. Criticism and Complaints, Pathology, Histopathology, Radiology The court found that a highly respected and hugely experienced histopathologist expert witness, who was overburdened with work, had made errors in his examination of the forensic material and closed his mind to possible or probable accidental causes for the injuries identified. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham v G [2024] EWHC 2200 (Fam)
22 October Case Updates Steven Wilson v Ministry of Justice [2024] EWHC 2389 (KB) 05. Rules and Regulations, 13. Changing your opinion, 12. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints The defendant’s spinal cord injury expert in this case agreed early on in his cross-examination that he had lost all objectivity and independence in the case, while the defendant’s physiotherapy and accommodation experts were criticised by the judge for adopting more partisan approaches in their later evidence.
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.
12 July Case Updates Hitting all three most common compliance errors in expert reports Personal injury, 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion, 11. Responding to questions, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints, 16. Maintaining your professional edge The medico-legal expert in this personal injury claim was urged by the judge to seek further training after he made all of the three most common compliance errors which the EWI sees in expert reports. Hamed v. Ministry of Justice (County Court in Cambridge – 7th June 2024)
20 June Case Updates Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd v Aecom Ltd (Rev1) [2023] EWHC 2620 (TCC) Independence, Duties of the Expert, 13. Changing your opinion, 14. Giving Oral Evidence An expert is entitled to revise his or her opinion in light of a judge's finding as to what is or is not required in order to comply with particular regulations or equivalent regulatory standards.
3 April Case Updates Rebecca Thorp & Ors v Dr Harinder Mehta [2024] EWHC 652 (KB) Medical expert, NICE Guidance, 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints, 16. Maintaining your professional edge The judge found that an expert witness's anlaysis became incoherent because he failed from the outset to take into adequate account the NICE recommendations.
22 January Case Updates Expert witnesses must not act as advocates for the party instructing them Expert evidence, Judicial critism, Dentistry, Credibility of expert, 05. Rules and Regulations, 10. Report Writing, 13. Changing your opinion, 14. Giving Oral Evidence, 15. Criticism and Complaints An expert witness must be careful not to step over the boundary between being an independent expert and an advocate for the party instructing them. Balachandra v The General Dental Council [2024] EWHC 18 (Admin) (10 January 2024)
16 October Case Updates OXR v Mid and South Essex Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2023] EWHC 2006 (KB) Negligence, Medical expert, ENT surgery, 13. Changing your opinion, 12. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements Openness and reliance on the views of unidentified colleagues