1 March Case Updates Walaszczyk v Regional Court of Law in Czestochowa, Poland [2020] EWHC 849 (Admin), 2020 WL 01695206 Extradition case, Mental disorder, Threshold level, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing Relevance: Extradition cases Topic: Threshold level of mental disorder necessary to prevent extradition
1 March Case Updates General Medical Council v Zafar [2020] EWHC 846 (Admin), [2020] 4 WLUK 134 Impartiality, Dishonesty, 16. Criticism and Complaints, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 08. Working with Instructing Parties, 15. Giving Oral Evidence “Factory work” Relevance: General Topic: Impartiality Dishonesty
1 March Case Updates University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust v MB [2020] EWHC 882 (QB), [2020] 4 WLUK 117 Admissibility, Expert evidence, Inpatient Care, 06. Rules and Regulations Relevance: Bed management cases Topic: Discharge of inpatient no longer in need of inpatient care Admissibility of expert evidence Nature of case: An NHS trust brought a claim for possession and applied for an interim injunction against a patient.
1 March Case Updates Thimmaya v Lancashire NHS Foundation Trust [2020] 1 WLUK 437 Personal injury, Legal test, Wasted cost order, Negligence, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing ‘The cost of Iicompetence’ Relevance: General; Personal injury (negligence) Topic: Legal tests for negligence Wasted costs order against expert witness
1 March Case Updates R v Foy [2020] EWCA Crim 270, 2020 WL 00927442 Admissibility, Behaviour of expert, Psychiatric evidence, Ultimate issue, Criminal, 16. Criticism and Complaints, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence “Expert shopping” Relevance: General; criminal Topics: Admissibility of fresh psychiatric evidence; ultimate issue; behaviour of expert
31 December Case Updates Mustard v Flower [2019] EWHC 2623 (QB), 2019 WL 05104326 Covert recording, Neuropsychological assessment, Part 35, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits, 06. Rules and Regulations, 12. Responding to questions “Be sure your sins will find you out” Relevance: General. Issues: Admissibility of covert recording of neuropsychological assessment Disproportionate Part 35 questions
5 November News Essential Do’s and Don’ts for Expert Witnesses 07. Receiving Instructions, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 14. Changing your opinion, 08. Working with Instructing Parties, 12. Responding to questions, 15. Giving Oral Evidence The expert is now closely regulated by the rules. Provided that they conduct themselves in an honest, competent and careful professional manner they are unlikely to transgress the rules. However, experience has shown that there are pitfalls, pitfalls which may have serious consequences.
3 July News Pension Advisory Group publishes essential guide to the treatment of pensions on divorce. 06. Rules and Regulations Long awaited report brings guidance to family judges, lawyers and pension experts encouraging fairer settlements and helping to manage liability.
2 July News The admissibility of expert evidence on life expectancy Personal injury, Life expectancy, 06. Rules and Regulations An interesting decision from one of the QBD Master Davison on the admissibility of expert evidence on life expectancy.
6 June News Expert witness guidance published for Healthcare Professionals 06. Rules and Regulations The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has published new guidance for Healthcare Professionals acting as a professional expert or witness.