16 May Day in the life A Day in the Life of a Chartered Building Surveyor Expert Witness Expert Witness, Rod Appleyard, Chartered Building Surveyor, Project Manager, 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, 04. Marketing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence Rod Appleyard has been practising as an Expert Witness for almost 28 years, specialising in the forensic investigation of fenestration and building envelope defects. He shares what led him to the Expert Witness field; his advice for starting out; and why volunteering in a war zone changed his outlook on work and life.
1 May Case Updates Expert evidence and an absent defendant Expert evidence, case management, oral evidence, absent defendant, 06. Rules and Regulations, 15. Giving Oral Evidence A defendant who chose not to attend or be represented at trial, suggested that he might still instruct his expert witness to provide oral evidence. Ben Leeson & Anor v Donald McPherson [2024] EWHC 976 (Ch)
17 April Case Updates R v Valdo Calocane, The Crown Court at Nottingham, 25 January 2024, unreported Psychiatry, Duty to the court, Interviewing witnesses, Public interest, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence The case of Valdo Calocane, convicted of diminished responsibility manslaughter, has brought to the public’s attention the role of expert psychiatric witnesses in cases of alleged murder. The case raises a number of issues about the role of expert witnesses in criminal proceedings, mental condition defences and the meaning of public interest.
3 April Case Updates Rebecca Thorp & Ors v Dr Harinder Mehta [2024] EWHC 652 (KB) Medical expert, NICE Guidance, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 14. Changing your opinion, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 16. Criticism and Complaints, 17. 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.
29 February Case Updates Aston Risk Management Ltd v Lee Jones & Ors [2024] EWHC 252 (Ch) Independence, Forensic accountancy, Quantum, 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence The judge found that providing preliminary advice on the issues that arise regarding quantum did not impinge on the expert's ability to subsequently provide independent expert advice.
22 January Case Updates Expert witnesses must not act as advocates for the party instructing them Expert evidence, Judicial critism, Dentistry, Credibility of expert, 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 14. Changing your opinion, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 16. 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)
21 December News 2023 in Review: Don’t let complacency ruin your credibility 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 14. Changing your opinion, 13. Experts Discussions and Joint Statements, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 17. Maintaining your professional edge EWI Chief Executive Officer, Simon Berney-Edwards, shares his thoughts on 2023, a year where Expert Witnesses have continued to come under increasing scrutiny.
27 November Day in the life A day in the life of a Meteorologist and Expert Witness. 06. Rules and Regulations, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits We spoke to a Meteorology Expert Witness to get an understanding of how they got into expert work, the main challenges he faces, and the changing face of meteorology as an area of expertise.
16 October Case Updates Astley (A minor) v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2023] EWHC 1921 (KB) Issues, Evidence, 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence Failure to have regard to the Particulars of Claim
16 October Case Updates Ogonowska, R v (Rev1) [2023] EWCA Crim 1021 Psychiatry, Credibility of expert, 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence Judicial criticism is not fatal