What does deterioration mean? What does deterioration mean?

What does deterioration mean?

In this case the issue was the extent or degree of the deterioration, its real world impact in terms of effect on daily life and ability to cope and...
Podcast Episode 15: The Power of EWI Membership: Raising Standards in Expert Witness... Podcast Episode 15: The Power of EWI Membership: Raising Standards in Expert Witness...

Podcast Episode 15: The Power of EWI Membership: Raising Standards in Expert Witness...

In the 15th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, Simon and EWI's Membership Manager, Will Watkis, discuss the power of EWI membership and the...
How should Experts disclose criticisms when they are frequently unaware of the outcome of... How should Experts disclose criticisms when they are frequently unaware of the outcome of...

How should Experts disclose criticisms when they are frequently unaware of the outcome of...

The judgement from The Honourable Mr Justice Trower asserts that Expert Witnesses have a duty to disclose previous criticisms of their evidence in...
Rebecca Hepworth v Dr Amanda Coates [2025] EWHC 1907 (KB) Rebecca Hepworth v Dr Amanda Coates [2025] EWHC 1907 (KB)

Rebecca Hepworth v Dr Amanda Coates [2025] EWHC 1907 (KB)

The Claimant sought damages for clinical negligence from the Defendant who, she asserted, failed to diagnose red flag symptoms of cauda equina...
Access to Justice Inquiry Access to Justice Inquiry

Access to Justice Inquiry

The House of Commons, Justice Committee has published a Call for Evidence for its Inquiry on Access to Justice. The Inquiry will examine how advice...
Failed extraction of a wisdom tooth Failed extraction of a wisdom tooth

Failed extraction of a wisdom tooth

Although this is a case of alleged dental negligence and can be usefully read in full not only by dental experts, but by dentists, oral surgeons and...
A day in the life of an Accommodation Expert Witness A day in the life of an Accommodation Expert Witness

A day in the life of an Accommodation Expert Witness

Marisa Shek is a Healthcare Architect and owner of Shek Architects. As an Expert Witness, she specialises in the field of accommodation for disabled...
The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has published a new consolidation of the Criminal Procedure Rules and an accompanying guide. The new Rules will...
Podcast Episode 14: Reflections on the EWI Annual Conference 2025 Podcast Episode 14: Reflections on the EWI Annual Conference 2025

Podcast Episode 14: Reflections on the EWI Annual Conference 2025

In the 14th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, Simon and EWI's Marketing and Events Manger, Heather George, reflect on their highlights from...
A Day in the Life of a Town Planning Expert Witness A Day in the Life of a Town Planning Expert Witness

A Day in the Life of a Town Planning Expert Witness

Susan Jones, founder of SJ Consultancy, has been a town planning consultant for over 40 years. As an Expert Witness, she provides evidence at public...
Podcast Episode 13: Long-Standing Policy Issues Podcast Episode 13: Long-Standing Policy Issues

Podcast Episode 13: Long-Standing Policy Issues

In the 13th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, we look at five long-standing policy issues that have had significant developments recently: (1)...
A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness

A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness

Dr. Rohit Seth is trained in Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hair Transplant Surgery with over 20 years of surgical experience. A practicing...

Check out our Case Updates and Member Magazine

Looking for more news relevant to the Expert Witness community? Why not check out our database of cases relevant to Expert Evidence or the latest and previous editions of our member magazine, Expert Matters.

News

Clicking on one of the topics below will display news items relevant to that topic. You can also use the search bar below to identify news items.

A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert
Emma Mitra 1641

A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert

byEmma Mitra

A Day in the Life of a Fitted Kitchen and Bathroom Expert

Jerry Ponder uses his 40+ years of experience in fitted interiors to provide expert evidence on the design, product quality, installation and project management standards of fitted kitchens, bathrooms, any other fitted furniture projects. One of the only Expert Witnesses in his field, he tells us about how he got into it, his experience in the witness box, and the importance of good training.

I became an Expert Witness after investigating a faulty kitchen installation.

Many years ago, the Kitchen Specialists Association asked me to go and look at a kitchen that had gone wrong. I looked at it, wrote a report about it, and Expert Witness work led on from there. After a few years, I realised I needed some proper training to understand the rules and requirements around independence and impartiality. Now, I’m a professional Expert Witness and I take it very seriously. I enjoy the work and want to do the best job I can.

I enjoy writing and travelling – and being an Expert Witness involves both.

My work takes me around the UK and Northern Ireland. I always go by train — LNER have the best food! Being an expert also means I meet lots of new people, which I like. But the main reason I do Expert Witness work is the satisfaction I get from helping people solve their problems and disputes.

Jerry Ponder

I’m mostly involved in civil cases.

Most of my clients are individual consumers, while around 25% are retailers who have got into trouble with their consumer. 30% of my reports are single joint instructions, which I like because then I’m essentially the one making the decision for the court — they will always follow my opinion.

I do get instructed on the occasional criminal case.

One that stands out was a government-led inquiry, where I was instructed by National Trading Standards. The defendants were employees of a Manchester-based retailer accused of money laundering and fraud. My involvement was regarding the products that were supplied and laundered through the system.

I visited 32 kitchens all over the country. It was a big assignment writing 32 expert reports and another two about the process. Because all the defendants pleaded not guilty, the whole thing went to Crown Court in Manchester.

The case lasted 9 months at a cost of £6 million. I was in court for 12 days, 6 of which I spent in the witness box under cross examination. Each defendant had their own legal team, so it was a busy court room with around 40 people in court every day.

In the end, all the defendants were found guilty of breaches of consumer law and went to prison. My evidence was essential in the outcome.

Training is essential for Expert Witnesses going to court.

I did my training with Bond Solon and I’ve heavily relied on it whenever I’ve been in court. If I hadn’t had that training before the court case in Manchester, I wouldn’t have been able to present my evidence so succinctly and properly. The training was first class.

Barristers will often try to sway your answers.

They’re naughty like that! In the Manchester case, all six of the barristers had their go at cross-examination. It was quite harrowing at times. But my training was always at the back of mind. The most important thing I’ve learned is not to be taken out of your sphere of expertise. Every now and then, barristers will ask a question that isn’t strictly to do with your line of expertise. As soon as you’re drawn out of it, they’ve got something on you.

Time management is the biggest challenge I face as an Expert Witness.

Balancing my diary and making sure there’s enough time to do what I need to do is always challenging! But I don’t find it difficult to maintain a sense of impartiality or independence. It’s always in the back of my mind and it’s just there. My answers are always nuanced for independence.

The best advice I have for anyone considering becoming an Expert Witness is to invest in training.

Find out what your role involves and go and get trained. Time after time I come up against the other Expert Witness’ report – and it’s usually not compliant because they haven’t had training in report writing and don’t know what the requirements are. If the case ended up in court, a judge would pick up on that because they’re sticklers for procedure. It’s so important to know the correct procedures and be able to implement them.

 

 

Share

Print
Comments are only visible to subscribers.