DEFENDANT EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY CONSULTANT: TESTIFYING & CONSULTING

A defendant expert witness testifying and consulting pro is hired to assist the defense in analyzing issues, refuting claims made by the plaintiff, and providing professional opinions during litigation. As law firm consultants, the top defendant expert witness picks are brought in for their detailed knowledge in fields such as medicine, engineering, accounting, cybersecurity, or psychology, depending on the nature of the case. Work is critical to building a strong defense and generally includes a series of focused assignments.

1. Reviewing Evidence and Case Materials

Among of the first assignments a defendant expert witness receives is reviewing the case file, which may include depositions, photographs, reports, financial documents, medical records, or technical data. The goal is to understand the plaintiff’s claims and evaluate whether the evidence supports or challenges those allegations.

2. Analyzing the Plaintiff’s Expert Reports

Also defendant expert witnesses are commonly tasked with critiquing the reports and testimony submitted by the plaintiff’s expert witnesses. SMEs assess whether the opposing expert’s methods are scientifically valid, legally sound, and professionally acceptable. If there are flaws, gaps, or biased assumptions, the defense expert will identify them in their response.

3. Conducting Independent Investigations

Depending on the case, the defendant expert witness may review and conduct their own analysis. For example, a medical expert may offer a second opinion on injury claims, while a structural engineer might inspect a building or product alleged to have caused harm. These independent findings can be pivotal in discrediting the plaintiff’s version of events.

4. Writing an Expert Report

A leading assignment is drafting a comprehensive report summarizing their findings, methodology, and professional opinion. The defendant expert witness report is submitted during the discovery phase and forms part of the evidence presented at trial.

5. Testifying at Depositions and Trial

Defendant expert witnesses must be prepared to clearly explain their conclusions under oath, both in pre-trial depositions and in front of a jury. Pros are expected to communicate technical information in a way that is understandable and persuasive.

The work assignments of a defendant expert witness are essential to challenging the plaintiff’s claims and presenting an evidence-based defense. Thought leaders’ contributions tend to impact the direction and outcome of the case.