03 Oct PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXPERT WITNESSES FOR TRIAL TESTIFYING & CONSULTING
Top product development expert witnesses provide courts with clarity and insight. Whether in cases of patent infringement, design defects, or manufacturing errors, advisors offer professional opinions that can help triers of fact understand technical details and industry standards. We consider the different types of top product development expert witnesses commonly retained in legal proceedings.
- Product Design Experts
Specialize in the conceptualization and development of consumer goods, industrial products, and software. The best product development expert witnesses tend to come from backgrounds in industrial design, engineering, or architecture. In legal disputes, reviewers evaluate whether a product’s design is flawed, unreasonably dangerous, or fails to meet industry standards. SMEs may also help courts understand how design decisions influence functionality, safety, and user experience. Their testimony can be crucial in cases involving design defects or patent issues. - Manufacturing Experts
Focus on the processes involved in producing an item. Leading product development expert witnesses and consultants’ expertise includes knowledge of materials, production techniques, quality control, and efficiency standards. In product liability cases, manufacturing experts can analyze whether a product was improperly manufactured or failed due to a defect in the production process. KOLs also testify about how different manufacturing practices could have affected the safety or functionality of a product, particularly in cases where product failure led to harm. - Quality Assurance (QA) Experts
Responsible for ensuring that goods meet safety and performance standards before they reach the market. Typically have extensive experience in testing, compliance, and regulatory requirements. In legal cases, QA product development expert witnesses can assess whether an item underwent proper testing procedures and whether the manufacturer followed established protocols to ensure product safety. Work can be critical in determining whether negligence in testing or quality assurance led to defects or hazards. - Patent and Intellectual Property Experts
In cases involving patent disputes or infringement, patent product development expert witnesses, generally with technical backgrounds in engineering, chemistry, or biotechnology, are hired. Reviewers analyze whether a product infringes on existing patents and may also assess the novelty and non-obviousness of a product’s design or function. Intellectual property experts can also help explain the technical aspects of patent claims to a judge or jury, ensuring that issues surrounding patents are made comprehensible. - Consumer Behavior Experts
Look at how consumers interact with products in the marketplace. These experts can be called upon to analyze whether a product’s design or marketing might have led to confusion, dissatisfaction, or unintended consequences. In cases of false advertising or consumer protection violations, product development expert witnesses can help establish how an item might have misled consumers or failed to meet expectations, leading to financial or reputational harm.
