An Expert Witness is someone who has a special knowledge, skill, or experience
in the subject about which he/she is to testify. The primary function
of an expert witness is to express his independent expert opinion based
on the information that is provided.
As a chartered surveyor acting as an expert witness, I will conform to
the requirements of the RICS Practice Statement for Surveyors Acting as
Expert Witnesses. Furthermore I am also bound by the requirements of the
Civil Procedure Rules that govern the way court cases are conducted in
England and Wales.
It is important that the appointing party realizes that the overriding
duty of any expert is to the court, or other judicial body, to help it
decide matters within the experts expertise and not to the person
paying the experts fees.
Expert evidence must be independent, objective and unbiased. The general
requirement is for such evidence to be given in a written report and accordingly
I prepare professional reports in accordance with the CPR and suitable
for cross-examination.
In some disputes a court may appoint a Single Joint Expert
instead of the parties appointing their own experts to give evidence.
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