Disclosure of Facts or Data Considered by Expert Witnesses

Considered by the Expert

There are many different files, facts and documents that the expert may need to base his or her opinion on so that the facts are all together and applied to the case. In these circumstances, the expert may need a greater disclosure of data than the company or person may provide initially. This is important because the professional may press upon the judge the need to acquire more data and sift through additional paperwork. Some documentation within a company becomes testing material to gather and produce an opinion. Then, it is the consideration of the expert that requires more files and details than the company or person supplies.

The Disclosure of Facts

A company may only provide what the judge or court explains for the case. In these situations, the owner or management may withhold other paperwork that is relevant

or connected to the case until ordered to give it over. However, if the expert requires the facts and data, the company may have no other choice but to supply the courts with the information. In the situations where the owner denies the request, he or she may face additional penalties such as fines or a contempt of court when he or she does not give the data to the expert or the court. In these situations, the company may appear at fault for an incident.

Relevant Details

The expert witness attached to a case will need to review anything that is relevant to the matter. The subject materials must become and remain available for the time the professional needs to test or assess the information and data. Any facts that are part of the case may exist in files that a company or person keeps from the courtroom. In these situations, the expert witness may need to petition the judge to order the business entity or individual to provide additional files, paperwork and legal documents. Even if these are confidential, they may give the professional the much-needed additional details missing when reviewing the case or claim. This could include a timetable of events, monetary number or data as a part of the incident.

Some data exists in intellectual property that is not part of the files and paperwork given to the courts. Other information is through software, proprietary IP or even from employee records if any have a connection to the subject materials. It is possible to discover another witness to a crime or injury when considering the additional facts and details not disclosed originally. Materials considered by the expert may have little bearing or association with the actual conclusion of the case, but some files may produce a better assessment of the matter that the expert must understand. This could even remove confusion about other numbers and information.

The Expert Witness and the Evidence

Depending on any interference with a company, the expert may need to petition the courts for more documentation with the specific subject matter. The expert generally must create a report that requires the necessary data from the case that may include a witness or other files. The facts will give the professional the ability to form opinions either through the data available or when testing evidence with reliable results. Disclosure of additional materials is sometimes necessary for the complete report and a full opinion with possible testimony based on such resources. The expert witness may express a need to analyze software, processes or to crunch numbers within the company.

The disclosure of facts or data limits the exposure of materials to only the impressions of the data and information available. The expert should not apply his or her opinions through theories within the company procedures or mental impressions that may sway objectivity. Any material considered by the expert should have a specific connection and direct impact to the case.

The Association of Facts

The report, testimony and considered material all connect to the disclosure of facts and data. Restricted only to these direct matters, the expert may avoid exposing confidential resources to other parties that should not have the information.

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Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer.