Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses

In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reviews how the effectiveness of expert witness testimony can influence case outcomes. He outlines four critical components for the direct examination of expert witnesses: establishing the witness' expertise, confirming their opinion with the subject matter, eliciting their opinion, and detailing the basis for that opinion. He also notes it’s essential to present this information in a manner easily understood by jurors, making the expert's role more akin to that of a teacher. However, it is ultimately the lawyer's responsibility to ensure that the expert's testimony is clear and compelling.