Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.290, subdivision (a), limits the deposition of a witness to “seven hours of total testimony,” but the first sentence of that subdivision says: “The court shall allow additional time, beyond any limits imposed by this section, if needed to fairly examine the deponent or if the deponent, another person, or any other […]
Plaintiff’s Counsel Should Not Have Been Disqualified Because Of The Expert Witness He Hired.
Plaintiff informed defendant he hired an expert who had previously testified on behalf of the defendant. Defendant claimed the expert possessed confidential attorney-client and work product information, and the trial court disqualified plaintiff’s counsel. The appellate court stated that even if attorney client work product conveyed to a consulting expert remains subject to work product protection, […]
Is There A Duty Of Care To Secure Cargo To Prevent Tragedy On The Highway?
A CHP officer stopped a car, and the two were parked on the right shoulder of a freeway. Meanwhile, another man was proceeding along the freeway with two dirt bikes strapped inside his truck bed. The bikes were strapped down by employees of a motorsports dealership. The bikes were “hopping around a little bit,” and the […]
An Expert’s Dilemma In Reporting Child Abuse.
At issue here are two divergent legislative schemes: 1) An expert engaged to assist a lawyer in representation of a client is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of client communications. [Evidence Code sections 912 and 952.]; 2) Under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act [CANRA; Penal Code section 11164, et seq.], psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social […]
Even Though Expert Had Previously Testified In Asbestos Cases, A Daubert Hearing Was Required.
An expert witness testified in federal court that a plaintiff’s exposure to asbestos for 20 years at a paper mill caused his mesothelioma. The defendant filed a motion in limine to exclude the expert testimony, which the trial court denied because the doctor had previously testified in other asbestos cases. A jury awarded $10,200,000 to […]
Expert Designation Inadequate In Medical Malpractice Case.
This is what the Cailfornia Code of Civil Procedure §2034.210 designation stated: “Plaintiff intends to call various treating health care providers as expert witnesses at trial,” which “are regarded as percipient witnesses not retained experts.” It continued to explain that “because treating physicians and other healthcare providers are not retained expert witnesses . . ., […]