The legal system often is involved with many complicated cases. To help a judge or jury decide the merits of a case, an expert witness is often called. Hollywood even dramatizes the need for expert witnesses, sometimes on the dramatic level and sometimes on the comedic level. The classic movie “Anatomy of a Murder” pivots on the testimony of a couple of dueling expert psychologists. The movie “My Cousin Vinny” deals with the testimony of two automotive experts who are as different from one another as possible. Real court cases are likely to be less entertaining, though they provide real value to defendants and plaintiffs. Here are a few areas that call for expert testimony.
Finance
It’s no surprise that financial malfeasance is a common theme in court cases. Just as importantly, financial cases often involve complicated issues that an expert witness finance can help clarify. The witness might testify in a court of law or might be called to provide information in a deposition. The effectiveness of the witness is liable to be more persuasive depending on the credentials of the expert. That is, the greater the person’s authority the more likely he or she will influence a judge or jury. The finance witness may be called to provide discovery assistance, regulatory explication or clarification of banking practices.
Medicine
Many court cases involve areas of medicine that are extremely complex and technical. For example, a person who is injured during surgery might try to prove medical malpractice. In many instances, the case will be vigorously defended, and both the defense and the prosecution may call expert witnesses. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals often qualify as valuable witnesses and should always provide sound and ethical testimony. They are especially helpful if their area of expertise matches up closely with the case. Medical testimony is especially relevant in many personal injury cases.
Mental Health
Many court cases hinge on the mental health of a person accused of a crime, especially serious crimes such as murder or other felonies. Even if a person is found to have committed the crime, if the attorneys can prove the person was not of sound mental health the person could receive a lesser penalty at sentencing. Mental health experts help evaluate the capacity of an individual. They might perform an assessment of the person before they render testimony. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are most in demand for this type of expert testimony.