4 March Case Updates An approach entirely contradictory to the duties and responsibilities of expert witnesses identified in The Ikarian Reefer 06. Rules and Regulations, 11. Report Writing, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits, The Ikarian Reefer This is a case in which the tribunal was critical of an expert witness. One criticism was that he did not expressly acknowledge the guidance provided in the Ikarian Reefer in his declaration – “a step taken by many experts who prepare reports for this Chamber”. UI2023005210 [2024] UKAITUR UI2023005210
27 February Case Updates Krzysztof Lukasik v Circuit Court, Praga in Warsaw (A Polish Judicial Authority) [2025] EWHC 282 (Admin) Extradition, 11. Report Writing, 16. Criticism and Complaints, Child Psychologist While the Judge in this extradition appeal ultimately reached the same conclusion as the District Court Judge, and dismissed the appeal, he pointed out significant deficiencies in how the District Court Judge had treated the expert psychological evidence.
25 February Case Updates Undisplaced spiral right humeral fracture – accidental or non-accidental? 15. Giving Oral Evidence, Paediatrics Radiology This case illustrates how the Family Court depends on expert paediatric and radiological evidence to decide when and how a child’s fracture was sustained. This summary does not include how the court used the evidence. Suffice it to say that the expert evidence was only a part of the evidence before the court. C1 and C2 (Children: Fact Finding), Re [2024] EWFC 247 (B)
24 February Day in the life A Day in the Life of an Accountancy Expert Witness 11. Report Writing, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, Expert Witness Training, Accountancy Heather Rogers is an accountant, tax practitioner and Expert Witness. Most of her cases involve director disputes or professional negligence where there is a financial element. She runs her own consultancy, Aston Accountancy Limited.
20 February Case Updates Kohler Mira Limited v Norcros Group (Holdings) Limited [2024] EWHC 3247 (Ch) Patent Law, 11. Report Writing, 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, 14. Changing your opinion, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 16. Criticism and Complaints, Prior Art, CV Writing The judge preferred the evidence of the Claimant's expert because of the Defendant's expert’s approach to his task as expert, his confusion over the proper approach to what prior art was and was not in the common general knowledge, the number of assertions he made which he was forced to resile from as incorrect, and his failure to acknowledge a key fact.
18 February Case Updates Medical reporting agency at work 11. Report Writing, Medical Reporting Organisation, MRO, 02. Working with Agencies or Panels The issue in this judicial review did not turn on the expert evidence but the case illustrates the role of a medical reporting organisation (MRO) in a particular civil case and there are some general learning points. Of note, the MRO did not arrange the correction of an erroneous date, it did not recognise how the evidence set out by the expert was seemingly insufficiently referenced and it did not recognise that there would be questions as to how some of the expert’s conclusions were reached. Ivory, R (On the Application Of) v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council [2025] EWCA Civ 21
14 February Podcast Podcast Episode 9: Becoming an Expert Witness 06. Rules and Regulations, 01. Starting your Expert Witness Business, 03. Setting Fees and Getting Paid, 04. Marketing, 17. Maintaining your professional edge, Expert Witness Training, 02. Working with Agencies or Panels In the 9th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, we look at how to become an Expert Witnesss. If you think expert witness work might be for you, don't miss the great advice in this month's episode where we talk to the wider EWI team on expert witness training, how to become an EWI member, and the key next steps to get your practice up and running, from setting up your business, terms and conditions, and insurance to sorting out your CV, marketing strategy and web presence.
13 February Case Updates Mantir Singh Sahota v Albinder Singh Sahota & Ors [2024] EWHC 2165 (Ch) 14. Changing your opinion, 15. Giving Oral Evidence, 16. Criticism and Complaints, Forensic Accounting The judge found that the forensic accounting expert’s approach of forming an opinion as to the value of the Company, then carrying out a detailed calculation and only if it matches his initial opinion accepting it, undermined the credibility and reliability of his opinion as to the value of the Company.
11 February Case Updates A mother's malign influence on her children 11. Report Writing, 10. Records Assessments and Site Visits, Toxicology, Haematology Paediatrics, Pharmacology, Respiratory medicine This is a case which will assume much greater importance for the 15 points of practice and practical steps that the judge decided can help reduce the risk of well-meaning professionals falling into pitfalls that hinder the identification of safeguarding issues at an early stage than as a case with learning points for experts. For some of the experts in the fields from which jointly appointed experts were instructed, it illustrates how their evidence is tested and applied in a case of suspected fabricated or induced illness (FII). Re N (Children: Fact Finding - Perplexing Presentation/Fabricated or Induced Illness) [2024] EWFC 326
7 February News Working on a ‘no win – no fee’ basis Expert Fees, Contingency Fee Professor Keith Rix discusses whether experts can accept instructions on the basis of mirroring the solicitors’ ‘no win – no fee’ agreement in personal injury compensation claims. This item appeared in the February edition of Expert Healthcare Witness Matters, a monthly email newsletter written by Professor Rix.