Following a Supreme Court decision any expert witness who is negligent in respect of their work can be sued, which overturns the previous immunity which applied to an expert giving evidence in court.
Expert witnesses provide a vital function for many types of cases, including personal injury, employment law, property disputes. The vast majority of such experts are highly qualified, highly experienced and fiercely objective and independent. However, critics have argued historically that a minorioty of experts are partial and seen as being claimant or defendant biased in particualr types of cases. The new ruling will certainly make all experts think even more carefully about their evidence.
If you are involved in a legal dispute, choosing the right expert is extremely important. Please contact us for advice on any kind of legal dispute, either business or personal.