Rules for expert


witnesses Dear colleagues,


Whether you have been, are currently or maybe in the future, an ‘EXPERT’ I would like to draw your attention to UK Civil Rules & Practice Directions and Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) PART 35 – EXPERT AND ASSESSORS.


Please follow this link to see the full online information. https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part35


As many maritime standard contracts refer to British Law, it is worth noting your obligations as a ‘Civil Expert’.


There are some minor variations on these if the case is heard in a UK Court or if it is Tribunal or an Arbitration, but the underlying advice to an ‘Expert’ remains the same.


In the past twelve months, I have read a number of cases where Expert Witness reports and or their testimony have been thrown out by the judges. The example below is for medical malpractice but I believe that the Judges findings can equally be related to a Maritime legal case Expert.


There is one case where the Judge found the claimant’s expert to be “a helpful, balanced and persuasive witness” who was “consistent in his approach and thoughtful under cross-examination”.


While in contrast, he (the Judge) could not say the same of the defendant’s expert, stating:


• He did not put a proper part 35 statement on his reports.


• He extracted one medical record adverse to the claimant’s case and elevated it out of all proportion in the joint report.


• He displayed no desire to understand the difference between the burden of proof on the balance of probabilities and the medical requirement in the publication of research for the conclusions to be to a scientific standard.


106 | ISSUE 106 | DEC 2023 | THE REPORT


Overall, he found the approach of the defendant’s expert to be “unusual” – particularly in “failing to set out the range of opinions in his report and therefore ignoring the clear duties laid upon experts when reporting objectively for the court, not for one party”.


So, I am highlighting some of the parts of PART 35 for your ease of reference:


Experts – overriding duty to the court 35.3


(1) It is the duty of experts to help the court on matters within their expertise.


(2) This duty overrides any obligation to the person from whom experts have received instructions or by whom they are paid.


Written questions to experts 35.6


(1) A party may put written questions about an expert’s report (which must be proportionate) to –


(a) an expert instructed by another party; or (b) a single joint expert appointed under rule 35.7.


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