Chris Makin’s Blog Posts about ‘Litigation’
The CPR and CrimPR rules for experts really do matter
This is a morality tale, with some examples of expert witness disasters that were the fault of those who should have known better. First, in the case of R -v- Steven Sulley & Ors, eight defendants were accused of fraud in selling voluntary carbon credits (me neither). Investigations were carried out by the Metropolitan Police, […]
The expert witness – a brief history
This is a brief history of the expert witness’s involvement in litigation in recent years. It may help you litigators to brief your experts effectively. As an expert, I am “plugged in” to the process only at certain stages, so don’t expect me to know all the ins and outs of case management. I will […]
It’s criminal!
Practitioners need to be aware that the authorities are taking a hard line with those who abuse the courts. We see this in two recent matters where straightforward personal injury cases turned into very serious criminal proceedings. Interestingly, both of them concern my home town of Huddersfield, though I stress we are not all criminals […]
Whose Fault – The Expert’s Or The Solicitor’s?
On these pages and in my blogs I have often told lurid stories of expert evidence going wrong, the assumption being that it is the expert who wrecked the case. But is that always fair, or do you, as instructing solicitor, also bear some responsibility? I respectfully suggest that you do have a duty, particularly […]
Border Wars
I have banged on for ages about the stupidity of going to law over border disputes. And I’m not talking about Russia invading the Crimea, or China’s campaign to take over Taiwan. No, much closer to home, I have in mind the passions which can be aroused when next-door neighbours argue over where exactly the […]
An Expert Warning
Don’t let an ill-chosen expert spoil all your good work. Experienced expert witness Chris Makin offers a checklist of experts to avoid. In appointing an expert witness, the first question you should ask is whether this person spends all their time as an expert witness. If so, proceed with caution. A retired medical professional who […]
Post-Nominals – Do They Matter?
This is a moral tale about your choice of expert. A little while ago, I wrote about Andrew Ager, an “expert” appointed by the CPS to give evidence at the trial of some men accused of the sale of voluntary carbon credits (me neither!). His incompetence, lack of experience and malpractice were quite breathtaking, causing […]
Beware Conflicts Of Interest
As I write this, David Cameron is getting into increasing difficulties over his relationship with the failed financier Lex Greensill, there are problems over senior civil servants having paid jobs in the private sector, and even Matt Hancock has problems over his family connections with a firm which provided PPE to the NHS. And then […]
Is Your Expert An Amateur?
In a recent edition of Update, the magazine of The Academy of Experts, Merryck Lowe, a forensic partner at BDO, wrote this: “There was a time when a reasonably competent professional accountant could feel comfortable if called upon to give ‘occasional’ evidence to our Courts, without further training or experience and without feeling that only […]
Can Your Expert Truly Sign The Statement Of Truth?
An expert’s report under CPR must conclude with the Expert’s Declaration stating that the expert knows his duty to the court and has complied with that duty. There must then be a Statement of Truth, which used to say: I confirm that I have made clear which facts and matters referred to in this report […]