The National Academies Press

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1 Introduction
Pages 1-4

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From page 1... ... Scientists and other technical experts may be asked to testify in several kinds of civil litigation. These include product liability litigation, toxic tort cases, medical malpractice suits, and challenges to regulations that question the adequacy of the scientific underpinning of an administrative case decision or regulation issued by a regulatory agency. Read the entire page →
From page 2... ... , a higher level to impose regulatory restrictions, an even higher level to award huge damages, and a higher level still to ban a substance from used One arena that has proven especially troublesome for courts is the question of causation in so-called toxic tort cases, which might be considered as a subspecies of product liability litigations Because many of these cases turn on points of technical complexity, expert witnesses are often required to provide testimony. Much is at stake the viability of firms or whole industries, the ability for injured parties to receive adequate compensation, and costly litigation burdens and settlement sums. Read the entire page →
From page 3... ... There is anecdotal evidence that these differences may dissuade scientists and engineers from stepping forward in cases where the nation needs the benefit of their expertise. BRINGING LAWYERS AND SCIENTISTS TOGETHER For these and other reasons, the National Academies, in their role representing the scientific, engineering, and medical communities, have taken a strong interest in the preparation, presentation, and handling of expert testimony. Read the entire page →
From page 4... ... In order to survey the difficulties produced by this considerable responsibility, the Science, Technology, and Law Program of the National Academies invited individuals from the legal, scientific, and engineering communities, most of whom had considerable experience with expert testimony, to a day-long workshop to seek a full range of opinions. The workshop was not intended to seek a consensus. Read the entire page →

From page 1...

... Scientists and other technical experts may be asked to testify in several kinds of civil litigation. These include product liability litigation, toxic tort cases, medical malpractice suits, and challenges to regulations that question the adequacy of the scientific underpinning of an administrative case decision or regulation issued by a regulatory agency.

Read the entire page →

From page 2...

... , a higher level to impose regulatory restrictions, an even higher level to award huge damages, and a higher level still to ban a substance from used One arena that has proven especially troublesome for courts is the question of causation in so-called toxic tort cases, which might be considered as a subspecies of product liability litigations Because many of these cases turn on points of technical complexity, expert witnesses are often required to provide testimony. Much is at stake the viability of firms or whole industries, the ability for injured parties to receive adequate compensation, and costly litigation burdens and settlement sums.

Read the entire page →

From page 3...

... There is anecdotal evidence that these differences may dissuade scientists and engineers from stepping forward in cases where the nation needs the benefit of their expertise. BRINGING LAWYERS AND SCIENTISTS TOGETHER For these and other reasons, the National Academies, in their role representing the scientific, engineering, and medical communities, have taken a strong interest in the preparation, presentation, and handling of expert testimony.

Read the entire page →

From page 4...

... In order to survey the difficulties produced by this considerable responsibility, the Science, Technology, and Law Program of the National Academies invited individuals from the legal, scientific, and engineering communities, most of whom had considerable experience with expert testimony, to a day-long workshop to seek a full range of opinions. The workshop was not intended to seek a consensus.

Read the entire page →

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1 Introduction Pages 1-4

1 Introduction
Pages 1-4