How Not to Be an Expert Witness

Courtroom

Michael West is a textbook example of the kind of expert witness most lawyers avoid. The controversial bite mark expert is, in the words of Randy Balko, “brash, prickly, and prone to fits of braggadocio on the witness stand,” as well as “belligerent, profane, and combative.” Those are not qualities that endear a witness to […]

High Profile Forensic Expert Witness Rejected due to Questionable Qualifications

A DNA expert witness who has testified on behalf of defendants in several high profile trials was dismissed from a Colorado courtroom for being unqualified.  The expert’s dismissal could result in attorneys being less likely to use him, however, he argues the judge’s decision to denounce his qualifications was made in error and his expert […]

Bite Mark Expert Witness Continues to Cause Controversy

hands show molar teeth over x-ray dental scan

Dr. Michael West, the forensic expert who was best known for his analysis of bite marks, continues to cause controversy with his techniques. Most recently, his work on a Mississippi murder trial has come under scrutiny. West’s Background West is a forensic dentist, originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He became well known in the legal community […]

Attorneys Argue About Allowing Blood Evidence and Expert Testimony

Lab Analysts May Be Required to Testify in Person in Criminal Trials

The attorneys for Kelli C. Smith, who has been accused of being drunk when she caused a fatal car crash in 2012, are attempting to bar the state from presenting blood evidence that she was intoxicated. The defense also contends that the state is attempting to call an expert witness that the defense consulted before […]

The Power of Video Evidence in the Court of Law

cctv installed on the wall to property security

In Minnesota and Louisiana, video has played a key role in piecing together the details of two recent high-profile shootings involving white police officers and black residents. Footage taken by civilians captured both Philandro Castile’s and Alton Sterling’s last moments before their deaths, sparking outrage nation- and worldwide. Why is video evidence so powerful? For […]

Fingerprint Experts Question Fingerprint Science

Fingerprint Experts Question Fingerprint Science

Experts are often called upon to testify that a criminal defendant’s fingerprints match a fingerprint found at the crime scene. Combined with other evidence of a defendant’s guilt, a fingerprint can be convincing proof of criminal responsibility. But when a case hinges entirely upon the unexplained presence of a defendant’s fingerprint, guilt may depend on […]

New Hampshire Court Dismisses Lead Paint Expert Testimony in Somali Refugee Lawsuit

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has dismissed testimony from a lead paint expert witness in a lawsuit against landlords accused of providing unsafe housing.  The suit, which has been ongoing for nearly 10 years, may be nearing a conclusion as the plaintiffs are left without a key piece of testimony after the court’s decision. Somali […]

Mistrial Declared After Expert Admits to Falsifying Report

Court room trial

An expert’s alleged misconduct resulted in a mistrial for Caleb Loving, who was charged with a number of felony offenses after he set fire to his apartment in Evansville, Indiana and then carried a bag of explosives into a McDonald’s restaurant. Loving’s mental health is an issue in his trial. The expert, Albert Fink, was […]

Jury Awards $10.2 Million to Mother of Baby Olivia in Forceps Delivery Case                                                       

Doctor examining a pregnant woman

A jury has awarded $10,200,575 to the mother of Olivia Coats, who sued Dr. George Backardjiev and the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, claiming that his use of forceps crushed Olivia’s skull and led to her death, just six days after her delivery. Backardjiev’s defense was that he acted safely and reasonably to deliver Baby […]