Expert Witness Testifies to Inadequate Health Service During Jail Lawsuit

Monterey County, California is embroiled in a legal dispute over the condition of its prison systems with plaintiffs alleging that prison conditions and mental health treatment services are well below levels required by federal law.  Last week, a federal judge heard expert witness testimony that argued the inmates filing the lawsuit against Monterey County Jail […]

Firearms Expert Witness Testifies in Wisconsin Murder Trial

Last week, a Wisconsin Rapids, WI judge sentenced Joseph Reinwand to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering Dale Meister in 2008.  The trial concluded a six-year investigation and prosecution, and featured convincing expert testimony from a firearms analyst taking the stand for the prosecution. Joseph Reinwand Convicted of First-Degree Murder […]

Judge to Consider Psychology Expert Witnesses in Vanderbilt Rape Trial

As the rape trial of two former Vanderbilt University football players will begin in a Tennessee courtroom next week, the fate of testimony from two psychology expert witnesses on behalf of the defendants has yet to be decided by the presiding judge.  Judge Monte Watkins has agreed to hear the defense expert testimony away from […]

Voter ID Lawsuit Expert Witness Draws Criticism of DOJ

A transcript of testimony from a Department of Justice expert witness created a stir last week due to statements from the expert that argued voter ID laws disproportionately affect African Americans because minorities tend to be less educated and less sophisticated voters.  The testimony came during the July hearing of a civil rights lawsuit filed […]

Medical Expert Witness Testifies in Nuclear Protest Trial

Last week, four nuclear activists from Cape Cod were convicted of trespassing on property owned by the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station during a 2013 Mother’s Day demonstration.  Although the charge was relatively minor, the short trial provided the opportunity for a medical and environmental expert witness to condemn Pilgrim Nuclear for creating a hazardous living […]

Expert Witnesses Testify in Oscar Pistorius Sentencing Hearing

The South African murder trial of former Olympian Oscar Pistorius came to a close this week when Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa sentenced the track start to 5 years in prison for the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.  Mr. Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide in September, and over the last several […]

High Profile Cyanide Poisoning Murder Trial will Feature Expert Testimony

A high profile murder case of a former University of Pittsburgh medical researcher who is accused of poisoning his wife will feature opposing expert witnesses who will debate the circumstances of the case.  Dr. Robert Ferrante will be tried for the April 2013 death of his wife who he allegedly killed with cyanide, and, with […]

Experts Clash over Suspect Confession in Murder Trial

Two expert witnesses clashed over the validity of a suspect’s confession during a murder trial in New Jersey.  Prosecutors and defense attorneys presented psychology expert witnesses to debate whether or not police coerced a false confession out of suspect David Granskie Jr. during the investigation into the death of his father’s girlfriend, Carolyn Stone. Defense […]

Expert Witness Testimony in Utah Police Shooting Hearing

A former Utah police detective was cleared of all manslaughter charges this week stemming from a 2012 shooting of an unarmed woman due to insufficient evidence to prosecute.  During a three day hearing last week, prosecutors called forensic and police expert witnesses to argue that Shaun Cowley acted inappropriately when he opened fired during a […]

Federal Government Disallows Forensic Expert in Wrongful Death Case

court house

In the continuing wrongful death trial filed by family members of a man killed when a passenger airplane crashed into his home, attorneys for the defendants suffered a blow this week when the federal government forbid access to a forensic expert witness.  Litigants who wish to use expert witnesses employed by the federal government must […]