The Forensic Engineer at the Discovery Deposition

Abstract

In the civil justice system, the utilization of the discovery deposition of expert witnesses by attorneys, both plaintiff and defendant, plays an important part in pre-trial preparation and possible pre-trial settlement of civil disputes. If one is retained by an attorney as an engineering expert in a civil suit, one should expect to be deposed by the attorney for the opposing side and perhaps to be deposed more than once if there are several parties to the suit, or if new information is acquired that could alter your expert opinions following your initial deposition. This paper is presented as general information to define some of the conditions and situations an engineering expert may expect to encounter in a discovery deposition. Your client attorney may have a different opinion of how similar situations should be handled in your deposition. Be sure to discuss deposition strategy with him and follow his directions in each specific case.