Expert Evidence in BC Civil Proceedings - 3rd Edition

Your guide to finding, choosing, and using an expert

This publication is essential for: all civil litigators.

Current to: April 1, 2011  

Expert evidence plays a critical role in most civil cases—and every litigator should know how to use experts to their full advantage. This practical 6" x 9" softcover guidebook is an essential resource to help you handle BC's distinctive rules. Expert Evidence in British Columbia Civil Proceedings—Third Edition provides commentary, strategies, and practice tools to allow you to make efficient use of expert evidence.

Subscriptions include online access with search capability and links to the full text of case law and legislation.

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With this book you will be able to

• identify when and how to use experts  
• analyze how to lay the factual basis for the opinion
• present your experts without them losing credibility or appearing partisan
• learn how to protect your expert on the witness stand
• have online access to the electronic version with hyperlinks to primary law

The book is designed for portability and as a handy, quick reference in court or at the office.

A few highlights of the third edition

• The entire book was thoroughly revised to incorporate the new scheme under Part 11 of the Supreme Court Civil Rules, a new overview chapter was added that briefly highlights significant changes under Part 11, and the precedent letters were revised to reflect the new Rules.
• Significant case law on expert evidence is discussed in detail.

Chapters

• Overview
• Expert Evidence in Context of the Law of Evidence at Large
• What is an Expert?
• Choosing an Expert
• Ethical and Professional Responsibility Issues
• Briefing the Expert Witness
• Pre-trial Disclosure of Expert Opinions
• Calling Expert Evidence
• Attacking Expert Evidence
• The Expert Witness in Court: A Trial Judge's Observations
• Expert Evidence and Administrative Tribunals
• Expert Evidence and Mediations
   

• how do you find an expert?
• instructing the expert—avoiding problems later on
• the expert's file—prepare your expert to withstand cross-examination  
• attacking expert evidence—all the questions you need to ask on cross-examination
• administrative tribunals—do you need expert evidence at all?
• mediations—expert evidence in mediations and use in subsequent trial
• excerpts from relevant legislation

Editorial Board
Garth S. McAlister — McAlister Hallam, Vancouver
Brian M. Samuels — Construction Law Group, Vancouver
The Honourable Judge Thomas S. Woods — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver

Authors
The Honourable Madam Justice Elaine Adair — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
T. Ryan Darby — Whitelaw Twining, Vancouver
Stuart B. Hankinson — Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson, Vancouver
Garth S. McAlister — McAlister Hallam, Vancouver
Brian M. Samuels — Construction Law Group, Vancouver
Professor Anthony F. Sheppard — Faculty of Law, University of BC, Vancouver
John R. Singleton, QC — Singleton Urquhart LLP, Vancouver
J. Michael Stephens — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver
David B. Wende — Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP, Vancouver
Andrew Wilkinson, QC — McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Vancouver
Charles F. Willms — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
The Honourable Judge Thomas S. Woods — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver