Experts in the Civil Courts

This new title is a comprehensive guide to expert evidence in the civil courts, written by a leading multidisciplinary contributor team.The text looks in detail at the impact of Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules, and concentrates on the practical aspects of having experts give evidence. Coverage includes the accreditation of experts, the solicitor/expert relationship, experts' reports and privilege, court management of expert evidence, the single joint expert, and experts' immunity from liability. In addition to practical guidance, the book also provides a historical background to expert testimony, and discusses the future development of the law, with reference to developments in the courts and other tribunals.

Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC (Editor) is a Bencher of the Middle Temple. He was a practising barrister from 1952 to 2004, and took silk in 1970. He was a judge of the Court of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey from 1989 to 1996, and sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in England and Wales from 1992 to 1996, hearing housing and judicial review cases. He is on the Editorial Committee of Public Law. Sir Louis was Chairman of the Expert Witness Institute from 1997 -2004, Chair of the Mental Health Act Commission from 1987-1994, and has chaired over twelve Inquiries over the last decade, including the Jasmine Beckford and Ashworth Inquiries. He recently gave evidence on the nature of public enquiries to the High Court in R v Secretary of State for Health ex p Wagstaff (the Dr. Shipman Inquiry). He was appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as the first Independent Commissioner for Holding Centres 1992 - 1999.