Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

Upcoming Changes To Federal Rule Regarding Expert Testimony Are Truly Consequential

As of December 1, 2023, FRE 702 will change.  The new rule, with redline changes is as follows:

A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if the proponent has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;

(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;

(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and

(d) the expert has reliably applied expert’s opinion reflects a reliable application of the principles and methods to the facts of the case.

https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/archives/packages-submitted/congressional-rules-package-april-2023 at p. 209

Thus, under the amended Rule 702, the proponent has the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the expert’s opinion reflects a reliable application of principles and methods to the facts of the case.  As stated in the case of United States v. Holguin, 51 F.4th 841, 854-855 (9th Cir. 2022), when functioning as gatekeeper, the court must make an evaluation as to whether the expert’s opinion is reliable. 

Speaking of the new rule, in Sardis v. Overhead Door Corp., 10 F.4th 268, 281 (4th Cir. 2021) the Court explained:

Rule 702 thus “imposes a special gatekeeping obligation on the trial judge” to “ensur[e] that an expert’s testimony both rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the task at hand.” Nease, 848 F.3d at 229-30 (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 597).

           To carry out its gatekeeping role, a district court must find that an expert’s testimony is reliable — an inquiry that focuses not on “what the experts say,” or their qualifications, “but what basis they have for saying it.” Daubert, 43 F.3d at 1316. A district court cannot be silent about reliability when challenged. Cf. Valencia-Lopez, 971 F.3d at 899 (district court abdicated gatekeeping role where “[n]othing was said about reliability”); Barabin, 740 F.3d at 463 (“Absent from the [district court’s] explanation is any indication that the district court assessed, or made findings regarding, the scientific validity or methodology of Mr. Cohen’s proposed testimony.”). And the district court must make more than a “conclusory statement.” Roach, 582 F.3d at 1207.I

If you have questions about Expert Testimony, please contact Mike Mills at 702.240.6060×114 or email him at mmills@blwmlawfirm.com

About Michael Mills

Mr. Mills practices in the area of civil litigation and appeals, with particular experience in matters involving trucking liability, insurance defense, insurance coverage, premises liability, products liability and defense of personal injury. Mr. Mills is a member of the Trucking Insurance Defense Association, the Defense Research Institute Trucking Committee and the Nevada Motor Transport Association. Mr. Mills is licensed to practice before the Nevada Supreme Court and the Utah Supreme Court. He is also licensed to appear before the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Nevada and Utah, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Mills has created 3 Blogs for the benefit of the insurance industry. He serves as editor and publisher of the Nevada Insurance Law Blog, the Nevada Coverage and Bad Faith Blog and the Nevada Trucking Law Blog.

 
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