Legal Aid: Experts' Fees Legal Aid: Experts' Fees

Legal Aid: Experts' Fees

This case is of obvious importance to experts authorised by the Family Court to be instructed in public law proceedings but it has implications for...
An expert report that is entirely equivocal on the key issues is of little assistance to... An expert report that is entirely equivocal on the key issues is of little assistance to...

An expert report that is entirely equivocal on the key issues is of little assistance to...

The court noted that the jointly instructed expert demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of both CPR 35 and the duties owed to the court by an...
EWI Annual Conference 2025: Opening keynote looks at how to be a witness as well as an... EWI Annual Conference 2025: Opening keynote looks at how to be a witness as well as an...

EWI Annual Conference 2025: Opening keynote looks at how to be a witness as well as an...

How to Reduce the Re-traumatisation of Claimants in Medico-Legal Litigation Claims How to Reduce the Re-traumatisation of Claimants in Medico-Legal Litigation Claims

How to Reduce the Re-traumatisation of Claimants in Medico-Legal Litigation Claims

We are re-publishing our article on the paper on 'How to reduce the risk of re-traumatising claimants in medico-legal litigation claims' ahead...
Setting The Goal Posts  in Expert Determination Cases  For “Manifest Error” Exceptions Setting The Goal Posts in Expert Determination Cases For “Manifest Error” Exceptions

Setting The Goal Posts in Expert Determination Cases For “Manifest Error” Exceptions

Within this update we feature the well-publicised case of WH Holding Limited and E20 Stadium LLP [2025] EWHC 140 (Comm).  The case concerns a...
New resources on Alternative Dispute Resolution New resources on Alternative Dispute Resolution

New resources on Alternative Dispute Resolution

We have published extensive new resources on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the EWI Knowledge Hub. 
A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness

A Day in the Life of a Plastic, Aesthetic and Hair transplant Surgeon and Expert Witness

Dr. Rohit Seth is trained in Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hair Transplant Surgery with over 20 years of surgical experience. A practicing...
A Day in the Life of a Digital Forensics Expert Witness A Day in the Life of a Digital Forensics Expert Witness

A Day in the Life of a Digital Forensics Expert Witness

Ryan Shields is a digital forensics expert who has worked in the police and private sector. Here, he explains why he is passionate about using his...
Podcast Episode 12: Expert Discussions and Joint Statements Podcast Episode 12: Expert Discussions and Joint Statements

Podcast Episode 12: Expert Discussions and Joint Statements

In the 12th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, we discuss Expert Discussions and Joint Statements. Joint Statements are critical documents in any...
Podcast Episode 11: AI and the Expert Witness Podcast Episode 11: AI and the Expert Witness

Podcast Episode 11: AI and the Expert Witness

In the 11th episode of the Expert Matters Podcast, we take a look at how AI is being used by Expert Witnesses. We discuss general developments related...
A Day in the Life of an Aerial Imagery Expert A Day in the Life of an Aerial Imagery Expert

A Day in the Life of an Aerial Imagery Expert

Chris Cox is a professional heritage consultant, specialist interpreter of aerial imagery and Lidar data, and an Expert Witness. She is the...

Check out our Case Updates and Member Magazine

Looking for more news relevant to the Expert Witness community? Why not check out our database of cases relevant to Expert Evidence or the latest and previous editions of our member magazine, Expert Matters.

News

Clicking on one of the topics below will display news items relevant to that topic. You can also use the search bar below to identify news items.

Easy, Tiger!
Wiebke Morgan 1496

Easy, Tiger!

byWiebke Morgan

The  recent case of  Chris Packham CBE v Dominic Wightman & Ors.[2023] EWHC 1256 (KB) (link below), involved several experts. While most were deemed necessary and helpful, The Honourable Mr Justice Saini did find the "admission of evidence on one issue, tiger welfare, somewhat puzzling given the issues which arise in the claim".

 

In paragraph 44 he reminds of the duty to restrict evidence.

 

"I found the admission of evidence on the first of these issues, tiger welfare, somewhat puzzling given the issues which arise in the claim. I was told by Mr J Price for Mr Packham that such expert evidence had been opposed on his behalf before the Master, but it was nevertheless directed at the CCMC. I start by stating the obvious. Expert evidence must always be firmly tied to an issue which arises in the case. But even then the court has to consider whether it will be assisted in determining this issue by expert evidence bearing in mind considerations of cost and proportionality. There is a duty to restrict expert evidence: see CPR 35.1, and the commentary at White Book (2023) Vol. 1 at para. 35.1.1.

 

 

45: "I do not consider the expert evidence on tiger welfare to be of assistance. The issue before me is whether Mr Packham honestly held the views he expressed as to what he said were the appalling lives the Tigers had in the travelling circus in which they performed. That matter is to be determined primarily on his evidence and according to what I find as a fact were his genuine beliefs at the material time."

Share

Print
Comments are only visible to subscribers.