The Role of Expert Witnesses in Building Safety Disputes - An Urgent Rethink? The Role of Expert Witnesses in Building Safety Disputes - An Urgent Rethink?

The Role of Expert Witnesses in Building Safety Disputes - An Urgent Rethink?

In this article, Rose Wilson and Mariya Rankin from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, and Bhavina Vasishta from Rimkus consider whether...
The mandatory duty on range of opinion The mandatory duty on range of opinion

The mandatory duty on range of opinion

The Claimant was suing in relation to profound disabilities he suffered due to the Defendant’s admitted clinical negligence. While some of the experts...
Categorisation of injuries for sentencing purposes Categorisation of injuries for sentencing purposes

Categorisation of injuries for sentencing purposes

Many medical experts from a variety of specialties, but in particular accident and emergency, may be called upon to advise the court as to the nature,...

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.

Blackpool Borough Council v RR [2026] EWFC 69
Case Updates

Blackpool Borough Council v RR [2026] EWFC 69

Laura Langley, 38, was alleged to have killed her seven-week-old daughter Edith who collapsed at the family home in Blackpool, Lancashire, in the early hours of 20 November 2020. The Judge found that the expert evidence in the case of Professor G, of Professor N and of Professor D each at times fell below the high standard expected of expert witnesses giving evidence before the family court in this jurisdiction. This judgment illustrates a number of important lessons for expert witnesses. The criticisms go well beyond a disagreement between experts—they concern the duties of an expert to the court. An expert who appears to defend a predetermined hypothesis rather than follow the evidence risks losing credibility entirely, regardless of their qualifications or experience. This judgment illustrates that methodological rigour, transparency, and impartiality are essential to persuasive expert testimony.