Professor Imwinkelried Comments for Media on Expert Testimony and Scientific Evidence

Professor Edward Imwinkelried was recently interviewed by Bloomberg BNA's Bruce Kaufman.  The interview was quoted articles in Class Action Litigation Reporter and Product Safety and Liability Reporter.

During the interview, Professor Imwinkelried pointed out that in selecting an expert, a litigator should seek a specialist on the narrow issue before the court.  Imwinkelried explained that under Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc. and its progeny, the key issue is the empirical validity of the specific methodology employed by the expert, not the global validity of the expert's discipline. 

Imwinkelried added that choosing a specialist is not only vital in ensuring the admissibility of the expert's testimony;  it also important in protecting the witness against weight attacks on cross-examination.  Imwinkelried noted that "the jack of all trades" cross-examination is one of the most popular methods of attacking the credibility of expert witnesses.  

Professor Imwinkelried is a world-renowned evidence expert and has published extensively in the field. He is the author of The Methods of Attacking Scientific Evidence (5th ed. 2014) and a coauthor of Scientific Evidence (5th ed. 2012).