CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

Expert Evidence Case Law Update

• the essentials: relevance and admissibility
• R. v. Mohan
• current issues and new developments
• the use of experts in civil and criminal proceedings

Wendy E. Dawson, QC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster 
Graham J. Underwood — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General, Victoria 

The Role of the Expert Witness 

• do you need an expert?
• identifying strategic and tactical issues at the outset
• what does the court expect?
• qualifying the expert witness
• long v. short form CV

C. Geoff Baragar, QC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster
David J. Wallin — Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation, Vancouver

Break

Contesting Expert Evidence 

• new tools for excluding expert evidence
• how to deal with bias

Richard S. Fowler, QC — Fowler and Blok, Vancouver
Nikos E. Harris — University of BC and Peck and Company, Vancouver 

Professionalism and Ethical Issues with Expert Evidence 

• impartiality and experts — international problems and solutions
• dealing with drafts and updates of reports
• access to your expert by the other side

Claire E. Hunter — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver

Networking Lunch

Retaining and Working With Your Expert Witness 

• finding an expert and doing background checking
• the qualifications of your expert
• the letter retaining the expert witness
• notice and filing requirements
• tendering the expert report and/or calling the expert

Jonathan Van Netten — Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Vancouver

Direct Examination of the Expert Witness 

• preparation and best practices: effective presentation of opinion, outlining the evidence
• avoiding pitfalls: jargon, appearance of bias, exclusive reliance on accused/client, failure to consider alternative hypothesis, inadequate data
• tips to avoid setting up your expert for failure or a devastating cross-examination

John D. Cliffe, QC — Cliffe Tobias Barristers & Solicitors, Vancouver 
Winston L. Sayson, QC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, Surrey 

Break

Cross Examination of An Expert Witness 

• preparation and best practices
• restrictions on cross examination
• dealing with the different types of "problematic" experts

The Honourable Mr. Justice Nathan H. Smith — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
John D. Cliffe, QC — Cliffe Tobias Barristers & Solicitors, Vancouver
Andrew MacDonald — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster

Dangers of Expert Evidence

• wrongful convictions
• opinions from unqualified experts
• "miscarriage of justice"

The Honourable Mr. Justice Nathan H. Smith — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Wendy E. Dawson, QC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster 
Graham J. Underwood — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General, Victoria 

Closing Remarks