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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>I also like the idea. It could be a positive and transformative change. I concur that a lot of details would have to be ironed out, not only as to selection of the expert but also, for example, how to determine in advance exactly what facts the expert will be given and exactly what issues on which the expert will be tasked to give opinions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Is the idea to limit it to construction litigation? How would that be done? Are we talking about statutory or procedural rules changes? Or the creation of a protocol that parties in a constructing dispute could agree to early on in a litigation?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Frederick C. Barnes, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Board Certified Construction Lawyer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>500 N. Maitland Ave., Suite 305<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Maitland, FL 32751<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>(407) 865-9200<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><a href="http://www.fcbarneslaw.com/"><span style='color:blue'>www.fcbarneslaw.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><img border=0 width=486 height=149 id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image003.png@01D568CC.7A1D5F20" alt="rsz_1fcb_lrg_logo"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> clc-discussion-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org [mailto:clc-discussion-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>lan@lwwhiteattorney.com<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 11, 2019 11:02 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Timothy R. Moorhead'<br><b>Cc:</b> clc-discussion@lists.flabarrpptl.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [CLC-Discussion] Informal poll on expert witnesses<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Before I respond to the question, please excuse a brief diatribe. Even worse (at least from my perspective) is the situation in arbitrations. I am privileged to serve as a AAA construction and commercial arbitrator, and experts are common. To recite what we all know, experts aren't fact witnesses. They are testifying about their opinions, which can even be based on hearsay which would be in itself inadmissible so long as it is the type of thing on which experts rely. The touchstone for all of this is whether it will assist the trier of fact. You would be disturbed at how often "expert" testimony is so ridiculously overstated the arbitrators wind up almost insulted that anyone thinks they might believe that nonsense. Don't misunderstand. I've been in some cases where the experts were great teachers about the Florida Building Codes, or construction related issues, or other technical issues, and the experts were truly helpful. Unfortunately, I've been in others where the testimony is so obviously biased it is simply a waste of everyone's time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>End of monologue. To respond to your question, I like the idea. I have one reservation. Because judge's are supposed to be neutral, letting them pick a name unilaterally might be viewed as favoring one side or the other (however inadvertent ). We arbitrators are always painfully aware that one of the few grounds under either the Federal Arbitration Act or the Revised Florida Arbitration Code for vacating an arbitral award is bias. What about a tweak. Have the parties agree on the name, or if they can't, they agree on three names and the trier of fact picks one. If they don't even do that, then the court issues an order describing the expert needed and some third person (the Clerk of the Court?) appoints the expert.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>How does one go about such a rule change?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Langfred W. White, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Board Certified in Construction Law<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Fellow of the Construction Lawyers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Society of America<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#7030A0'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Copperplate Gothic Light";color:#7030A0'> <img border=0 width=91 height=118 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01D568CC.7A1D5F20" alt=constructionlaw> <img border=0 width=101 height=101 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image006.png@01D568CC.7A1D5F20" alt="2019_AAA_logo signature"> <img border=0 width=173 height=75 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D568CC.7A1D5F20" alt="CLSA Fellow small"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#7030A0'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Law Offices of Langfred W. White, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>P. O. Box 8334<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Clearwater, FL 33758-8334<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>Phone: (727) 422-5064<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>email: <a href="mailto:lan@lwwhiteattorney.com"><span style='color:#642828'>lan@lwwhiteattorney.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#642828'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'>This electronic message is confidential and may be subject to an attorney-client privilege or an attorney work product privilege, or may otherwise be exempt from discovery under applicable federal and state law. It is intended for use only by the named addressee. If you receive this in error or are not the intended recipient, please delete this email and notify the sender via return e-mail or telephone at (727) 422-5064. Pursuant to IRS Circular 230, please be advised this message, and any advice contained in it, is not intended to be used and may not be used to avoid any tax penalties that may be imposed on you.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#642828'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> clc-discussion-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org [mailto:clc-discussion-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Timothy R. Moorhead<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 10, 2019 9:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> clc-discussion@lists.flabarrpptl.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [CLC-Discussion] Informal poll on expert witnesses<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Question for the group. Please respond only to me to avoid clogging everyone’s email as I have just done.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The last time I tried a jury trial with expert witnesses, the jurors universally commented that they simply ignored the expert witnesses of both sides. The comment was that they figured that any lawyer could find an expert to say whatever they wanted. Unfortunately, there is probably a lot of truth to that comment. In the olden days when we took notes on stone tablets, we law students were taught that experts testify as a “friend of the court” the idea was that the Court would be in need of some expert guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>So, would there be any support for a rule change that would ban party sponsored experts from testifying?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Instead, a party would petition the Court to appoint an expert who would then be paid through the Court equally by all parties. The expert would then be testifying as a truly neutral witness. The experts would go through a vetting process to become certified as an expert in any particular field and much like a list of mediators, a list would be available to the Courts. The parties either agree on an expert who is then approached by the Court, or the Court selects its own expert. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This makes the expert testimony much more reliable and the qualification of the expert has been handled ahead of time. No more Daubert challenges, the Court has predetermined who is and who is not a reliable expert. The Court decides whether to allow the expert to present his testimony or simple advise the Court with regard to any questions the Court may have.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The Parties would be free to engage their own consulting experts to assist with questioning, etc., but no testimony from them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Thanks for reading. What do you think? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=700 style='width:525.0pt'><tr><td style='border:none;border-right:solid darkgray 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:-26.25pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><a href="http://www.wfmblaw.com/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=73 height=78 id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1e-N9VdqeoECntLnJwfkvVbhKH3f_M7mQ" alt="Wright, Fulford, Moorhead & Brown, P.A."></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 15.0pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'>Timothy R. Moorhead, Esq.</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'>Board Certified in Construction Law</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'>505 Maitland Ave. Suite 1000 | Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333'>T: <a href="tel:(407)425-0234"><span style='color:#0066CC'>(407) 425-0234</span></a> | F: <a href="tel:(407)425-0260"><span style='color:#0066CC'>(407) 425-0260</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:tmoorhead@wfmblaw.com"><span style='color:#0066CC'>Email</span></a><span style='color:#333333'> | <a href="http://www.wfmblaw.com"><span style='color:#0066CC'>Website</span></a> | <a href="http://www.wfmblaw.com/vcard/vcard.php?name_first=Timothy%20R.&name_last=Moorhead"><span style='color:#0066CC'>vCard</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><img border=0 width=72 height=6 id="_x0000_i1029" src="file:///C:\Users\tmoorhead.WFMBLAW\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures\wfmb_files\image004.jpg" alt=Martindale-Hubbell><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><a href="http://www.lawyers.com/altamonte-springs/florida/timothy-russell-moorhead-823614-a/?utm_source=ratingverification&utm_medium=referral" title=""View Lawyers.com Profile" "><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:inherit;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=160 height=37 id="_x0000_i1030" src="file:///C:\Users\tmoorhead.WFMBLAW\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures\wfmb_files\image006.png" alt="http://www.martindale.com/marketyourfirm/mhratings/img/av2017-rating-full.png"></span></a><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:3.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888'>This message and its attachments are confidential. If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this message is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please destroy it and notify me immediately. No portion of this message is intended to provide any tax-related advice.</span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:#888888'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>