Expert Witness and Legal Testimony Flashcards
6 cards from real CAA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Expert Witness and Legal Testimony flashcards as text
Which professional behavior is most important for an automotive appraiser on the witness stand?
Answer: Remaining calm, honest, and consistent regardless of attorney pressure
Credibility depends on consistent, honest testimony delivered calmly even under aggressive cross-examination, as juries closely observe demeanor.
What should an expert witness do if they realize during trial testimony that they made an error in their written report?
Answer: Correct the error promptly and transparently on the stand
Admitting and correcting an error on the stand demonstrates integrity and actually tends to reinforce credibility with juries compared to concealing mistakes.
What is 'voir dire' as it applies to expert witnesses?
Answer: A preliminary examination by the court to determine whether a witness qualifies as an expert
In the expert witness context, voir dire is the preliminary questioning—typically by opposing counsel—used to challenge whether the witness meets the legal standard to testify as an expert.
An appraiser is asked to opine on a vehicle's pre-loss value. Which source would be most persuasive in a legal proceeding?
Answer: Published industry guides such as NADA or CCC combined with documented comparable sales
Courts give greater weight to opinions supported by recognized industry valuation guides and verifiable comparable market data rather than anecdotal or unverified sources.
What does 'scope of expertise' mean when an automotive appraiser testifies?
Answer: The specific subject matter in which they are qualified, beyond which they should not opine
An expert must stay within the boundaries of their specialized knowledge; opining outside one's area of expertise can lead to exclusion of testimony or loss of credibility.
Which ethical obligation requires an automotive appraiser acting as an expert witness to disclose prior testimony that contradicts their current opinion?
Answer: The duty of candor to the tribunal and the obligation to provide complete and accurate disclosures
Expert witnesses owe a duty of candor to the court, and FRCP Rule 26 requires disclosure of prior cases in which they testified, enabling opposing counsel to identify inconsistencies.