The Indiana Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income is an instruction given to the jury in Indiana courts when expert witnesses receive a substantial portion of their income from the fees they earn as expert witnesses in legal cases. This instruction is important to ensure the jury understands the potential bias or conflict of interest that may arise due to the financial dependency of the expert witness on their fees. In cases where expert witness fees represent a significant portion of the witness' income, it is crucial for the jury to carefully evaluate the credibility and objectivity of these witnesses. The instruction emphasizes that the jury should consider the potential bias or motive of the expert witness in providing their opinion or testimony. The Indiana Jury Instruction — 5.2 may also include different types or variations of this instruction to cover specific scenarios or circumstances. These may include: 1. Expert Witness Fee Dependency: This instruction focuses on cases where the expert witness relies heavily on the income generated from expert witness fees, indicating a significant financial interest in the outcome of the case. 2. Assessing Credibility and Objectivity: This instruction guides the jury on how to evaluate the credibility and objectivity of expert witnesses when their income is largely dependent on expert witness fees. It may provide criteria for determining whether the witness's professional opinion is unbiased or influenced by financial considerations. 3. Potential for Bias: This instruction highlights the potential for bias when an expert witness's income comes primarily from expert witness fees. It may instruct the jury to consider this potential bias in evaluating the weight and reliability of the witness's testimony. By providing clear and comprehensive guidance to the jury on these issues, the Indiana Jury Instruction — 5.2 aims to ensure a fair and impartial evaluation of expert witness testimony, taking into account any financial incentives or conflicts that may impact the witness's credibility. This instruction plays a crucial role in upholding the principles of fairness, objectivity, and the pursuit of truth in the judicial process.