Nevada Jury Instruction - 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions - Basic Civil Claim Instructions
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-11CB-5-2
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs.

Nevada Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses When Expert Witness Fees Represent A Significant Portion Of The Witness' Income In Nevada legal proceedings, expert witness testimony plays a crucial role in establishing facts, explaining complex subjects, and providing professional opinions to assist the jury in making informed decisions. However, when the fees earned by an expert witness represent a significant portion of their income, it becomes necessary to consider certain factors that may influence their testimony and credibility. The Nevada Jury Instruction — 5.2 tackles the specific scenario where an expert witness heavily relies on the income earned from providing expert testimony. This instruction aims to provide guidance to the jury regarding the potential impact on the expert's objectivity, integrity, and reliability due to their financial dependency on these fees. By considering the financial aspect of an expert witness's income, the jury is encouraged to critically evaluate their testimony, recognizing the potential bias that might arise. Examining the financial incentives can help the jury determine the credibility of an expert's opinions and whether they may be influenced by financial motivations rather than solely emphasizing professional expertise and objectivity. Different types of Nevada Jury Instruction — 5.2 Expert Witnesses when witness fees represent a significant portion of their income may include: 1. Monetary Dependency: This instruction applies when an expert witness relies heavily on the income generated from offering expert testimony. Such reliance may lead to a potential conflict of interest, as the witness's financial stability becomes intertwined with their success as an expert witness. 2. Risk of Bias: This instruction brings attention to the possible bias that arises when a significant portion of an expert witness's income is derived from fees earned as an expert. The jury should actively evaluate whether the expert's opinions and conclusions are solely based on their professional knowledge and expertise or influenced by financial considerations. 3. Credibility Assessment: The instruction emphasizes the need for the jury to carefully scrutinize the expert's testimony, looking beyond their professional background. By analyzing the expert's financial dependence on witness fees, the jury can make a more informed assessment of the credibility and objectivity of their opinions. 4. Determining Weight of Testimony: This jury instruction encourages the jury to weigh the expert's testimony based on an understanding of their financial interests. By considering the potential financial influence on the credibility and reliability of the expert's opinions, the jury can assign appropriate weight to their testimony during deliberations. 5. Disclosure of Financial Dependency: In cases where an expert witness's income from providing expert testimony represents a significant portion of their earnings, this instruction may address the requirement of disclosing this financial dependency. Ensuring transparency and disclosure can assist the jury in evaluating the potential impact on the expert's objectivity and credibility. In conclusion, the Nevada Jury Instruction — 5.2 addresses the unique situation where expert witness fees form a substantial part of an expert's income. By considering the potential impact of financial dependency on an expert's testimony, the instruction enables the jury to critically evaluate their objectivity, credibility, and reliability when rendering a verdict.