Engineers Ireland

Seminar aim

This seminar, organised with La Touche Training, will provide a comprehensive overview of the A to Z of working as an Engineer-Expert Witness.

Starting with a definition of an engineering expert with respect to the different engineering disciplines, there are presentations on roles & duties, expert witness reports, carrying out an investigation, giving evidence in court, rules of evidence and dealing with expert’s fees.

Overview

When structures, materials or products fail to operate or function as intended the consequences can be serious, sometimes deadly. Determining why something has failed and who is responsible, particularly when multiple actors and complex processes are involved, requires someone who is an expert in that given field.  When litigation is involved that expert may be used as a witness by the court to establish where things may have gone wrong and where responsibility may lie.

The engineer as an expert witness needs to be able to establish their credibility in the eyes of the court and communicate their expertise and their findings. To do so, they must respect key principles and avoid common pitfalls.

This one-day seminar brings together leading speakers in the area to discuss the key skills required of any engineer working as an Expert Witness in 2012.

Programme

• What is an Expert Engineer? Reference to different disciplines
  Barry Tennyson, Tennyson Consulting Engineers
• Roles and Duties of an Expert Witness
  Caroline Conroy, Solicitor, La Touche Training
• Expert Witness Investigation
  Paul Romeril, Association of Consulting Forensic Engineers
• The Experts Report
  Susie Shine, Solicitor, La Touche Training
• The Expert in Court – what not to do
  Gareth Kinsella B.L.
• Experts & the Rules of Evidence
  Seamus Clarke B.L.
• Expert Fees
  James Flynn, former Taxing Master

Who should attend

This seminar will be of interest to any engineer working or interested in working as an Expert Witness. It will be suitable for all grades, from those with limited experience to the highly experienced. The seminar will also be of interest to legal professionals working with engineers to prepare and present evidence.