Expert Witness Blog

In the recent federal case of Jasmine Vineyards, Inc. v. D.R. Johnson Lumber Co., et al., No. 1:2024cv00882 (E.D. Cal. 2025), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California addressed the admissibility and reliability of testimony from a Vineyards Expert Witness in a dispute involving agricultural damages and commercial practices in the vineyard industry.

Background and Facts

Jasmine Vineyards, Inc., a prominent grape grower in California’s Central Valley, initiated litigation against D.R. Johnson Lumber Co. and associated parties, alleging that the defendants’ activities caused substantial harm to its vineyard operations. The complaint centered on claims of property damage, loss of crop yield, and diminished vineyard value resulting from the defendants’ alleged negligent or intentional conduct.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling in 2025 that establishes clear boundaries for discovering financial information from expert witnesses in civil litigation. In Jolley v. McClain, Oklahoma Supreme Court 2025, the court addressed whether opposing parties can use subpoenas duces tecum to obtain broad financial records from expert witnesses, ultimately holding that such discovery methods exceed the scope permitted under Oklahoma’s Discovery Code.

Background and Parties

The case arose from a condemnation action initiated by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) against Christopher Charles Jolley. ODOT sought to acquire a strip of land owned by Jolley for public use, but when negotiations failed, the agency filed a condemnation proceeding in Garvin County District Court. Following standard Oklahoma condemnation procedures under 69 O.S. § 1203, three disinterested freeholders were appointed as commissioners to appraise the property value.

In the appellate decision of Kennemur v. State of California, 133 Cal. App. 3d 907 (Cal. Ct. App. 1982), the role of the Automobile Appraisal Expert Witness was pivotal in shaping the evidentiary landscape of a complex vehicular accident case. This matter involved the interplay between expert testimony, discovery obligations, and the permissible scope of impeachment in California courts.

Background and Parties

The case arose from a traffic accident involving a Volkswagen (VW) and a disputed set of tire marks and roadway conditions. The plaintiff, Kennemur, sought to establish liability against the State of California, alleging that dangerous roadway conditions contributed to the accident. The defense, representing the State, relied on expert testimony to rebut these claims and to clarify the causative factors of the collision.

In the recent case of KOKO Development, LLC v. Phillips & Jordan, Inc., No. 23-2234 (8th Cir. 2024), the pivotal role of a Contracts Expert Witness was brought into sharp focus in a complex dispute over a failed real estate development project. This case, adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, underscores the indispensable nature of expert testimony in litigation involving intricate contractual and engineering issues.

Background and Parties

KOKO Development, LLC, a real estate developer, entered into contracts with Phillips & Jordan, Inc., DW Excavating, Inc., and Thomas Dean & Hoskins, Inc. (TD&H) for the development of a 180-acre tract of land in North Dakota. The project encountered significant obstacles, including alleged deficiencies in infrastructure and engineering, prompting KOKO to file suit against the defendants for breach of contract and negligence. The defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that KOKO could not substantiate its claims without expert testimony.

In the recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision of Mackie v. Rouse-Weir, 2025, the role and legal protections afforded to a Statistics Expert Witness were central to the court’s analysis of expert immunity and the reliability of expert testimony in civil commitment proceedings.

Background and Parties

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts initiated proceedings to civilly commit George Mackie, a prisoner previously convicted of a sexual offense, as a “sexually dangerous person” (SDP) under state law. The statutory process for such a commitment requires the presentation of expert testimony to establish probable cause and the appointment of qualified examiners to determine if the case should proceed to trial. Dr. Katrin Rouse-Weir served as the probable cause expert, while Dr. Robert Joss acted as a qualified examiner. Both experts submitted reports and provided testimony that contributed to Mackie’s initial adjudication as an SDP.

<p>In the recent case of <a href=”https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/appellate-division-third-department/2025/cv-23-1932.html”>Matter of Johnstown Comrie Assoc., LLC v Assessor for the City of Johnstown, 2025</a>, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, addressed the pivotal role of the <a href=”https://www.jurispro.com/category/sales-s-190″>Sales Expert Witness</a> in a complex property tax assessment dispute involving the valuation of a shopping center. This case provides a clear illustration of how courts evaluate expert witness reliability, methodology, and the impact of their testimony on the outcome.</p>

<strong>Background and Parties</strong>

<p>The petitioner, Johnstown Comrie Associates, LLC, challenged the property tax assessment imposed by the City of Johnstown’s Assessor, arguing that the shopping center’s valuation was excessive. Both parties retained expert witnesses specializing in sales comparison and income capitalization approaches to property valuation. The petitioner’s expert presented an income capitalization analysis, while the respondent’s expert relied primarily on a comparable sales methodology.</p>

In the recent case of Matter of Kosmo Family Trust, Surrogate’s Court, Albany County 2024, the pivotal role of a Trusts & Estates Expert Witness was brought to the forefront in a dispute over the validity of amendments to a family trust. This litigation involved allegations of undue influence, questions of testamentary capacity, and the application of New York’s Dead Man’s Statute, all of which required expert analysis and testimony to resolve complex factual and legal issues.

Background and Parties

The Kosmo Family Trust was the subject of a contested proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court of Albany County, New York. Petitioners sought to invalidate the third and second amendments to the trust, alleging that the respondent, who was both a beneficiary and a fiduciary under the trust, exerted undue influence over the decedent. The respondent was named as agent under the decedent’s power of attorney, health care proxy, and as co-trustee under the third amendment, establishing a close fiduciary relationship with the decedent.

In the recent Arizona Supreme Court case of McAlister v. Loeb, 2025, the reliability and admissibility of a Patents Expert Witness testimony played a decisive role in the outcome of a complex patent dispute involving lost profits, licensing agreements, and allegations of professional misconduct.

Background and Parties

Roy McAlister, an inventor specializing in clean fuel technologies, held several patents through his company, McAlister Technologies, L.L.C. (MT). In 2009, MT entered into a licensing agreement with Advanced Green Technologies, L.L.C. (AGT), which subsequently retained the law firm Loeb & Loeb, L.L.P. for patent-related legal services. Disputes arose when McAlister alleged that AGT breached the licensing agreement and that Loeb & Loeb’s actions clouded MT’s patents, causing prospective licensees to withdraw and resulting in substantial lost profits.

In the landmark Arkansas Supreme Court case of Miller Brewing Company v. Ed Roleson, Jr., Inc., 2006, the role of the Franchising Expert Witness was central to the resolution of a high-stakes dispute between a major brewer and its franchisee. This case illustrates the critical importance of expert testimony in complex franchise litigation, particularly regarding damages and industry standards.

Background and Parties

The dispute arose when Miller Brewing Company, a national brewer, was accused by its franchisee, Ed Roleson, Jr., Inc., of refusing to deal with the franchise in a commercially reasonable manner and in good faith, as required by the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act. The franchisee alleged that Miller’s conduct resulted in significant financial harm, including lost profits from a failed acquisition of another distributorship.

In the recent federal case of Mishra et al v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, No. 4:2023cv01537 (N.D. Ala. 2025), the court addressed the admissibility of testimony from a Risk Management Expert Witness in the context of a property insurance dispute. This case provides a clear illustration of the rigorous standards courts apply to expert testimony under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert framework, particularly when the expert’s methodology and qualifications are challenged.

Background and Parties

The plaintiffs, the Mishras, filed suit against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company after a retaining wall at their residence collapsed. The Mishras alleged that the loss was covered under their homeowner’s insurance policy, while State Farm denied coverage, contending that the collapse was excluded under the policy’s terms. Central to the dispute was the cause of the wall’s failure and whether it fell within the scope of covered perils.