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Full-Text Articles in Law
A Moving Bar Approach To Assessing The Admissibility Of Expert Causation Testimony, Aaron Katz
A Moving Bar Approach To Assessing The Admissibility Of Expert Causation Testimony, Aaron Katz
Cleveland State Law Review
This Article argues that the Supreme Court's decisions in Daubert and Joiner imply an approach to the reliability, and hence admissibility, of causation experts that conflicts with the way in which courts traditionally had determined whether to allow the jury to speculate on uncertain causation-in-fact questions. Largely moving past the debate of whether Daubert and Joiner set the admissibility bar too high or low, the Article instead criticizes the decisions on the ground that they suggest that the height of the reliability bar is static and should not be adjusted depending upon the circumstances of the defendant's possibly injurious conduct. …
Removing The Roadblocks To Successful Domestic Violence Prosecutions: Prosecutorial Use Of Expert Testimony On The Battered Woman Syndrome In Ohio, Matthew P. Hawes
Removing The Roadblocks To Successful Domestic Violence Prosecutions: Prosecutorial Use Of Expert Testimony On The Battered Woman Syndrome In Ohio, Matthew P. Hawes
Cleveland State Law Review
This note contends that Ohio should join the modern trend and allow expert testimony on the battered woman syndrome in a limited form in domestic violence prosecutions. Part II of this note explores the syndrome and its origins. Part III provides background on the evidentiary uses of the syndrome in Ohio. It discusses the emergence of the battered woman syndrome in Ohio courts, and then examines the unsuccessful initial attempts by prosecutors in Ohio to use expert testimony on the syndrome.Part IV looks at how several jurisdictions outside of Ohio have addressed this issue. Part V presents the argument that …
The Proportionate Trading Model: Real Science Or Junk Science, Brian P. Murray
The Proportionate Trading Model: Real Science Or Junk Science, Brian P. Murray
Cleveland State Law Review
The PTM has all the hallmarks of "real" science, using either a scientists' definition or that of the Daubert Court. From a scientist's perspective, it is a functional paradigm, serving as a working model. The practitioners in the field are engaged in "clean-up," for example, deciding which acceleration factor best fits observed data. Under the Daubert test, the PTM will assist the trier of fact, has been subjected to peer review (unlike the major critique), and has acceptable rates of error and general acceptance. Testifying experts may disagree as to which acceleration factor to use, but that is merely fair …
Are Forensic Locksmiths Really Qualified To Testify As Experts In Cases Of Insurance Fraud: An Examination Of The Admissibility Of Forensic Locksmith Opinions Under Rule 702, Chad A. Hester
Cleveland State Law Review
This Note will argue that while forensic locksmiths may be qualified as experts under Rule 702, they should not necessarily be qualified to testify as to which key started a vehicle last. Part I of this note will discuss the basic history and case law which has established the requirements necessary to qualify an expert to testify under the Rule 702. In addition, Part I will discuss the recently enacted amendments to Rule 702 and how the amended Rule 702 has expanded the admissibility of expert witnesses. Part II of this note will discuss the generally accepted procedures of forensic …
Shaken Baby Syndrome: Who Are The True Experts, Joseph D. Hatina
Shaken Baby Syndrome: Who Are The True Experts, Joseph D. Hatina
Cleveland State Law Review
Shaken baby syndrome is a serious form of child maltreatment, often involving infants younger than six months of age. It commonly occurs, yet it is frequently overlooked in its most chronic form and underdiagnosed in its most serious expression. Section II of this article will discuss the symptoms, presentation, and clinical findings of shaken baby syndrome. It will conclude by looking at recommendations from the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. Section III delves into the history, function and statistics of Child Death Review Teams on a national level. The discussion ends by examining Ohio's proposed legislation concerning …
An Opinion: Federal Judges Misconstrue Rule 704 (Or Is That An Impermissible Legal Conclusion), Kathy Jo Cook
An Opinion: Federal Judges Misconstrue Rule 704 (Or Is That An Impermissible Legal Conclusion), Kathy Jo Cook
Cleveland State Law Review
This article addresses the need to formulate a uniform and predictable approach to the admissibility of expert opinion testimony which relates the law to the facts. First, it briefly discusses the history of expert opinion testimony. Second, it discusses, through a case analysis, the difficult, if not impossible task that courts have assumed in attempting to differentiate between two types of expert opinions: (1) those which are, by their nature, factual; and (2) those which require some level of legal analysis-directly relating the law to the facts of the case. Finally, this article suggests an alternative approach which is arguably …
Psychologist As Expert Witness In Psychiatric Questions, Elliot R. Levine
Psychologist As Expert Witness In Psychiatric Questions, Elliot R. Levine
Cleveland State Law Review
When the seeking of truth and the dispensing of justice require Wan evaluation of a litigant's mental functioning, the courts have traditionally looked to medically trained psychiatrists to serve as expert witnesses. In his private practice the psychiatrist frequently uses the consultative services of a clinical psychologist because psychological tests are more quantitative, less subjective, and more sensitive to the nuances of personality deviation than are the traditional psychiatric evaluative techniques. The psychologist can offer to the court, as well as the medical profession can, the opportunity for the utilization of the most scientific means and methods of appraising personality. …
The Physician As A Witness, Robert I. Zashin
The Physician As A Witness, Robert I. Zashin
Cleveland State Law Review
As a public servant the physician, being licensed to practice medicine, has certain obligations both to the state and to his profession. His primary obligation is to give aid to his patients and offer himself as a person capable of diagnosis and treatment of human ills. It is conceded by most observers that few professions require more careful preparation than that of medicine. However, a doctor's skill is not always to be found in his office. He is now often called upon to "battle" in the courts as an expert witness. In the growing interrelationship between law and medicine, the …
The Conspiracy Of Silence: Physician's View, Carl E. Wasmuth
The Conspiracy Of Silence: Physician's View, Carl E. Wasmuth
Cleveland State Law Review
To many a physican, law suits, courts, and occasionally law- yers themselves are anathema. Schooled in the sciences, his life is dedicated to the practice of medicine. He is a man of conviction and of purpose. He is articulate and even at times loqua- cious. These qualities would lead one to believe that the physician would be well equipped, quite willing, and capable of appearing as an expert witness in a court of law. Quite to the contrary, the physician most generally is unwilling to be a legal witness. In fact, the entire subject of law suits often is repugnant …
Special Law For Medical Specialists, Bernard R. Koehne, James G. Young
Special Law For Medical Specialists, Bernard R. Koehne, James G. Young
Cleveland State Law Review
We do not question the need for, or the benefits of specialization, but rather point to some of the confusion which results, in legal cases involving the medical specialist. The apparent contradiction that appears in proceedings involving specialists is illustrated by two cases where the patient's heart stopped beating while on the operating table.
Positive Handling Of The Negative X-Ray, Lawrence V. Hastings
Positive Handling Of The Negative X-Ray, Lawrence V. Hastings
Cleveland State Law Review
Defense counsel usually pounce on "negative" x-rays, i.e., ones which show little or no change from before to after the accident. They triumphantly parade admissions from medical witnesses that "the x-rays in the case are totally negative," before a jury which is enormously impressed through abysmal ignorance of what x-rays can and do show. Thus, the problem facing counsel for the injured party is how most persuasively to acquaint the jury with means of properly evaluating x-rays in view of their significant attributes and their deficiencies. Plaintiff's counsel must somehow explain the purpose of x-rays, augment their limited information, and/or …
Subjective Complaints V. Objective Signs, David I. Sindell, Irwin N. Perr
Subjective Complaints V. Objective Signs, David I. Sindell, Irwin N. Perr
Cleveland State Law Review
The word "versus" in the title presents what we think is one of the most important problems of plaintiff trial lawyers today. After years of preparation, we submit our case to a jury; our medical witnesses offer testimony based on long time observation, treatment and evaluation. Then, in walks the defendant's doctor and proceeds to plunge a dagger into our case by calling our client either a malingerer or a neurotic, or just a plain liar. He testifies that he saw none of the objective signs that our medical examiners found, and concludes that all of the subjective complaints are …
Intoxication And Opinion Evidence, John E. Martindale
Intoxication And Opinion Evidence, John E. Martindale
Cleveland State Law Review
It must be said at the outset that there are many problems in connection with the rules of evidence which an article as short as this one cannot hope to touch upon. Among these is the relevance of intoxication to particular issues. It must be assumed that the evidence sought to be introduced is material and relevant. With this assumption we will consider three areas of intoxication evidence: lay opinion, expert opinion and hospital records. These are the three main areas involving the introduction of an opinion as to intoxicated condition.
Intoxication And Opinion Evidence, John E. Martindale
Intoxication And Opinion Evidence, John E. Martindale
Cleveland State Law Review
It must be said at the outset that there are many problems in connection with the rules of evidence which an article as short as this one cannot hope to touch upon. Among these is the relevance of intoxication to particular issues. It must be assumed that the evidence sought to be introduced is material and relevant. With this assumption we will consider three areas of intoxication evidence: lay opinion, expert opinion and hospital records. These are the three main areas involving the introduction of an opinion as to intoxicated condition.