Expert Testimony in Maritime Products Liability Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it limited the testimony of expert witnesses in a maritime products liability case. In the instant case, plaintiff’s decedent was killed while riding a jet ski. Plaintiff offered the testimony of three witnesses to testify as experts for the purpose of proving that the jet ski was improperly designed. The trial court prevented the witnesses from offering opinions on issues in which they had limited experience or had no formal training. On appeal, the court held that a witness proffered as an expert must possess specialized expertise in the particular issue of the testimony, based on knowledge, skills, and/or training. Source: HK Law