header-logo header-logo

Reality check

23 March 2012 / Mark Solon
Issue: 7506 / Categories: Features , Expert Witness
printer mail-detail

Mark Solon provides a reminder of the expert’s duty of truth to the court

At the beginning of this month, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that it is examining the case of seven expert witnesses, who allegedly repeatedly misled the court as to the value of prestige replacement hire cars.

Where a driver is not at fault for an accident, they may be entitled under their insurance to claim an equivalent car while their own is being repaired, and the witnesses were employed by now defunct Autofocus to assess and report on the true value of those cars to insurance companies.

It is alleged that the quotes provided by Autofocus were often much lower than their competitors, and those quotes were often used by insurance companies in court to back claims that competitor credit hire companies were overcharging them.

Dishonest statements

Two years ago the chief executive of credit hire rival Accident Exchange, Steve Evans, successfully brought a claim against Autofocus researcher Helen Whysall, who admitted dishonest statements in four cases and

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll