Abstract

The December 2004 issue of Business Valuation Review included an article with a “do's and don'ts” type of checklist for the litigation attorney who cross-examines an expert.¹ Based on material taken from the writings of Canadian and American legal authorities, the article provided rules and maxims developed by renowned and skilled trial lawyers. This article suggests a similar list of do's and don'ts for the business appraiser giving expert witness testimony before the courts—sadly, some appraisers may have already learned these “rules” the hard way.

The list is subdivided into three categories: (a) general rules for preparing to give witness testimony, (b) rules for direct examination, and (c) rules for cross-examination. They should be reviewed as part of pre-trial preparation.