BOOK REVIEW

The Expert Witness in Construction Disputes. (3rd edition) Michael P. Reynolds. (Blackwell Science, 2002). 170pp plus Appendices, Tables and Index. Hardback. £45.00.

This book provides some useful practical guidance for expert witnesses in construction disputes. It is likely to be of particular use to professionals who are thinking about acting as an expert witness but are not sure what it involves. A particular feature of the book is the use made of checklists at the end of a number of chapters (for example there is a checklist on points of evidence, a checklist on preparing for a Scott Schedule and a checklist for the trial). In chapter four, in the context of a discussion of how the courts evaluate expert evidence, the author makes use of a number of case studies that helpfully demonstrate the way in which judges handle expert evidence. The book also contains a number of useful appendices, including the Expert Witness Institute Model Terms and Practice Direction 49C (but not Practice Direction 35). It also makes the occasional reference to web-sites where further information can be obtained.