Expert Evidence in British Columbia Civil Proceedings - 7th Edition

Your guide to finding, choosing, and using an expert

This publication is essential for: all litigators who work with expert witnesses

Current to: June 1, 2025

Expert opinion plays a critical role in most civil cases—and litigators should know how to use experts to their full advantage. Expert Evidence in British Columbia Civil Proceedings will help you handle BC's distinctive expert evidence rules. Practical and portable, this guidebook offers analysis of case law and advice on tactics and tools so you can effectively select, brief, lead, and attack expert evidence. With the view from the bench, you can learn what makes a powerful expert opinion presentation in the eyes of a trial judge. Specialized topics also include expert evidence in mediations and before administrative tribunals.

With this resource, you will be able to:

• identify when and how to use expert opinions
  
• analyze how to lay the factual basis for an expert opinion
  
• present your expert evidence so it effectively supports your case
  
• better prepare your expert for the witness stand

Buy today and become an expert on expert evidence! View a sample from this book!

Highlights of the Seventh Edition include:

• all chapters, forms and precedents, and other features brought current to June 1, 2025
• reorganization and significant revisions to chapter 5 (Instructing the Expert Witness) and chapter 10 (Expert Evidence and Administrative Tribunals)
• discussion of recent case law, including:
  • MacKinnon v. Swanson, 2024 BCCA 95, where the Court found that if counsel fails to make sufficient inquiries of the expert's qualifications, and the judge has concerns, the judge may intervene to clarify
  • International Air Transport Assn. v. Canada (Transportation Agency), 2024 SCC 30, where the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that judges may regard questions of fact susceptible to expert evidence where it is necessary for the court to carry out its function
  • Bassi v. Chahal, 2024 BCSC 1843, where the Court exercised its discretion under Supreme Court Civil Rule 9-7(5) to admit the expert report, notwithstanding that the expert file had not been disclosed in advance of the summary trial
  • Simpson v. Prizer-Painter Stove Works Inc., 2024 BCSC 2500, where the Court noted that the purpose of oral evidence in chief of expert evidence is to clarify terminology in the report or otherwise make the report more understandable
  • Ford v. Lin, 2022 BCCA 179, where the Court confirmed that if a party tenders an expert report in evidence, they are precluded from calling the expert as a fact witness respecting matters addressed in that report

Discover all of our Litigation resources here

CLEBC Legal Editor
Allison A. Cartier
acartier@cle.bc.ca

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