Effective Expert Reports for Marine Structure Investigations

When litigation involves damage to waterfront structures, attorneys will turn to waterfront engineering experts to assist in the case. One important aspect of professional services to support litigation efforts is the expert report. Expert reports provide the necessary technical background to support or dispute a claim. While the report must be technically accurate and well-documented, it also must be understandable by attorneys, judges and the general public, if the case goes to trial. In order to meet these requirements, the expert report will differ from a typical inspection report in terms of scope, purpose, audience, and format. This paper will examine the requirements for expert reports and will make recommendations for producing an effective report that meets the client's and the client's attorney's needs. The paper will also present pitfalls and potential conflicts that must be considered when preparing an expert report. Producing a clear, concise, accurate and technically defensible report is an important skill for engineers who become involved with waterfront structure claims and litigation.