Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth
Most complex legal cases involve opinions of experts. The consensus for decades has been that such opinions are helpful to the finder of fact if certain requirements are met. In fact as we speak I am reviewing an expert report. Perhaps I should move to strike it on the basis that it's an improper appeal to authority?
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I know that you know the rules of a court room are not the same thing as reason. I certainly hope that your expert is there to present a real, constructed argument using facts rather than stating "I am an expert of X, therefore this is true" and resting it there. I hope he is saying something like "I am an expert in X. Because of A, B and C reasons it is my opinion that..." instead, a legitimate argument. You can try to twist it into countering an argument that all opinions from experts are invalid, but this is not the claim made nor is that what an appeal to authority is. The argument must be one from reasons, not simply appealing to being an expert.