Under Rule 702, when may experts testify?

Under Rule 702, when may experts testify?

• A. If their testimony is based on common sense and general knowledge.
• B. If facts required for an expert to form an opinion are always admissible.
• C. If the facts required for an expert to form an opinion are admissible.
• D. If specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand evidence or determine a fact in issue.

Answer: (D)

Expert testimony is allowed when the witness’s specialized knowledge will help the jury understand the evidence or decide a fact in issue. This means the testimony must come from expertise beyond common knowledge, and it must be tied to reliable data and methods applied to the facts. So the key requirement is that specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or resolving the matter at hand. General common sense or broad facts aren’t enough, and simply saying the facts used are admissible doesn’t address the need for specialized, reliable expertise.

Expert testimony is allowed when the witness’s specialized knowledge will help the jury understand the evidence or decide a fact in issue. This means the testimony must come from expertise beyond common knowledge, and it must be tied to reliable data and methods applied to the facts. So the key requirement is that specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or resolving the matter at hand. General common sense or broad facts aren’t enough, and simply saying the facts used are admissible doesn’t address the need for specialized, reliable expertise.