Litigation & Expert Witness Testimony

An appraiser may be called as an expert witness in any case in which the parties are arguing over value. Typically, the side that calls the appraiser as an expert witness would benefit from the item in question having either a higher or a lower value. The appraiser is called as an expert who can comment knowledgeably on what the item in question should be worth and why.

Attorneys may also choose to work with appraisers as consultants. When an appraiser works on a case as a consultant, he or she may be asked not only to conduct an appraisal or to critique the opposition’s appraisal, but also to help the attorney determine which questions to ask in discovery, deposition, and at trial. The more complex an appraisal is, the more likely that an attorney will consult an appraiser for assistance.

Appraisers can be called in a wide number of cases to testify about an appraisal they performed that is relevant to the case, such as an appraisal of land in a real estate malpractice case or an appraisal of a privately-owned art collection in a divorce. Real estate is the most common field in which an appraiser’s help is sought as an expert witness. The value of real property can vary significantly depending on a wide range of factors, and it can be difficult to determine without expert knowledge and skill. As a result, appraisers are often asked to discuss the methodology for determining the value of real estate in order to help one side establish that a performed appraisal is too high, too low, or just right. Like other experts, appraisers must be evaluated for their suitability for the role they will play in the preparation and presentation of trial arguments. Their methodology should be considered as well, particularly in states where the rules governing the admission of expert witnesses dictate that questions about the appraiser-as-expert’s methodology may be raised.

As with all experts, appraisers should be chosen with attention to due diligence. Membership in an appraisal organization, such as the Appraisal Institute, Appraisers Association of America, American Society of Appraisers, or INS, as well as the appraiser’s education, experience, publications, and participation in previous litigation are examples of key areas to consider when seeking an appraiser to serve as an expert witness. T. Haan & Associates, an Appraisal Group, Inc. has been consulted and contracted by Family Law, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate Attorneys across Southern California for Fair Market Value, value dispute resolution, consulting, and appraisal review. Extensive training, education, and experience is crucial in in the court of law, ensure your clients are accordingly represented. Valuing real estate is a vital task in legal strategy and experience is crucial in the court of law, employ the professionals of T. Haan & Associates, an Appraisal Group Inc. to ensure you client’s best interests are secured.

Contact Us Today For Your Valuation Needs