Illinois Bill Could Tighten Expert Witness Rules

Illinois House and Senate judiciary committee members heard testimony last week on two bills that would bring changes to limit the location where a lawsuit can be filed set qualifications for who can be considered an expert witness. Proponents of the expert witness bill say it would keep junk science out of the courtroom but Philip Corboy Jr., President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association says trial lawyers already work to avoid improper testimony.  PublicNewsService also reports:

"Junk science doesn't exist in the courtroom. Why? Because junk science ends up being found out as junk science by good cross examination, which is the purpose of a trial in the first place."...

Backers of the venue legislation say it would streamline cases by limiting a trial's location to the county where the reason for the lawsuit took place. But Corboy says there's a hidden agenda, as the bill would eliminate the ability to find a venue that is equally fair to both plaintiff and defendant.