RULE 143. EVIDENCE
- 1(a) General: Trials before the Court will be conducted in
accordance with the rules of evidence applicable in trials without
a jury in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia. See Code sec. 7453. To the extent applicable to such
trials, those rules include the rules of evidence in the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure and any rules of evidence generally
applicable in the Federal courts (including the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia). Evidence which is
relevant only to the issue of a party's entitlement to reasonable
litigation or administrative costs shall not be introduced during
the trial of the case (other than a case commenced under Title XXVI
of these Rules, relating to actions for administrative costs). As
to claims for reasonable litigation or administrative costs and
their disposition, see Rules 231 and 232. As to evidence in an action for
administrative costs, see Rule 274 (and
that Rule's incorporation of the provisions of Rule 174(b)).
- (b) Ex Parte Statements: Ex parte affidavits, statements in
briefs, and unadmitted allegations in pleadings do not constitute
evidence. As to allegations in pleadings not denied, see Rules 36(c) and 37(c) and
(d).
- (c) Depositions: Testimony taken by deposition shall not be
treated as evidence in a case until offered and received in
evidence. Error in the transcript of a deposition may be corrected
by agreement of the parties, or by the Court on proof it deems
satisfactory to show an error exists and the correction to be made,
subject to the requirements of Rules
81(h)(1) and 85(e). As to the use of
a deposition, see Rule 81(i).
- (d) Documentary Evidence:
- (1) Copies:. A copy is admissible to the same extent as an
original unless a genuine question is raised as to the authenticity
of the original or in the circumstances it would be unfair to admit
the copy in lieu of the original. Where the original is admitted in
evidence, a clearly legible copy may be substituted later for the
original or such part thereof as may be material or relevant, upon
leave granted in the discretion of the Court.
- (2) Return of Exhibits: Exhibits may be disposed of as the
Court deems advisable. A party desiring the return at such party's
expense of any exhibit belonging to such party, shall, within 90
days after the decision of the case by the Court has become final,
make written application to the Clerk, suggesting a practical
manner of delivery. If such application is not timely made, the
exhibits in the case will be destroyed.
- (e) Interpreters: The parties ordinarily will be expected to
make their own arrangements for obtaining and compensating
interpreters. However, the Court may appoint an interpreter of its
own selection and may fix the interpreter's reasonable
compensation, which compensation shall be paid by one or more of
the parties or otherwise as the Court may direct.
- (f) Expert Witness Reports:
- (1) Unless otherwise permitted by the Court upon timely
request, any party who calls an expert witness shall cause that
witness to prepare a written report for submission to the Court and
to the opposing party. The report shall set forth the
qualifications of the expert witness and shall state the witness'
opinion and the facts or data on which that opinion is based. The
report shall set forth in detail the reasons for the conclusion,
and it will be marked as an exhibit, identified by the witness, and
received in evidence as the direct testimony of the expert witness,
unless the Court determines that the witness is not qualified as an
expert. Additional direct testimony with respect to the report may
be allowed to clarify or emphasize matters in the report, to cover
matters arising after the preparation of the report, or otherwise
at the discretion of the Court. After the case is calendared for
trial or assigned to a Judge or Special Trial Judge, each party who
calls any expert witness shall serve on each other party, and shall
submit to the Court, not later than 30 days before the call of the
trial calendar on which the case shall appear, a copy of all expert
witness reports prepared pursuant to this subparagraph. An expert
witness' testimony will be excluded altogether for failure to
comply with the provisions of this paragraph, unless the failure is
shown to be due to good cause and unless the failure does not
unduly prejudice the opposing party, such as by significantly
impairing the opposing party's ability to cross-examine the expert
witness or by denying the opposing party the reasonable opportunity
to obtain evidence in rebuttal to the expert witness' testimony.
- (2) The Court ordinarily will not grant a request to permit an
expert witness to testify without a written report where the expert
witness' testimony is based on third-party contacts, comparable
sales, statistical data, or other detailed, technical information.
The Court may grant such a request, for example, where the expert
witness testifies only with respect to industry practice or only in
rebuttal to another expert witness.
- (3) For circumstances under which the transcript of the
deposition of an expert witness may serve as the written report
required by subparagraph (1), see Rule
76(e)(1).
1The amendment is effective as of June 30, 2003.
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