Print this page Print this page

The Land Surveyor as Expert Witness

Thomas Strong, P.L.S.


Course Outline

This course covers the topic Testifying in court as an expert witness. It is important for the Land Surveyor to understand the pitfalls associated with testifying in a court of law

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for Land Surveyors and other design professionals.


Benefit to Attendees

Upon completion of this course the Land Surveyor will be better prepared to defend his surveys in court. He may also avoid many pitfalls, which can occur while in the court room. The Land Surveyor will also have a better understanding of the privileges he is accorded by the court and the responsibility they carry.


Course Introduction

Increasingly, the Surveyor is being required to defend his Surveys in court or to represent a client in a boundary dispute. He should be acquainted with the definition of, and privileges accorded, an expert witness, as well as the means to improve his work products for maximum effectiveness. Helpful hints on actual testimony are also suggested.


Course Content

The link to the course content is as follows:

The Land Surveyor as Expert Witness (PDF file 49 KB)

You need to open or download the above document to study this course.

You may need to download Acrobat Reader to view and print the document.



Course Summary

The Professional Land Surveyor is recognized in the judiciary system as an expert in measurement and in boundaries. As such, he is permitted to express opinions on matters not observed. The privileges he is accorded by the court carry large responsibilities with them. The surveyor, if he is to retain the privileges of an expert, must be qualified to render such testimony; he must produce complete, professional products; he must state, in clear and unqualified language, the precision and accuracies of his measurements; and he must testify with honesty, fairness, and candor. The Professional Land Surveyor must be ever vigilant to his primary responsibility in court: the truthfulness of his conclusions and opinions, to the extent of his knowledge.


Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz


DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.