Driver Trett Digest Issue 22 October 2021 - Flipbook - Page 14
VIRTUAL HEARINGS
AN EXPERT’S VIEW
Phil Duggan, Regional Head of Diales in the Middle East
- Quantum and Delay Expert
In the last 18 months or so, all parts of our lives have changed
beyond recognition. Thankfully, for many of us, there have
been many adaptations made to allow us to continue going
about our day-to-day lives. For me, one of the most significant
changes I have faced has been the move to virtual hearings,
taking us away from the customary courtroom or arbitration
room settings we previously frequented. The change has
allowed the wheels of dispute resolution to continue to turn
with little delay and has taken us into a new way of conducting
hearings that I think will be here to stay, certainly in part at
least.
As a practicing expert witness (in matters of quantum and
delay) the contrast was apparent from the very beginning
of my first testimony in the virtual world. Whilst I am used
to swearing an oath or affirmation that I will truthfully give
my evidence, the expansion to declare that I am alone in
the room, do not have any documents present (other than
clean copies of my reports), that I do not have access to a
telephone or any other communication device, and will
declare if anybody does enter the room, really brought home
the different circumstances to those that I was used to.
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