Comments by "possumverde" (@possumverde) on "Institute for Justice" channel.

  1. And never carry your life's savings around in cash...a wreck leading to a fire is all it would have taken to potentially wipe it all out.
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  2. It's not really about right or wrong. When testifying as an expert witness you are essentially claiming that you are competent enough to be considered a legitimate representative of whatever field is involved. The problem is, people just have to take your word for it if you aren't licensed. Licensing boards exist in part to maintain the integrity of their relevant field. With the licensing tests serving as an official standardized method of assessing one's competence. A non licensed expert witness's opinion may be sound or it may not. If it's not, their being seen as a legitimate representative of the field can potentially damage the integrity of the field. By not taking steps to at least discourage un licensed testimony, a precedent builds and more unlicensed witnesses will testify in future cases. The proper thing to do in such situations is to point out whatever flaws you find and then find someone with a license to do the actual testifying.
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  3. The "industrial exemption" essentially means that someone above you has a license and are essentially vouching for your competence as an engineer. In non work related circumstances involving the sharing of your engineering knowledge with the general public, you are essentially vouching for your own engineering competence and it's up to them to decide how much weight to give your opinion. When acting as expert witness in court (in a case not involving the employer responsible for your industrial exemption) you are essentially claiming that you are competent enough to be considered a legitimate representive of the field of engineering. Your/other non licensed expert's opinions in such situations may or may not be sound. If not sound, such testimony given by a perceived representative of the field can potentially damage the integrity of the field. One of the reasons licensing boards exist to begin with is to maintain such integrity. With the licensing exams serving as a standardized method to assess the competence of those representing the field. The best thing to have done would have been to point out the flaws you found and then find a licensed engineer to actually do the testifying. If for no other reason than the testimony of an expert witness with a license will usually be given more weight than that of one without.
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