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<br />i <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />re <br /> <br />j <br /> <br />) <br /> <br />OSE OP AN EXPERT WITHBSS <br /> <br />Donald o. Doehring <br />Department of Earth Resources <br />Colorado State University <br />Port collins, CO <br /> <br />l. Scientists are used as expert witnesses <br />by the court to supply data and other <br />facts along with an evaluation of the <br />quality and relevancy of the information. <br />The expert may also be called upon to <br />provide conclusions and opinions derived <br />from analysis and/or interpretation of <br />the information. <br /> <br />2. The court uses scientific expertise as <br />a source of well-organized facts to aid <br />in deciding legal issues and answering <br />policy questions. <br /> <br />3. Interaction between lawyers and scientists <br />frequently produces a mutual dissatis- <br />faction. A relationship that has been <br />described as, "a conflict between amateurs." <br />The lawyer as an amateur scientist and the <br />scientist as an amateur lawyer. The cause <br />of this conflict can usually be traced to <br />a lack of communication which may be <br />further aggravated by misconceptions on <br />the part of both parties. <br /> <br />A. Lawyers tend to deal in "facts" and <br />.proof" which are rarely within the <br />domain of science. Scientists place <br />special meanings on these terms. The <br />products of science are conclusions <br />based on personal judgement and <br /> <br />) <br />