Simplicity, when carried to extremes, sometimes becomes eloquence. Honesty notwithstanding, the expert is not required to help make a case for the opposing side. He should concentrate his efforts on developing issues that will help his client's case. All too often, counsel tries to find the hired gun, the person with impeccable academic credentials, instead of looking for true professionals with a good practical forensic history who will perform the required work in order to render an unbiased opinion. Hired guns may adjust the facts of a case to suit the client's point of view, and, sadly, they may get away with it.
Some experts trade in their integrity for filthy lucre.
Others may be quite honest in their opinions, but outside pressures, such as limited budgets and time constraints, may come between them and their work. An expert witness' lack of appropriate understanding of all the facts can be more damaging than the best effort of the opposing side's hired gun. The expert must, where appropriate, inform counsel of any budgetary shortfall that could prevent. Sometimes there are real construction problems that do require expensive fixes, but such cases are in the minority of the courts complete exploration of the forensic facts required to properly evaluate all the pertinent issues. When huge judgments are rendered, often the only work done to the project is application of a coat of paint to the exterior.