Opinion ID: 2599393
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Expert services

Text: Defendants next take issue with Buscher's request for $5,032.74 for expert services, correctly stating that expert witness fees are generally not taxable as costs. See Canalez v. Bob's Appliance Serv. Ctr., Inc., 89 Hawai`i 292, 307, 972 P.2d 295, 310 (1999) ([T]his court has reaffirmed the proposition that expert witness fees are normally not allowed. (Citations omitted.)). [15] However, the court only awarded $352.02 for expert services, apparently for Buscher's request with respect to Micro-Imaging-HI, Inc. (Kona Hospital), which appears to be a charge for a microfilm copy of her medical record as well as a $20.00 research charge. This cost, therefore, does not appear to be an expert witness fee. Because Defendants only objected to an award of expert witness fees and do not specifically object to this cost, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in awarding it. See Wong, 88 Hawai`i at 53, 961 P.2d at 618 (Because there is a presumption that the prevailing party may be awarded its costs, the burden of showing that a particular cost request is unreasonable is more properly on the adverse party.).