To whom does the overriding duty of an expert owe?

• A. To the paying client.
• B. To the court.
• C. To the instructing party.
• D. To the opinion of the supervising attorney.

Answer: (B)

An expert’s core obligation is to assist the court by providing an independent, objective opinion based on their expertise. This duty to the court takes precedence over any instructions from a client or instructions from the party who engaged them. The court relies on the expert’s impartial evidence to determine the truth, so the expert must be frank about their methods, assumptions, and any conflicts. If the client or supervising attorney seeks to steer the opinion, the expert should maintain independence and, if needed, disclose concerns or withdraw. Thus, the overriding duty is to the court, not to the paying client, the instructing party, or the supervising attorney’s view.