Case law
The statement of truth and contempt of court
An expert's report ends with a statement of truth. A false report made without an honest belief in its truth can be contempt of court, as Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd v Zafar [2019] EWCA Civ 392 confirmed.
Key points
- The statement of truth is not a formality — it is the expert personally vouching for the report's honesty.
- Changing an opinion to suit a party, or signing a report you do not genuinely hold, can lead to committal proceedings for contempt.
- In the Zafar litigation the Court of Appeal signalled that custodial sentences will often be appropriate for experts who give deliberately false evidence.
Official sources
General information to help experts and instructing parties understand the framework for expert evidence in England & Wales. It is not legal advice. Always work from the current official sources, which are linked on each page.