Summary

A physician expert witness testifies about the plaintiff's need for assistance with household chores and the methodology used to calculate the cost of home care. The physician's report is also discussed, including whether it was reviewed with the plaintiff and her treating physicians. The expert witness testifies on their opinions regarding future medical expenses for the plaintiff in a legal case.

They base their opinions on their training, education, experience, and knowledge, as well as their review of medical records, deposition transcripts, and their own physical examination of the plaintiff. The witness also discusses their use of CPT codes, physician's fee reference, and other databases to determine future costs. A physician with 40 years of experience testifies as an expert witness in a personal injury case, stating that the plaintiff sustained permanent and serious injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

The physician explains his three-pronged approach to determining causation and considers the plaintiff's medical history, including prior auto accidents and subsequent injuries. The physician has not been excluded from testifying as an expert in any case and has no plans for further work on the case unless requested. A brief deposition call with Dr.

Bifulco where he confirms his final opinions in the report and provides his email address for the electronic copy of the report.

Transcript

All right, I am back. Thank you for that. One second to get us back on the record.

Okay. That's what happens when you drink iced tea all day long. Back on record.

Okay, doctor. I don't have too much more to go through with you. I want to ask you next about table six of your report.

It's on page 18. Yes, ma'am. Yes, I'm there.

Oh, okay. Sorry, I thought you were going to it. You have here that the plaintiff will require assistance with household chores, and you base that on the patient questionnaire and the deposition transcript.

Is that correct? I do. In part.

In part. And what else is it based on? My experience, training, education, and knowledge.

Acquired over 40 years of medicine, 33 years as a physiatrist. I've interviewed, evaluated, and examined over 100,000 patients in my lifetime. I've reviewed her medical records.

I've sat face to face with her on two occasions, one electronically, one in person. I've read every document that's been provided to me, and I've considered those things. And I think eight hours monthly on average, considering there's 168 hours in a week, so it'd be 168 times four, we're going to take eight hours of those and calculate the value, the annual value of help with household chores.

The annual cost for that would be about $2,600. Yes, I think that's appropriate based on everything I've considered. Is there a vocational expert who also offered that opinion as to any household chores the plaintiff was unable to do?

I don't know if there's a vocational expert. Are you asking me if I know if there's a vocational expert? That's correct.

I don't know that I've been made aware if there's a vocational expert. That might be a question for Plaintiff Council. So the opinion that she'll need eight hours monthly on average over her lifetime of home care or home services is based on your opinion only, no one else's?