Discovery and evidence
Daubert Motion
A Daubert motion asks the judge to exclude an expert's testimony because the methodology is unreliable or the opinion will not help the jury.
The judge examines the method, not the conclusion: whether the theory can be tested, has been peer reviewed, has a known error rate, and is generally accepted in the field. The list is flexible and the inquiry is tailored to the discipline.
In cases that turn on causation or damages, excluding an expert can end the case, so these motions are often filed alongside summary judgment and decided at the same time.
These fights are also a large part of what makes complex litigation expensive. Each side may retain multiple experts, depose the others, and brief admissibility separately for every opinion, all before a jury hears a word.
How it appears on a docket
MOTION to Exclude the Testimony of Dr. L. Amari under Daubert and Rule 702, filed by defendant, with hearing set for 12/8/2026.
Governing rule
Fed. R. Evid. 702; Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993)
Related terms
- Expert Witness — An expert witness is someone qualified by knowledge or experience who is allowed to give opinion testimony to help the jury understand technical evidence.
- Motion in Limine — A motion in limine asks the judge, before trial starts, to rule that certain evidence may not be mentioned in front of the jury.
More on discovery and evidence
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