§ 12-21-160 — Expert Witnesses

(a) Generally. If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise.
(b) Scientific evidence. In addition to requirements set forth in subsection (a), expert testimony based on a scientific theory, principle, methodology, or procedure is only admissible if:
(1) The testimony is based on sufficient facts or data,
(2) The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and
(3) The witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.
(c) Nothing in this section shall modify, amend, or supersede any provisions of the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1987 and the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1996, commencing with Section 6-5-540, et seq., or any judicial interpretation thereof.
(d) This section shall apply to all civil state court actions commenced on or after January 1, 2012. In criminal actions, this section shall only apply to non-juvenile felony proceedings in which the defendant that is the subject of the proceeding was arrested on the charge that is the subject of the proceeding on or after January 1, 2012. This section shall not apply to domestic relations, child support, juvenile, or probate cases.
(e) The provisions of this section, where inconsistent with any Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure, Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure or Alabama Rule of Evidence, including, but not limited to, Ala. R. Evid. 702, shall supersede such rule or parts of rules.

Legislative History

(Code 1907, §4011; Code 1923, §7725; Code 1940, T. 7, §437; Act 2011-629, &p. 1485, sect;§1-4.)