Tennessee
How Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. applies in Tennessee: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Evidence.
Tennessee follows the Daubert standard for admissibility of expert testimony, emphasizing the reliability and relevance of the testimony in light of scientific principles. The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted this approach via the Tennessee Rules of Evidence, specifically Rule 702.
Under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 702, an expert witness is permitted to testify if their scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact and if the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data, is the product of reliable principles and methods, and the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.
Tennessee courts discussed and applied the Daubert standard, indicating that an expert’s opinion must be based on scientifically valid principles.
Contrasted earlier standards in Tennessee law concerning expert testimony, highlighting a shift toward the Daubert standard.
The court emphasized the need for expert testimony to be founded upon replicable and verifiable methods.
Tennessee's application of the Daubert standard aligns closely with the federal interpretation under the Federal Rules of Evidence. Both jurisdictions emphasize the need for reliability and relevance of expert testimony, although Tennessee courts have also maintained some of the flexibility seen in state interpretations of scientific evidence.
Understanding the Daubert standard is essential for the Tennessee bar exam, particularly in sections addressing the admissibility of evidence and expert testimony.