What is an eCommerce Expert Legal Witness?

Going in a different direction today and thought I would highlight a service I provide on occasion, that might be useful to some in the community.

eCommerce isn't just about growth -- sometimes it can be about disputes, too. Let's start here: no one wants to think about something going wrong, but bad things can and do happen. Customers can get upset with service and not pay. Even if companies deliver on their legal commitments, a client may be upset and feel wronged by a situation.

An expert witness in an e-commerce related case can be brought in to help clarify and provide background on an industry that may not be widely known to the legal parties involved.

The job is to rule on a set of questions proposed by one of the legal counsels.

Why is an eCommerce Expert Witness Valuable?

While lawsuits are no fun for anyone, independent consultants can be valuable in helping settle issues during arbitration or a trial. Here are just a few examples of situations where they can be valuable:

* Evaluating the claims of one or both sides of the lawsuit

* Outlining alternatives that could have been

* Commenting on the reasonableness of the actions of a firm

* Evaluate the facts presented by one or both sides.

To a lay jury or arbitrator, eCommerce can seem technical or complex. The goal of eCommerce software and services may not be exactly clear. Often, contracts do not spell out every situation where one side is dissatisfied, and a judge is left to decide what is a reasonable expectation, or what is standard practice in an industry.

Ultimately, the goal is to help the arbitrator or judge understand if a claim is reasonable or valid. An expert could help the judge or arbitrator reach a decision more accurately or quickly than not having.