What is an Expert Report
The purpose of an Expert Report is to provide a Judge or a Member of a Tribunal an independent opinion as to observations of claimed defective work on site. The detail must be to the Courts required standard and must reference the Building Code of Australia, Australia Standards and / or Manufacturers Specifications. The Expert Report is designed to allow other parties experts to agree or disagree as to the validity of claimed defects. The expert report forms the basis upon which the claims for alleged defects succeed or are rejected.
Depending on the particular quantity of defective works and commercial value determines which particular jurisdiction (level of Court) hears a matter. Many building matters are assessed in Hearing rooms conducted by NCAT (New South Wales Civil & Administrative Tribunal) however, more detailed and expensive claims are heard in either the District or Supreme Courts. The standards of evidence of the respective reports are more detailed in the higher Courts.
The Expert Report usually includes a detailed photographic report, Annexures referencing relevant mandatory documents and manufacturers specifications as well as a Scott's Schedule.
A Scott's Schedule is a detailed costing of the claimed defects to an applicable Court standard.
Our services include all of the above which are prepared for all levels of Court. Other services that can be can included follow:
What our services include
• Expert Report - applicable for all levels of Court
• Scott's Schedule
• Photographic Report
• Site Inspections taking evidence; both visual and invasive testing as required
• Appearing in Court as an expert witness
• Appearing at Conclave as an expert witness
• Meetings with solicitors, barristers and other technical experts as required
• Preparation of Conclave Joint reports for Court as required
• Annexures sourced and added to reports
Fees
Due to the complexity of assessing claimed defects, meeting with parties, preparation of Court documents and cross-party legal issues the cost of a report can differ significantly.
Every Expert Report is different as every claim is different in nature. It depends on the number of issues required to report upon, and the complexity of each issue.
These rates are indicative only and may vary pending on the circumstances of the issues you wish to claim for, or when responding to a claim.
An indicative estimate can better be given after engagement and receipt of documentation and the initial site visit.
To help with your budgeting below are some indicative prices;
- Site Investigation: $570.00 for the 1st hour, then $285.00 per hour. Allow up to a day to gather evidence for most claims.
- Expert Witness Reporting: $600.00 per item
- Scott Schedule Reporting: $600.00 per item
- Expert Witness Conclave: $1,500.00 for half day or part thereof and $4,000.00 for the day
- Preparation for NCAT Hearing, Conclave Joint report drafting at standard rate of $285.00 per hr.
- Attendance at NCAT Hearing $4,000.00 per day or part thereof.
- Expert Witness at District or Supreme Court attendance allow $4,000.00 per day or part of day.
- Preparation for of District or Supreme Court charged at 50% loading of hourly rates
All rates a re exclusive of GST and are indicative only
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