Discovery and Experts

What happens if you do not do discovery of expert witnesses in a case?   Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 26 is to be strictly interpreted and should be rigidly enforced. Hudson v. Parvin, 582 So.2d 403, 412‑13 (Miss.1991).   M.R.C.P.  26(b)(4)(A)(i) states, “A party may through interrogatories require any other party to identify each person whom the other party expects to call as an expert witness at trial.”  “When requested, parties must disclose the opinions of expert witnesses and the underlying grounds of opinions.” Peterson v. Ladner,785 So.2d 290 (Miss. Ct.App. 2000).  (Emphasis added).  The 60 day notice mandated in Uniform Chancery Rule 1.10  does not apply unless opposing counsel makes a discovery request to designate experts.   Jackson v. Perry, 764 So.2d 373, 384 (Miss. 2000).   As such, you can get blindsided by experts and other people by failing to conduct written discovery.