Question

Identify a real-life case where an expert witness was used to support the defendant or plaintiff in a fraud case

Answer 1

A real life case in which an expert witness was used in a fraud case is the case of United States v. Curtis L. Morris. This is a tax fraud case.

In this case the defendant Curtis L. Morris is an accountant and a bookkeeper. The defendant is accused of helping its client for doing fraud in its tax return. It was alleged that Morris claimed nonexistent tax withholdings and to do so he fabricated forms 1099-OID.

In this case an expert witness was used in the form of Kenneth Chafin. Mr. Chafin was called upon by the government as an accounting expert witness. In the trial Mr. Chafin testified against Mr. Curtis and explained how his scheme and methodology was illegal. Using his expertise Mr. Chafin held that the act of knowingly preparing false tax returns is a criminal act for sure, but being an accomplice to filing a false tax return is also a federal crime.