In a child protection case, is a witness not an expert?
Ontario, Canada
The following excerpt is from Berhanu v. Lind Awanis, 2019 ONCJ 531 (CanLII):
[84] Witnesses who are not experts but who nevertheless have experience may present their observations and conclusions in the form of an opinion. It is usual for social workers in child protection cases to give opinions, based on their education and clinical experience, about a variety of issues including the quality of parent and child interactions, the emotional state of people, appropriate placement and adoption issues. See: Jewish Family and Child Service v. S.K., 2015 ONCJ 246.
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