Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Are the Costs of Demonstrative Exhibits Used with Experts Taxable under 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4) as Exemplification Costs? Case Law Split

Geiss v. Target Corp., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47841 (D.N.J. April 13, 2015):

1. Fees for exemplification under § 1920(4)

Defendant seeks fees for the enlargement and mounting of Plaintiff's medical records and charts and diagrams used at trial that were admitted into evidence. It also seeks reimbursement for a sum paid to rent a medical exhibit entitled "Endotrachael Intubation," and other "demonstrative/visual aids" used at trial by defense expert, Dr. Stephen Smith. While some courts have held that the costs of demonstrative [*6]  materials which are used only to illustrate expert testimony are normally not taxable, see, e.g., Guevara v. Onyewu, 943 F. Supp. 2d 192, 197 (D.D.C. 2013), courts in this district generally hold that taxation of reasonable costs of visual aids is allowable when such aids are admitted into evidence. See Romero v. CSX Transp., Inc., 270 F.R.D. 199, 204-05 (D.N.J. 2010) (allowing for costs of all visual aids, even where some were not admitted into evidence); see also L. Civ. R. 54.1(g)(10) ("The reasonable expense of preparing visual aids . . . is taxable as costs when such visual aids are admitted into evidence.") Here, Defendant has represented to this Court that the medical records and medical exhibit were admitted into evidence at trial, and therefore this Court will allow Defendant to recover $324.56 and $80.25, respectively, for these items. However, this Court declines to award Defendant the cost of creating the visual aids that were used only for demonstrative purposes by Dr. Smith during trial.

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Recent Posts

RICO and Injunctions: (1) State Court Actions Designed to Perpetuate and Monetize a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable under RICO, Even Though They Are Not Themselves Alleged to Be Predicate Acts [Note: Noerr Pennington Applies in RICO Actions] — (2) Although Civil RICO’s Text and Legislative History Fail to Reveal Any Intent to Override the Provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act, Arbitrations Are Enjoinable Under the “Effective Vindication” Doctrine Where They Operate As a Prospective Waiver of a Party’s Right to Pursue Statutory RICO Remedies — (3) Arbitration Findings May Be Given Collateral Estoppel Effect in a Civil RICO Action — (4) Injunction of Non-Corrupt State Court Litigations That Furthers a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable Under the Anti-Injunction Act’s “Expressly Authorized” Exception — (5) “The Irreparable Harm Requirement Is The Single Most Important Prerequisite For The Issuance Of A Preliminary Injunction” (Good Quote) — (6) When Injunction Is Based on “Serious Questions on the Merits” Rather Than “Likelihood of Success,” Court May Rely on Unverified Pleadings and Attached Exhibits to Assess the Merits, Unless the Opponent Has Raised Substantial Questions (Here, the Opponent Failed to Request an Evidentiary Hearing) — (7) Whether Amended Pleading Moots An Appeal Turns on Whether It Materially Changes the Substantive Basis for the Appeal — (8) Meaning of “In That” (“Used To Introduce A Statement That Explains Or Gives More Specific Information” About A Prior Statement)

Archives