Bill > A06983

This bill amends the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules by adding a new section that allows statements from learned treatises, periodicals, or pamphlets to be admissible as evidence in court under specific conditions. The bill permits such statements to be introduced during legal proceedings if an expert witness either references the statement during cross-examination or relies on it during direct examination, and the publication is verified as a reliable authority. This verification can be established through the expert witness's own admission, testimony from another expert, or by judicial notice. Importantly, while such statements can be read aloud in court, they cannot be received as physical exhibits. This legislative change appears designed to provide more flexibility in introducing scholarly or professional publications as potential evidence, allowing experts to substantiate their testimony with published research or authoritative sources, while maintaining judicial oversight of the sources' credibility.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6983