--- title: "Law And Legal Expert Was Not Allowed to Opine on Notaries" meta: "og:description": "The law and legal expert was barred from testifying because he provided no special insight into the notarial process" "og:title": "Law And Legal Expert Was Not Allowed to Opine on Notaries" author: "Expert Witness Profiler" description: "The law and legal expert was barred from testifying because he provided no special insight into the notarial process" --- # Law And Legal Expert Was Not Allowed to Opine on Notaries Posted on February 6, 2026 by Expert Witness Profiler This case features a collapsed Ponzi scheme, more than 200 investor-victims, and a federal equity Receiver. The Receiver sued Baker Donelson law firm and two of its former employees— individuals now with federal criminal convictions—for aiding and abetting, civil conspiracy, and other claims under Mississippi law. She seeks to hold them accountable for “the unsustainable liabilities inflicted by the Ponzi scheme” that harmed Madison Timber Properties’ “ability to repay [its] investors.” Baker Donelson hired [Robert L. Gibbs](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Robert-Gibbs/1572130) to provide expert opinion on notaries in the State of Mississippi. The Receiver filed a motion to exclude Gibbs’s opinion. ## **Law And Legal Expert Witness** [Robert Gibbs](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Robert-Gibbs/1572130) is a licensed Mississippi attorney with over 40 years of experience, including time serving as a state Circuit Judge. [Want to know more about the challenges Robert Gibbs has faced? Get the full details with our Challenge Study report](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/order/add?eId=1572130&pId=3). ## **Discussion by the Court** To begin with, the Court is not convinced that Gibbs is qualified to offer expert testimony in the proffered field. The Court is not convinced there even is such a field of specialized expertise “on the use of notarial officers (‘notaries’) in the State of Mississippi.” And, assuming there is, Gibbs’ experience, though impressive, does not demonstrate how he would have any special insight into the notarial process that was unavailable to anyone with a general legal background, or even any person who has had occasion to have documents notarized. Finally, Gibbs answers certain questions largely by quoting a Mississippi Supreme Court case and the Mississippi Administrative Code. Also, Gibbs opined that the notaries breached their professional obligations and deviated from the standard of care for notarial practice in Mississippi. However, these are mere summaries of the law. To sum up, the purpose of expert testimony is not to render legal conclusions. ## **Held** The Court granted Receiver’s motion to exclude the testimony of Robert Gibbs. ## **Key Takeaway** Since there is no indication that Gibbs’ opinion would provide any special insight that would not already be known to a lay person who has had occasion to interact with a notary, the Court held that his opinions venture outside the proper scope of expert testimony, are unhelpful to the jury, and must be excluded.  ## **Case Details:** --- ## **You Might Also Like** ![Mechanical Engineering Expert Allowed to Opine on the Behavior of Wheelchairs](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-03T203819.018.jpg) [**Mechanical Engineering Expert Allowed to Opine on the Behavior of Wheelchairs**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/law-and-legal-expert-was-not-allowed-to-opine-on-notaries?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_x-social-details_comments-action_comment-text/mechanical-engineering-expert-allowed-to-opine-on-the-behavior-of-wheelchairs)![Insurance Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Industry Standards](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-03T192250.590.jpg) [**Insurance Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Industry Standards**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/law-and-legal-expert-was-not-allowed-to-opine-on-notaries?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_x-social-details_comments-action_comment-text/insurance-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-industry-standards)![Credit Reporting Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Intentions](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-03T160159.490.jpg) [**Credit Reporting Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Intentions**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/law-and-legal-expert-was-not-allowed-to-opine-on-notaries?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_x-social-details_comments-action_comment-text/credit-reporting-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-intentions)![Consumer Credit Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Policies](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-03T135126.047.jpg) [**Consumer Credit Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Policies**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/law-and-legal-expert-was-not-allowed-to-opine-on-notaries?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_x-social-details_comments-action_comment-text/consumer-credit-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-policies)![Marketing Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Consumer Reaction](https://ewp-blog.expertwitnessprofiler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/blog-pic-640X480-2026-04-02T115237.879.jpg) [**Marketing Expert Not Allowed to Opine on Consumer Reaction**](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/law-and-legal-expert-was-not-allowed-to-opine-on-notaries?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_x-social-details_comments-action_comment-text/marketing-expert-not-allowed-to-opine-on-consumer-reaction)