Governmental Investigatory Report Findings and Conclusions: What Is Admissible?

Admissibility of governmental investigatory reports, particularly findings and conclusions relating to fault, can have massive ramifications. Accordingly, it is important to recognize admissibility issues relating to governmental investigatory reports and how to properly argue for or against admission of same into evidence. The purpose of this article is to establish not only the basic premise for admissibility of governmental investigatory reports but to also provide case law and arguments for admiralty litigators to utilize when arguing for or against admissibility of the findings and conclusions contained in governmental investigatory reports.