To ensure that Board employees are devoted to the investigation and study of safety issues and to ensure that the Board does not have undue influence on private litigation, particular limitations are placed on the testimony of Board employees. (49 CFR Part 835)

All requests for Board employees to testify must be addressed to the General Counsel, who approves or denies such requests. (49 CFR § 835.6)

A Board employee's testimony may be available for use in actions or suits for damages in the form of deposition testimony or responses to written interrogatories. Board employees may not appear and testify in court in such actions (49 CFR § 835.5(a)). See 49 CFR 835.5(b)-(d) for additional restrictions on depositions and testimony.

A Board employee may testify only as to the factual information they obtained in the course of an investigation. They will decline to testify regarding matters beyond the scope of their investigation and shall not give any expert or opinion testimony. (49 CFR 835.3(b))

See Regulations for more information.
For information as to the release of Board Information, see Requests for Board Information for Legal Proceedings.