Beaty Chevrolet Co v. Norfolk So Ry Co

Filing 920070123

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION File Name: 07a0054n.06 Filed: January 23, 2007 No. 05-5973 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

BEATY CHEVROLET COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellant, HYB, INC.; HARPER VEHICLES, LLC, Plaintiffs, v. NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.

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ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE MEMORANDUM OPINION

BEFORE: MARTIN, NORRIS, AND GIBBONS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM. Beaty Chevrolet Company appeals from a grant of summary judgment to defendant Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Jurisdiction is grounded upon diversity of citizenship. Plaintiff contended that a chemical spill from defendant's railroad equipment

approximately five miles distant damaged its property. However, as the district court properly noted, plaintiff's evidence at best pointed to the possibility that defendant's conduct caused the damage, and that was insufficient to prove causation under Tennessee law. Having had the benefit of oral argument and having carefully considered the record on appeal, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we are not persuaded that the district court erred in granting summary judgment to defendant. Because the reasoning which supports judgment for defendant has been articulated by the district court, the issuance of a detailed written opinion by

No. 05-5973 Beaty Chevrolet Co. V. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. this court would be duplicative and serve no useful purpose. The district court is AFFIRMED upon the reasoning employed by that court in its Memorandum Opinion filed on May 18, 2005.

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