Oliver et al v. M/V Barbary Coast et al

Filing 342

ORDER denying 318 Motion to Strike by Third-Party Defendant National Union Fire Insurance Company, as set out. However, because addresses of Crompton and Thomas were not provided, Third-Party Plaintiff Atchafalaya Marine is to file a Notice of Address for these two witnesses by 11/28/12. Signed by Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 11/27/2012. (cmj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
MARC E. OLIVER, d/b/a GULF COAST
ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECOVERY,
and T.M. JEMISON CONSTRUCTION
CO. INC. d/b/a JEMISON MARINE, INC.,
Plaintiffs,

:
:
:

CA 11-0223-KD-C

MIDSOUTH BANK, N.A.,
Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant

:

IN ADMIRALTY
In Personam and In Rem

vs.

:

M/V BARBARY COAST, her engines,
tackle, furniture, and appurtenances, etc.,
In Rem, and RODD CAIRNS, an
individual, and ATCHAFALAYA MARINE,
LLC, In personam,
Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs/
Third-Party Plaintiffs,
vs.

:
:
:
:

EAGLE RIVER TOWING, L.L.C., p/k/a or
a/k/a EAGLE INLAND TOWING,
NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PA,
LOUISIANA LIMESTONE & LOGISTICS,
L.L.C., and CURTIS BUFORD,
Third-Party Defendants.

:
:
:

ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Third-Party Defendant National Union Fire Insurance
Company of Pittsburg, PA’s Motion to Strike (Doc. 318).

Specifically, National Union moves

to strike three (3) potential witnesses of Third-Party Plaintiff Atchafalaya Marine, LLC (as set
forth on its witness list): Mark Crompton, Dan Thoms and David Thorguson.

As grounds,

National Union contends that the addresses for Crompton and Thoms were not provided in the
1

Joint Pretrial Document, and that Thorguson was not listed in the required disclosures and thus,
it will be prejudiced as it will not have the chance to depose him prior to trial.
The undersigned’s Standing Order (Doc. 298-1) provides the requirements for the Joint
Proposed Pretrial Document.

In relevant part, Paragraph H governs Witnesses and states as

follows as to precisely what must be contained within the jointly filed document:
H. Witnesses. A list of the names and addresses of all witnesses who will or may testify
at the trial. Witness lists shall be kept to a reasonable minimum. Additional witnesses
may be added only in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(e). The parties shall attach to the
Joint Pretrial Document a curriculum vita of each expert witness, and a brief statement of
the opinion(s) which counsel expects to elicit from such expert. Any objections to the
designation of a witness (whether lay or expert) shall be submitted with the Joint Pretrial
Document. Failure to comply shall constitute a waiver of any such objection.
(Doc. 298-1 at 3-4).

Rule 16(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that the court

may modify the final pretrial conference order "only to prevent manifest injustice."
At the outset, the Court finds that National Union has waived its present objections
because it failed to assert any objections regarding these three (3) witnesses within the Joint
Proposed Pretrial Document, as required.

Thus, it is ORDERED that the Motion (Doc. 318) is

DENIED as the Court will not strike any of these witnesses from Third-Party Plaintiff
Atchafalaya’s witness list.1

Nevertheless, the Court also finds as follows.

As to witness Thorguson, National Union’s waiver of its objection cannot be cured.

The

time for National Union to object was 21 days ago within the proposed pretrial document, or at
the very least 13 days ago at the pretrial conference -- not now only one (1) week before jury
selection.
Nevertheless, National Union is entitled to some relief regarding witnesses Crompton and
Thoms.

Insofar as these two (2) witnesses were identified by Atchafalaya but their addresses

1 Objections based on relevance are preserved.

2

were not provided, Third-Party Plaintiff Atchafalaya Marine, LLC is ORDERED to file a Notice
of Address for these two (2) witnesses, providing such information, no later November 28, 2012.
DONE and ORDERED this the 27th day of November 2012.
/s/ Kristi K. DuBose
KRISTI K. DuBOSE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

3