Ward v. Carnival Corporation
Filing
87
ORDER denying 43 Motion to Strike; denying 45 Motion in Limine. Signed by Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres on 3/14/2019. See attached document for full details. (abu)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 17-24628-CV-SCOLA/TORRES
RICHARD WARD,
Plaintiff,
v.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION,
Defendant.
/
ORDER ON MOTIONS TO STRIKE EXPERTS
There are two Motions pending Daubert Motions before this Court: (1)
Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike the Testimony and Report of Defendant’s Experts, [D.E.
43]; and (2) Defendant’s Motion in limine to Strike Plaintiff’s Expert Witnesses [D.E.
45], both of which were filed on December 10, 2018. The motions are now fully-briefed
and ripe for disposition, and we hereby ORDER that each be DENIED.
I.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This case presents a straightforward set of facts. On January 21, 2017, Plaintiff
suffered a slip-and-fall incident in his cabin onboard the Carnival Conquest. [D.E. 1,
p. 3]. According to the Complaint, Plaintiff entered his cabin’s bathroom, steeped in
water that allegedly was present on the tile floor due to a leaking pipe, and slipped.
Id. Plaintiff contends that he suffered neck and head injuries as a result. Id.
Both Plaintiff and Defendant have moved to challenge the admission of the
other party’s proffered expert witnesses, utilizing what could generously be called a
“splat-everything-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks” approach. Unfortunately,
neither party sets forth any good cause that supports the relief requested. For the
reasons discussed below, each Motion shall be DENIED.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence governs the admissibility of expert
testimony. That Rule provides that a witness who is qualified as an expert by
knowledge, skill, experience, training or education may testify in the form of an
opinion if: (1) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will
help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue; (2) the
testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; (3) the testimony is the product of
reliable principles and methods; and (4) the expert has reliably applied the principles
and methods to the facts of the case. Fed. R. Evid. 702.
A trial court ruling on the admissibility of expert testimony must engage in a
three-part inquiry and consider whether (1) the expert is qualified to testify
competently regarding the matters he intends to address; (2) the methodology by
which the expert reaches his conclusions is sufficiently reliable under the Supreme
Court’s decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993); and (3)
the testimony assists the trier of fact, through the application of scientific, technical,
or specialized expertise, to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.
Rosenfeld v. Oceania Cruises, Inc., 654 F.3d 1190, 1193 (11th Cir. 2011). The Eleventh
2
Circuit refers to these elements as the “qualification,” “reliability,” and “helpfulness”
prongs. United States v. Frazier, 387 F.3d 1244, 1260 (11th Cir. 2004).
“Under Rule 702 and Daubert, district courts must act as ‘gate keepers’ which
admit expert testimony only if it both reliable and relevant.” Rink v. Cheminova, Inc.,
400 F.3d 1286, 1291 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing Daubert, 509 U.S. at 589). The purpose
of the “gatekeeper” role is to “ensure that speculative, unreliable expert testimony
does not reach the jury.” McCorvey v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 298 F.3d 1253, 1256
(11th Cir. 2002). The decision to admit or exclude expert testimony rests within the
trial court’s discretion, and we enjoy “considerable leeway” when determining the
admissibility of this testimony. Cook v. Sheriff of Monroe County, Fla., 402 F.3d 1092,
1103 (11th Cir. 2005). The party offering the expert testimony bears the burden of
laying the proper foundation for the admission of that expert’s testimony, and that
admissibility must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence. Allison v. McGahn
Med. Corp., 184 F.3d 1300, 1306 (11th Cir. 1999); Frazier, 387 F.3d at 1260 (“The
burden of establishing qualification, reliability, and helpfulness rests on the
proponent of the expert opinion.”).
III.
PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO STRIKE
Plaintiff challenges three of Defendant’s proffered expert witnesses, raising
the following arguments to support his Motion to Strike: (1) Dr. Theodore Feldman’s
opinion should be stricken because Defendant failed to timely disclose his report as
required by the Court’s Scheduling Order; (2) Tara Amenson, Defendant’s
biomechanical engineering expert, is not qualified to testify as to certain opinions,
3
and that others included in her report are unhelpful and not based on reliable
methodology; and (3), the opinions offered by Bryan Emond, a marine engineer,
cannot satisfy Daubert because the majority of his report relies on impermissible
speculation. We address each of the arguments raised in Plaintiff’s Motion below.
A.
The Timeliness Arguments
Plaintiff first challenges the report prepared by Dr. Theodore Feldman’s
(“Feldman”), arguing that it should be excluded because it was untimely. Under Rule
37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “if a party fails to provide information or
identify a witness as required by Rule 26(a) or 26(e), the party is not allowed to use
that information or witness to supply evidence…at a trial, unless the failure was
substantially justified or is harmless. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1). Whether failure to make
sufficient expert disclosures is substantially justified or harmless depends on many
factors, including: “(1) the surprise to the party against whom the evidence would be
offered; (2) the ability of that party to cure the surprise; (3) the extent to which
allowing the evidence would disrupt the trial; (4) the importance of the evidence; and
(5) the non-disclosing party’s explanation for its failure to disclose the
evidence.” Mobile Shelter Sys. USA, Inc. v. Grate Pallet Sols., LLC, 845 F. Supp. 2d
1241, 1250–51 (M.D. Fla. 2012). Sanctions may be warranted if a late disclosure
deprives a party of the ability to disclose a rebuttal expert, impairs its ability to
effectively cross examine the expert at his deposition, changes the scope of the claims,
or otherwise “greatly affect[s] the orderly handling of th[e] case.” Id. at 1251–52.
4
Here, sanctions would be inappropriate under the circumstances. The
Scheduling Order set September 21, 2018 as the deadline to exchange expert witness
summaries and reports. [D.E. 10]. Defendant sent correspondence to Plaintiff’s
counsel that shows it intended to comply with the Court’s deadline on that date, but
accidentally omitted attachment of Dr. Feldman’s report. Carnival quickly rectified
the issue three days later, sending another e-mail to Plaintiff’s counsel that included
the missing report and explaining its omission. As such, there is no indication that
the omission was intentional or otherwise prejudiced Plaintiff’s preparation of his
case, and it can hardly be argued that sanctions would be appropriate for what
amounted to a three-day delay in receipt of the report at issue. To strike the report
for such a small misstep would be draconian and inappropriate. See OFS Fitel, LLC
v. Epstein, Becker and Green, P.C., 549 F.3d 1344, 1364 (11th Cir. 2008) (finding
plaintiff violated Rule 26 but the violation was harmless because the passage of time
did not affect defendant’s ability to prepare rebuttal report). 1
In his Reply, Plaintiff also challenges Defendant’s inclusion of two declarations
prepared by Dr. Amenson and Mr. Emond and filed in conjunction with Defendant’s
Response to Ward’s Motion to Strike. [D.E. 70]. Plaintiff argues that both declarations
seek to “remedy the deficiencies included” in the original reports, and constitute new
opinions untimely disclosed. Id. at 1-2.
Ward seemingly abandoned this argument entirely, as the Reply to Carnival’s
Response did not address Defendant’s explanation on the issue.
1
5
Rule 26(e) governs a party’s duty to supplement an expert’s report. That Rule
requires supplementation or correction of expert disclosures “in a timely manner” if
a party learns that “the disclosure or response is incomplete or incorrect,” and if the
additional or corrective information “has not otherwise been made known to the other
parties during the discovery process.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(A). Any additions or
changes to an expert’s report, or to information given during the expert’s deposition,
“must be disclosed by the time the party’s pretrial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(3) are
due.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(2). As discussed above, if a party fails to comply with the
disclosure requirements, we must then determine whether such a failure was
substantially justified or harmless. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1) We have broad discretion
in making such a determination. United States ex rel. Bane v. Breathe Easy
Pulmonary Servs., Inc., 2009 WL 92826, at *3 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 14, 2009).
Based upon a review of relevant case law – and comparing the declarations
provided by Amenson and Emond with their respective reports – we find that neither
declaration constitutes a “new” expert opinion. Both declarations build upon the
original reports, without changing any of the conclusions or opinions found therein.
See In re Accutane Prods. Liab. Litig., 2007 WL 201091, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 24,
2007) (denying motion to strike supplemental expert report where the report included
additional literature review and, in some areas, a degree of new or additional
rationale in support of the expert’s conclusions, but the core opinions remained the
same); cf. Goodbys Creek, LLC v. Arch Ins. Co., 2009 WL 1139575, at *2 (M.D. Fla.
Apr. 27, 2009) (excluding expert’s untimely second report because it contained
6
opinions regarding claims that went unaddressed in the initial report); K&H Dev.
Group., Inc. v. Howard, 255 F.R.D. 562, 567-68 (N.D. Fla. 2009) (striking expert’s
“supplemental” report that included a new theory of damages based on information
available when expert prepared initial report). The supplemental declarations merely
shed light on the basis supporting both experts’ opinions and their qualifications, the
methodology used, and the rationale supporting those conclusions; but they do not
contain new opinions that went undisclosed during the discovery process. For this
reason, any untimely disclosure of the declarations would be harmless, and the
Motion to Strike should be denied. See Mahavisno v. Compendia Bioscience, Inc., 2015
WL 4394214, at *3 (E.D. Mich. July 16, 2015) (holding that party’s untimely
submission of supplemental expert report was harmless because alleged new report
expressed the same opinion as the original expert report).
Accordingly, the motion to strike the expert reports based on Plaintiff’s
timeliness arguments is DENIED.
B.
Dr. Tara Amenson
Plaintiff’s next challenge involves alleged shortcomings in the testimony to be
offered by Dr. Tara Amenson, who reached the following conclusions in her report: (1)
Plaintiff’s age, physiological challenges, and gait likely contributed the slip and fall
event; (2) the description of how Plaintiff stepped into the bathroom and slipped is
inconsistent with the biomechanics and kinematics of walking and slip events; and
(3) Mr. Ward’s interaction with the open bathroom door would not result in a head
impact as described in the testimonial evidence. [D.E. 43-1]. Plaintiff, in turn,
7
challenges all three opinions, claiming that Dr. Amenson is not qualified and that her
methodology is insufficient for purposes of Daubert.
We disagree that Dr. Amenson’s qualifications are problematic. Rule 702 of the
Federal Rules of Evidence states that an expert may be qualified “by knowledge, skill,
experience, training, or education.” Fed. R. Evid. 702. Determining whether a witness
is qualified to testify as an expert “requires the trial court to examine the credentials
of the proposed expert in light of the subject matter of the proposed testimony” and
ascertain whether the expert is qualified to testify competently regarding the matters
he or she intends to address. Clena Investments, Inc. v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 280
F.R.D. 653, 661 (S.D. Fla. 2012) (internal quotation and citation omitted). But a
determination as to an expert’s qualifications is not a stringent inquiry, “and so long
as the expert is minimally qualified, objections to the level of the expert’s expertise
[go] to credibility and weight, not admissibility.” Vision I Homeowners Ass’n, Inc. v.
Aspen Specialty Ins. Co., 674 F. Supp. 2d 1321, 1325 (S.D. Fla. 2009) (citations
omitted); Furmanite Am., Inc. v. T.D. Williamson, Inc., 506 F. Supp. 2d 1126, 1129
(M.D. Fla. 2007) (an expert is “not necessarily unqualified simply because her
experience does not precisely match the matter at hand.”).
Amenson is a biomedical engineer with extensive academic and real-world
experience in the fields of biomechanics, human factors, and human ambulation. Her
curriculum vitae reflects her extensive participation in cases involving automobile
and other accidents, and shows ongoing involvement in slip and fall investigations
like the one alleged by Plaintiff here. She is also certified to use the XL tribometer, a
8
tool used to measure the slip resistance of particular walking surfaces which is
commonly relied upon by experts in these types of cases. 2 In order to properly utilize
the tribometer, Amenson needs to obtain re-certification every three years; such
certification requires continuous participation in educational and training programs.
This certification qualifies her to do much more than simply use this particular
instrument, as it involves ongoing participation in training programs related to the
device. That training relates to topics such as walkway safety, safety engineering,
footwear bottom materials, loss of control, surface materials, performance and quality
control, kinesiology, and biomechanics.
Thus, we are satisfied that Amenson’s education, training, and experience
sufficiently qualify her to serve as an expert in this case. Defendant has met its
burden in showing Amenson’s extensive experience in this field qualifies her as an
expert to render opinions at trial, and Plaintiff may challenge those qualifications
during cross examination should he wish to do so. See Clena Investments, 280 F.R.D.
at 660-61 (“[A]fter an individual satisfies the relatively low threshold for
qualification, the depth of one’s qualification may be the subject of vigorous crossexamination.”) (quotation and citation omitted); see also Rushing v. Kansas City S.
Ry. Co., 185 F.3d 496, 507 n.10 (5th Cir. 1999) (“As long as some reasonable indication
Plaintiff argues that Amenson’s certification as an XL Tribometrist is
irrelevant because she did not test the floor in this case. We disagree. The issue is not
whether she actually used the instrument, but whether the training involved with
certification in the use of the tribometer qualifies her to render “expert” opinions on
the biomechanical circumstances surrounding Plaintiff’s fall. We find that it does.
2
9
of qualifications is adduced…qualifications become an issue for the trier of fact rather
than for the court in its gate-keeping capacity.”).
Plaintiff’s challenge to Dr. Amenson’s methodology also fails. In the Motion,
Plaintiff argues that Amenson’s report is void of any methodology that can be
considered reliable. [D.E. 43, p. 6]. Indeed, Mr. Ward states that Amenson simply
bases her conclusions on “hypotheticals” and “inappropriate speculation,” and that
her opinions qualify as impermissible ipse dixit under Daubert. Id. We disagree.
Rule 702 states that an expert may testify only if “the methodology by which
the expert reaches his conclusions is sufficiently reliable as determined by the sort of
inquiry mandated in Daubert.” City of Tuscaloosa v. Harcros Chems., Inc., 158 F.3d
548, 562-63 (11th Cir. 1999); see also Frazier, 387 F.3d at 1261 (defining the reliability
prong as distinct from the qualification prong and finding that a qualified expert may
still not offer unreliable opinions). The court must perform “a preliminary assessment
of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically
valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the
facts in issue.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593-94. The Supreme Court has provided a nonexhaustive list of factors to guide courts in assessing the reliability of an expert’s
opinion, including “(1) whether the expert’s theory can be and has been tested; (2)
whether the theory has been subjected to peer review and publication; (3) the known
or potential rate of error of the particular scientific technique; and (4) whether the
technique is generally accepted in the scientific community.” Kilpatrick v. Breg, Inc.,
613 F.3d 1329, 1335 (11th Cir. 2010) (citing Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593-94).
10
Regardless of the specific factors considered, proposed testimony “must be
supported by appropriate validation – i.e., ‘good grounds,’ based on what is known.”
Daubert, 509 U.S. at 590. In most cases, the expert’s testimony “must be grounded in
an accepted body of learning or experience in the expert’s field, and the expert must
explain how the conclusion is so grounded.” Fed. R. Evid. 702, Advisory Committee
Notes (2000 Amendment). “Presenting a summary of a proffered expert’s testimony
in the form of conclusory statements devoid of factual or analytical support is simply
not enough” to carry the proponent’s burden. Cook, 402 F.3d at 1113. And an expert’s
unexplained assurance that the opinions rely on accepted principles, standing alone,
is insufficient. McClain v. Metabolite Int’l, Inc., 401 F.3d 1233, 1244 (11th Cir. 2005);
Frazier, 387 F.3d at 1261.
Plaintiff argues Dr. Amenson failed to support each of her opinions with any
analysis as to “how or why she came to her conclusions.” [D.E. 43, p. 6]. But this
argument ignores the information made available to the expert, which Amenson
listed in her report. In particular, Dr. Amenson reviewed photographs of the scene at
issue, Plaintiff’s deposition testimony, and the passenger injury statement completed
by Mr. Ward on the date the incident took place. [D.E. 43-1]. Dr. Amenson also
utilized medical documents and information provided by Plaintiff during the
discovery process, and included a list of the publications she consulted in connection
with the preparation of her report. Id. Using the information gleaned from these
materials, Dr. Amenson conducted an analysis of the subject incident and ultimately
made determinations as to the state of things at the time that incident took place.
11
This satisfies Daubert. The report shows that the information provided by Mr.
Ward, including testimony made during his deposition, provided ample “fodder” for
her to make the various determinations included in her report. As an example, Dr.
Amenson discusses the act of ambulation and the biomechanical systems implicated
by that task; she then pairs that information with Mr. Ward’s description of the fall,
which involved his right foot “slipping” while he attempted to use the left foot for
stability. Dr. Amenson, sufficiently qualified to opine on the human gait, then used
that description to conclude that Mr. Ward’s version of events appears to be
impossible from a biomechanical perspective. While certainly not definitive proof on
what actually occurred, the reliance on this information directly rebuts Plaintiff’s
contention that none of the conclusions reached by Dr. Amenson are supported by any
facts, especially if one compares her findings with the literature the doctor claims she
relied upon when preparing her report. Under these circumstances, it is easy to trace
a line from the facts presented by Ward to the ultimate conclusions Amenson reached.
The same is true for the first and third conclusions. Dr. Amenson reviewed
medical records that gave Plaintiff’s age, height and weight on the date of the
incident, and Defendant’s response makes clear that she used this information to
evaluate Plaintiff’s body mass index, the contribution of his age to slip and fall
incidents, and the likelihood that his physical condition in some way influenced the
events leading to the fall in question. This information provides more than enough
support for the conclusions Dr. Amenson draws from the facts, as presented by
Plaintiff, as to how his physical condition may have contributed to the fall. See Jones
12
v. Otis Elevator Co., 861 F.2d 655, 662-63 (11th Cir. 1988) (“Expert testimony is
admissible [if it] connects conditions existing later to those existing earlier[,] provided
the connection is concluded logically.”) (emphasis added); cf. Amos v. Rent-A-Center,
Inc., 2001 WL 36095915, *3 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 13, 2001) (court granted Daubert motion
in part because record did not contain documents referencing the procedure expert
used in evaluating the incident and the articles cited as support were unrelated to
the issue at hand).
We would also be remiss if we failed to acknowledge that Plaintiff elected not
to depose Amenson in this case. 3 The decision not to do so is curious in light of the
arguments raised by Plaintiff in his Motion, as the alleged “analytical gaps” and
“speculation” attributed to Dr. Amenson by Plaintiff – including those pertaining to
her methodology – appear to exist in large part as a result of Ward’s failure to develop
a record that might have shed light on those issues. See Continental Motors, Inc. v.
Jewell Aircraft, Inc., 2013 WL 5530842, at *7-8 (M.D. Ala. Oct. 4, 2013) (denying
motion to strike based on party’s decision to “plung[e] into a full-blown Daubert
[challenge] without first taking [the expert’s] deposition.”). We are in no way saying
that Plaintiff was required to depose Dr. Amenson. But if Plaintiff lacks salient
details as to what Dr. Amenson did or did not do in reaching her conclusions, or how
the literature supports her findings, it seems to us that this occurred as a result of
Such a failure does not change our ultimate finding, as the expert report
provides sufficient evidence for the Court to rule on Plaintiff’s motion.
3
13
Plaintiff’s own failure to seek the information he claims he now does not possess, and
not because the expert’s process is somehow lacking.
Nevertheless, we are satisfied with, and find reliable, Amenson’s methodology,
including how she applied her process to the facts at hand. See Allison, 184 F.3d at
1312 (“[T]he proponent of the testimony does not have the burden of proving that it
is scientifically correct, but that by a preponderance of the evidence, it is reliable.”).
The criticisms contained in Plaintiff’s Motion are more appropriate at trial and upon
cross examination, as any such objections go to the weight of the evidence rather than
its admissibility. See Quiet Tech. DC-8, Inc. v. Hurel-Dubois UK Ltd., 326 F.3d 1333,
1345 (11th Cir. 2003).
The remaining challenges as to Dr. Amenson are likewise rejected. Ward’s
hearsay argument is unavailing because he fails to identify what, exactly, Defendant
is doing to “bypass the rules prohibiting hearsay,” and Rule 703 permits experts to
rely on such hearsay (or any other inadmissible evidence) to support his or her
conclusions. See Fed. R. Evid. 703 (“If experts in the particular field would reasonably
rely on those kinds of facts or data in forming an opinion on the subject, they need
not be admissible for the opinion to be admitted.”). Further, Amenson’s opinion about
how the fall occurred does not constitute improper impeachment evidence, as the
doctor’s report makes clear that her conclusion is drawn from Plaintiff’s own
description of how the event unfolded and these concerns are better left for “vigorous
cross-examination.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596. And Ward’s conclusory claim that the
doctor’s testimony will not assist the trier of fact – set forth in a throwaway
14
paragraph, without citation to a single legal authority supporting the argument – is
likewise ineffective.
For these reasons, we will deny the Motion as to Dr. Amenson. She may testify
at trial as to all conclusions contained within her report.
C.
Bryan Emond
Plaintiff also argues Defendant should be precluded from eliciting testimony
from Bryan Emond, a marine engineer who conducted an inspection of the bathroom
where Ward’s fall allegedly took place. Emond offers three significant opinions in his
report: (1) “the bathroom walking surface is slip-resistant in both the dry and wet
conditions”; (2) “[i]t is not a practice within the maritime industry to open closed
bulkheads to perform a visual inspection of piping that will provide no useful
information”; and (3) Defendant’s “practice of addressing potable water leaks as they
are identified is consistent with good marine practice.” [D.E. 43-2].
As an initial matter, we find Emond is sufficiently qualified to offer the
opinions contained in his report. Emond possesses over thirty years of experience in
fields related to marine safety and engineering. [D.E. 43-5]. His current position
involves technical analysis with a focus on various maritime issues, including
recreational boating accidents, piping system failures, human factors, and walkway
safety. Id. He is a retired commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard,
where he previously served as a Staff Engineer, Team Leader, Executive Office and
Commander. Id. He was a division chief in the “Human Element and Ship Design”
division of the U.S. Coast Guard until 2006, before retiring and entering the private
15
sector. Id. His resume reflects familiarity with various marine safety and
construction codes, comprehensive experience with various vessel systems, and
involvement in performance of safety evaluations in many aspects of the maritime
industry. Id.
Undeterred, Plaintiff takes issue with his alleged lack of “hands-on experience”
with piping systems, which Ward argues should preclude him from offering opinions
related to the Conquest’s piping. [D.E. 43, p. 13]. We disagree. Like we stated in the
section concerning Dr. Amenson’s qualifications, an expert may be qualified to testify
in multiple ways, and is “not necessarily unqualified simply because [his] experience
does not precisely match the matter at hand.” Furmanite Am., Inc., 506 F. Supp. 2d
at 1129 (citing Maiz v. Virani, 253 F.3d 641, 669 (11th Cir. 2001)). And Plaintiff’s
challenge ignores large portions of Emond’s resume that touch upon his experience
with vessel piping systems, such as (1) his lengthy experience as a Project Engineer,
where he deals with piping system failures, (2) his experience as a Commissioned
Officer with the United States Coast Guard, which involved “review and approval of
ship designs,” including systems related to “piping [and] pressure vessels,” and (3)
his time as a Staff Engineer with the Coast Guard, which involved overseeing tasks
related to “shipboard mechanical systems, including [ ] piping.” [D.E. 43-5].
As stated above, an expert’s qualifications – “so long as the expert is minimally
qualified” – go to credibility and weight, not admissibility, and are better-explored at
cross examination.” Clena Investments, 280 F.R.D. at 660 (citations omitted). We
further reject Plaintiff’s contention that “many of Emond’s opinions are lay opinions,”
16
given a cursory review of his report and his resume. Both clearly show that his
analysis does not “result [ ] from a process of reasoning familiar in every day life,” but
instead “from a process of reasoning that can be mastered only by specialists in the
field” of marine safety. Sanchez-Knutson v. Ford Motor Co., 2016 WL 3944061, at *3
(S.D. Fla. July 11, 2016) (citations omitted). Emond’s declaration solidifies our
confidence in his qualifications as an expert, and the contention that his opinions are
“lay” is therefore rejected in its entirety.
We are likewise unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s arguments with regard to Emond’s
methodology. Based on our review of the report and Mr. Emond’s observations
providing the basis for his conclusions, we find that the report and testimony on the
issues contained therein are admissible. In fact, almost every single challenge raised
over Emond’s methodology involves an attack on the “factual underpinnings” of his
ultimate conclusions, which – as we have repeated many times – goes to the weight
and credibility of the expert’s testimony, not to its admissibility.” See Sorrels v. NCL
(Bahamas), Ltd., 796 F.3d 1275, 1285 (11th Cir. 2015); Acevedo v. NCL (Bahamas)
Ltd., 317 F. Supp. 3d 1188, 1197 (S.D. Fla. 2017).
For example, Plaintiff argues that Emond “assumes facts in order to formulate
a hypothetical calculation to support the defendant’s theories.” [D.E. 43]. There is
nothing inherently flawed about an expert relying on facts he or she assumes, as the
Supreme Court has observed that “an expert may express an opinion that is based on
facts that the expert assumes, but does not know, to be true.” William v. Illinois, 567
U.S. 50, 57 (2012) (citing Fed. R. Evid. 703). We are also not convinced by Plaintiff’s
17
argument that Emond actually assumed facts here; Plaintiff would ask that we
require pinpoint-specificity when Emond provided details about the pressure
capabilities of the cabin’s piping system or the depth of water Ward claims was
present on the date in question. 4 Any failure, as Plaintiff claims, to “identify the
actual water pressure of the ship’s plumbing” (as opposed to the maximum pressure
Emond includes in his report) is not required by Daubert, and even if we were to
assume the contentions raised by Plaintiff to be true, the factual bases by which
Emond prepared his report would go to the weight of the opinions drawn from same,
not admissibility. See Mcgarity v. FM Carriers, Inc., 2012 WL 1028593, at *7 (S.D.
Ga. Mar. 26, 2012) (“[T]he identification of flawed data or facts relied upon by an
expert is precisely the role of cross-examination and does not render expert testimony
inadmissible under Daubert.”); Hightower v. Goldberg, 2018 WL 296955, at *2 (M.D.
Ga. Jan. 4, 2018) (“Defendants’ objections go to the weight and credibility of Mr.
Beauchamp's opinions, not their reliability. If Mr. Beauchamp failed to consider
certain facts in
forming
his
opinions,
Defendants
will
be
able
to
vigorously cross examine him, present their own expert testimony, and tell the jury
why they believe his opinion should not be believed.”); In re Mushroom Direct
Purchaser Antitrust Litig., 2015 WL 5767415, at *6 (E.D. Pa. July 29, 2015) (“Courts
have found that most contentions that [an expert’s] assumptions are unfounded go to
The report shows a sufficient factual basis for the opinions, as it indicates
Emond relied on materials in the record – including “plumbing specifications
provided by Carnival” and Ward’s own description of the depth of the water allegedly
present in the bathroom – to reach his conclusions.
4
18
the weight, not the admissibility, of the testimony, and a district court has
discretion…to determine whether the expert acted reasonably in making
assumptions of fact upon which he would base his testimony.”) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted).
The other arguments included in Plaintiff’s Motion all raise similar, factualbased challenges that do not support a Motion to Strike at this stage in the
proceedings. For these reasons, Plaintiff’s Motion as to Mr. Emond will also be denied
in its entirety.
IV.
DEFENDANT’S MOTION
Not to be outdone by Plaintiff’s scattershot, include-every-argument-underthe-sun tactics for challenging Carnival’s witnesses, Defendant decided to join in.
Indeed, Carnival’s Motion throws caution to the wind and takes a metaphorical
howitzer to each report in the hopes that one of the arguments hits home. None do.
For the reasons discussed below, the Motion is denied.
A.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Defendant first broadly challenges any expert’s reliance on an MRI report
prepared by Dr. Andrew Walker on February 28, 2018 because the report utilized
diffusion tensor imaging (“DTI”) data, which Carnival describes as a “relatively new
MRI-based analysis technique.” [D.E. 45, p. 3]. Carnival then proceeds to argue that
DTI data should not be used in legal proceedings for “mild traumatic brain injuries,”
which it alleges is the extent of Plaintiff’s injury. Id.
19
Ignoring the fact that Defendant argues that Mr. Ward only suffered a “mild”
traumatic brain injury – which on its face not only appears to be an oxymoron, but is
also not a conceded fact – Defendant’s arguments are wholly without merit. As
Carnival concedes in its Motion, “some courts throughout the country…have
admitted DTI MRI testimony.” [D.E. 45, p. 5]. “Some” would be an understatement;
a basic Westlaw search on the subject shows that numerous courts, facing challenges
identical to the arguments set forth in Defendant’s Motion, found DTI data to be
reliable, helpful, and admissible. See Marsh v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., 2017 WL
6987718, at *4 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 15, 2017) (“DTI findings and testimony have been
deemed reliable and admitted by courts across the country for almost a decade.”);
Barnett v. National Continental Ins. Co., 2019 WL 126732, at *6 (M.D. La. Jan. 8,
2019) (finding DTI data admissible and stating that “Defendants’ broader attack on
[the expert’s] reliance on DTI is simply unsupported.”); Andrew v. Patterson Motor
Freight, Inc., 2014 WL 5449732, at *8 (W.D. La. Oct. 23, 2014) (“In sum, the evidence
submitted shows DTI has been tested and has a low error rate; DTI has been subject
to peer review and publication; and DTI is a generally accepted method for detecting
TBI.”); White v. Deere & Co., 2016 WL 462960, at *3 (D. Col. Feb. 8, 2016) (finding
doctor utilizing DTI data applied a reliable methodology); Roach v. Hughes, 2016 WL
9460306, at *3 (W.D. Ky. March 9, 2016) (“DTI of the brain is a proven and wellestablished imaging modality in the evaluation and assessment of normal and
abnormal conditions of the brain.”) (quotation omitted); Ruppel v. Kucanin, 2011 WL
2470621, at *7 (N.D. In. July 20, 2011) (“The evidence shows that while DTI is a
20
relatively new technology, it is gaining general acceptance as a method for detecting
TBI.”).
It is curious that Defendant would submit a brief to this Court without
acknowledging that DTI data can and has been found to be admissible and an
accepted methodology upon which an expert could base his or her opinion. The failure
to disclose these cases (or otherwise address them) is, at best, a significant oversight,
and at worst, a violation of Defendant’s duty of candor to the court. The specter of
impropriety is raised when one considers the fact that another court in this District,
dealing with the exact type of challenge to DTI data raised in an almost identical case,
made this same point to another cruise line when it failed to disclose a multitude of
cases where such data was deemed admissible. See Marsh, 2017 WL 6987718, at *3,
n.2 (“It is worth noting that Celebrity failed to disclose the fact that DTI testimony
has been previously admitted by a multitude of federal courts. In fact, Celebrity did
not cite a single case in which DTI evidence was admitted at trial.”). And this type of
“hide the ball” tactic appears all the more troublesome when, later in its Motion,
Carnival directs this Court’s attention to several cases in which one of Plaintiff’s
experts had been precluded from testifying at trial. [D.E. 45, p. 16]. What is good for
the goose is apparently not also good for the gander.
We will not preclude any of Plaintiff’s experts from testifying based on
Defendant’s arguments related to the DTI data. We also reject Defendant’s argument
that Dr. Walker’s MRI report should be precluded from reaching the jury for his
failure to produce an expert report, as the record makes clear that the doctor is a
21
treating physician and no report is required of such a witness. See Williams v. Mast
Biosurgery USA, Inc., 644 F.3d 1312, 1317 (11th Cir 2011) (a treating physician may
offer lay opinion testimony when that opinion “is based on his experience as a
physician and [is] clearly helpful to an understanding of his decision-making process
in the situation”). There is also no indication that Plaintiff intends to call Dr. Walker
at trial as a live witness. [D.E. 76-1].
As such, we find no basis to preclude the MRI report from being admitted into
evidence, and the Motion as to its introduction – and any reliance on same – is denied.
B.
Temporal Proximity
Carnival next argues that Dr. Suite and Dr. Russell should not be allowed to
testify as experts because each bases their opinion “on temporal proximity.” [D.E. 45,
p. 7]. Defendant is correct that temporal proximity “is generally not a reliable
indicator of a causal relationship.” Guinn v. AstaZeneca Pharms. LP, 602 F.3d 1245,
1254 (11th Cir. 2010); see also Black v. Food Lion, Inc., 171 F.3d 308, 313 (5th Cir.
1999) (holding that using temporal proximity to establish causation “is not an
exercise in scientific logic but in the fallacy of post-hoc proper-hoc reasoning, which
is as unacceptable in science as in law.”). And, standing alone, the mere fact that a
plaintiff’s symptoms occur relatively close to a specific underlying incident would be
grounds for exclusion. See Cartwright v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 936 F. Supp. 900,
906 (M.D. Fla. 1996) (“It is well settled that a causation opinion based solely on a
temporal relationship is not derived from the scientific method and is therefore
insufficient to satisfy the requirements of [Federal Rule of Evidence 702].”).
22
Carnival’s argument still misses the mark. The record shows that Dr. Russell
and Dr. Suite do not based their opinions solely on temporal proximity, despite
Defendant’s arguments to the contrary. See Haller v. AstraZeneca Pharms. LP, 598
F. Supp. 2d 1271, 1297 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 6, 2009) (“Standing alone…temporal proximity
[ ] is legally insufficient.”) (emphasis added). Indeed, both doctors’ causation
testimony is significantly more developed than one would be led to believe by
Carnival’s Motion, and the arguments contained in the Motion to Strike are based
more on a selective reading of each expert’s deposition rather than some flaw in the
doctors’ methodology.
In its challenge to Dr. Russell based on its temporal proximity argument,
Carnival asserts that her opinions are improper because the doctor did not have “any
pre-incident data [that] could serve as a ‘baseline’ for Plaintiff’s pre-incident cognitive
functioning.” [D.E. 45, p. 7]. Ignoring the fact that such a challenge goes to weight,
not admissibility, Dr. Russell provided a simple explanation for why this would be
the case, testifying that it would be “very rare” for someone to undergo pre-incident
cognitive testing without cause to do so. [D.E. 59-3, p. 4]. Further, the doctor stated
that the tests she administered to Mr. Ward during his evaluation would be “fairly
good indicators” of his pre-morbid level of cognitive functioning. Id. The doctor makes
clear, then, that an absence of cognitive functioning is not abnormal, and that the
tests she administered could reliably provide information on Plaintiff’s pre-incident
cognitive function. Thus, any assertion that Dr. Russell based her opinions solely on
“temporal proximity” is flatly contradicted in the record before this Court.
23
The same is true for Dr. Suite. A review of his deposition shows that Suite’s
opinion as to the cause of Mr. Ward’s alleged condition had not been based solely on
the temporal proximity to the underlying incident. Dr. Suite testified he relied on
MRI studies performed on Plaintiff’s brain after the incident, in addition to medical
records that pre-dated his fall, before rendering any opinions in this case. [D.E. 52-2,
pp. 4, 6, 12]. Once again, Defendant’s claims are undermined by the clarifying
testimony Dr. Suite gave in his deposition; and even if this were not the case, the
arguments raised here are much better-suited for cross examination. See Brown v.
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., 2016 WL 3251931, at *5 (S.D. Fla. June 10, 2016); In re TMI
Litig. Cases Consol. II, 922 F. Supp. 1038, 1043-44 (M.D. Pa. 1996) (finding that a
doctor’s “failure to consider certain potentially relevant data goes to the weight of the
testimony.”).
C.
The Remaining Opinions Included in Dr. Russell’s Report
We can summarily reject Defendant’s third argument as to why Dr. Russell’s
opinion should be excluded, which involves its claim that the doctor did not account
for several other causes that might explain any cognitive deficiency or mimic
symptoms of brain injury. [D.E. 45, p. 8]. This is not proper grounds under Daubert,
and we reject it outright. See Chapman v. Proctor & Gamble Distributing, LLC, 766
F.3d 1296, 1308-09 (11th Cir. 2014) (“A reliable differential analysis need not rule out
all possible alternative causes.”) (internal quotation omitted); Whelan v. Royal
Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 976 F. Supp. 2d 1328, 1332 (S.D. Fla. 2013) (“[A]n expert
need not rule out all possible alternative causes, [and] it follows that he need not
24
decide on one cause in particular to the exclusion of all others. And, on a more
fundamental level, the focus of a Daubert inquiry ‘must be solely on principles and
methodology, not on the conclusions that the generate.’”) (emphasis original; quoting
Daubert, 509 U.S. at 580).
Carnival’s other arguments in support of its Motion are equally unavailing.
First, it makes an unsupported logical leap that because Dr. Russell cannot opine on
causation, she should not be able to opine whatsoever. See D.E. 45, p. 10 (arguing that
because Dr. Russell cannot say whether the alleged cruise accident caused Plaintiff’s
cognitive issues, “[h]er testimony that Plaintiff suffers from a traumatic brain injury
should be precluded.”). Defendant has provided no support for such a position, and
we find no grounds to exclude an expert’s testimony based on broad assertions and
conclusory statements made by counsel.
Next, Defendant seemingly contends that because Plaintiff made several
misstatements in his deposition about his treatment with Dr. Russell and her
ultimate diagnosis, it somehow justifies the doctor’s opinion being struck in its
entirety. Carnival once again has failed to provide this Court with anything even
remotely approaching what one could consider “legal authority” that could support
this position. Even worse, Defendant somehow contends that Dr. Russell’s failure to
videotape her examination of Plaintiff in some way renders her entire opinion
obsolete, once again relying only on broad, conclusory statements about how this in
some way triggers Daubert exclusion. These arguments – and we are beginning to
25
notice a pattern here – are not appropriate for Daubert challenge, but instead should
be raised on cross examination.
Thus, the Motion as to Dr. Russell is denied.
D.
Dr. Nicholas Suite
Defendant next asks us to preclude Dr. Suite from offering any opinions in the
matter, challenging his conclusions by arguing: (1) the doctor failed to consider
Plaintiff’s other pre-existing medical conditions when determining that Ward’s
impairments were caused by the underlying incident giving rise to the Complaint;
and (2) he is not qualified to render opinions on Mr. Ward’s cervical or lumbar injuries
because he is not an orthopedic surgeon. [D.E. 45, pp. 13-15]. We find both arguments
unpersuasive.
Regarding the first challenge, Defendant asserts that Dr. Suite ignored
Plaintiff’s pre-existing hyperlipidemia, right wrist pain, and cervical and lumbar
complaints that are allegedly reflected in the medical records that pre-date the
incident. There are two issues with these arguments. First, a cursory review of Dr.
Suite’s report refutes the statement that he ignored pre-existing medical issues; the
report makes clear that the doctor reviewed Plaintiff’s entire medical history prior to
reaching his conclusions, going so far as to note and list certain “general medical
problems that were being monitored and treated by [Ward’s] physicians” prior to the
incident on the vessel. [D.E. 60-2, p. 2]. 5 Second, Dr. Suite’s report establishes that
That list included “hyperlipidemia,” “spinal stenosis in the cervical region,”
“obesity,” and “sleep apnea.” Id.
5
26
certain injuries Plaintiff claims were the result of his fall on the Conquest are “related
to” or “aggravated” by that incident; at no point does he contend that those injuries
were exclusively attributable to his fall. 6 See D.E. 60-2. Thus, Carnival’s contention
that Dr. Suite’s opinion “ignores the facts of the case” cannot be supported by this
record.
Even if we found that Dr. Suite did fail to rule out certain pre-existing medical
conditions prior to reaching his conclusions, such contentions are more appropriate
for cross-examination. See Jones, 861 F.2d at 663 (“On cross-examination, the
opposing counsel is given the opportunity to ferret out the opinion’s weaknesses to
ensure the jury properly evaluates the testimony’s weight and credibility.”); Smith v.
Ford Motor Co., 215 F.3d 713, 718 (7th Cir. 2000) (“The soundness of the factual
underpinnings of the expert’s analysis and the correctness of the expert’s conclusions
based on that analysis are factual matters to be determined by the trier of fact, or,
where appropriate, on summary judgment.”); McLean v. 988011 Ontario, Ltd., 224
F.3d 797, 801 (6th Cir. 2000) (“[M]ere weaknesses in the factual basis of an expert
witness’ opinion bear on the weight of the evidence rather than on admissibility.”)
(internal quotation omitted); Ostroski v. United States, 2007 WL 9701868, at *2 (S.D.
Fla. Aug. 23, 2007) (“Any claimed weakness in the factual basis for [an expert’s]
conclusion…goes at best to weight and credibility, and can certainly be explored on
cross examination.”).
Dr. Suite’s report notes Plaintiff’s “multiple pre-existing medical and surgical
problems,” which he believes “have been stable and treated.” [D.E. 60-2, p. 6].
6
27
Moving to Dr. Suite’s qualifications, we must first “examine the credentials of
the proposed expert in light of the subject matter of the proposed testimony.” Clena
Investments, Inc., 280 F.R.D. at 661 (quotation omitted). “In other words, a district
court must consider whether an expert is qualified to testify competently regarding
the matters he intends to address.” Id. (citing City of Tuscaloosa, 158 F.3d at 562-63).
But, as we stated above, the qualification standard for expert testimony is “not
stringent,” and “objections to the level of the expert’s expertise [go] to credibility and
weight, not admissibility.” Vision I Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., 674 F. Supp. 2d at 1325.
While Dr. Suite is not an orthopedic surgeon, there is no requirement that a
doctor specialize in a particular field of medicine in order to render opinions in that
medical specialty. See McDowell v. Brown, 392 F.3d 1283, 1297 (11th Cir. 2004)
(finding error for district court to exclude testimony of expert, not board-certified in
emergency medicine, to render an opinion as to the applicable standard of care for
emergency room physicians and nurses); (citing Gaydar v. Sociedad Instituto GinecoQuirurgico y Planificacion, 345 F.3d 15, 24 (1st Cir. 2003) (“The proffered expert
physician need not be a specialist in a particular medical discipline to render expert
testimony relating to that discipline. In fact, it would have been an abuse of discretion
for the court to exclude [the expert’s] testimony on [this] sole basis.”)). And courts in
this District have allowed doctors that do not specialize in orthopedics to nevertheless
opine on orthopedic injuries alleged by individual plaintiffs in similar cases, so long
as the doctor offering the opinion practices in a related field. See Carlsen v. State
Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 2018 WL 2773369, at *5 (S.D. Fla. May 14, 2018) (admitting
28
testimony of non-orthopedic doctor specializing in physical medicine and
rehabilitation to opine on future need for spinal surgery); Galarza v. Carnival Corp.,
2016 WL 7507883, at *6-7 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 8, 2016) (rejecting cruise line’s argument
that physiatrist should not be able to opine on future need for surgeries because
expert was not an orthopedic surgeon).
We also find it to be a bit of a stretch to make the case that a neurologist wholly
lacks the ability to discuss, diagnose or otherwise opine on spinal injuries. See Stone
v. Fye, 2017 WL 1199742, at *10 (M.D. Ga. Mar. 31, 2017) (“[R]adiologist[s],
orthopedic surgeon[s], [and] neurosurgeon[s]…[as] subspecialists[,] routinely
diagnose and/or treat lumbar spine problems in their practice.”); see also Banister v.
Burton, 636 F.3d 828, 831-32 (7th Cir. 2011) (holding that emergency-room surgeon
who treated shooting victim was adequately qualified to testify about victim’s ability
to throw or crawl at the time of treatment, despite not being a biomechanics expert
or an orthopedic surgeon); Gayton v. McCoy, 593 F.3d 610, 618 (7th Cir. 2010)
(holding that general practitioner could testify about possible effects of certain
medications on decedent’s heart condition because the issue did not concern
“specialized knowledge held only be cardiologists.”). Carnival arguably concedes this
point in its briefing papers when it stated neurologists “treat patients with
neurological complaints that have cervical and lumbar related sequelae.” [D.E. 45, p.
14].
Nevertheless, we have reviewed Dr. Suite’s curriculum vitae, expert report,
and deposition transcript, and we find that he possesses the requisite training and
29
experience to offer the opinions included in his report. [D.E. 60-1, p. 3]. Accordingly,
we find Dr. Suite qualified to opine on Plaintiff’s alleged orthopedic injuries, although
Defendant’s counsel may certainly raise any issues concerning his particular area of
practice on cross examination. 7
E.
Dr. Richard Rozencwaig
We will also deny the Motion as to Dr. Richard Rozencwaig, who conducted a
medical examination on Plaintiff on February 27, 2018. [D.E. 60-4]. Defendant – once
again, in the broadest terms possible – argues that the doctor’s diagnosis is
speculative because “there are no imaging studies supporting [the] diagnoses” made
as to Plaintiff’s right wrist injury. [D.E. 45, pp. 15-16]. But Carnival does not support
this argument with any legal authority that states that a doctor is required to rely on
certain types imaging studies in order to make a determination as to a plaintiff’s
particular injuries, and so the Motion should be denied on this basis alone. 8
Even if this were not the case, Carnival still overstates its position. Dr.
Rozencwaig’s report shows that he conducted an examination on Plaintiff, reviewed
recent and prior medical records, and – most importantly, in light of Defendant’s
dubious claim that the entire report should be deemed speculative because imaging
studies were allegedly never taken – ordered and interpreted x-rays of Ward’s
We also note that Plaintiff has conceded that Dr. Suite cannot and will not
opine on the injuries to Plaintiff’s right wrist. [D.E. 54, p. 15].
7
For this same reason, we also reject Carnival’s argument that Dr. Rozencwaig’s
opinions on Plaintiff’s medical bills and his examination of the cervical spine should
be precluded.
8
30
shoulder, arm, and wrist. [D.E. 60-4, pp. 3-5]; see also Chau v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.,
2017 WL 3623562, at *11 (“Examining patients, taking a medical history, reviewing
x-rays and concluding that [a plaintiff’s] injury was caused by [a] then-recent fall is
consistent with techniques that have been generally accepted in the proper scientific
community.”). Should Defendant wish to challenge the doctor’s failure to consult
certain types of imaging studies, it may do so at trial; but this does not support its
argument that Rozencwaig’s opinion be struck in its entirety, and we refuse to read
Daubert with Carnival’s requested breadth. See Wilson v. Taser Intern., Inc., 303 F.
App’x 708, 714 (11th Cir. 2008) (“Furthermore…a doctor usually may primarily base
his opinion as to the cause of a plaintiff’s injuries on his history where the plaintiff
has sustained a common injury in a way that it commonly occurs.”) (citation omitted).
As such, Dr. Rozencwaig will be permitted to testify at trial as to each of the opinions
outlined in his report.
E.
Dr. Ronald Zollo
In its final argument, Carnival moves to preclude Plaintiff from offering
testimony from Ronald F. Zollo. Plaintiff retained Dr. Zollo to provide engineering
opinions with respect to the surface of the subject bathroom, in addition to the design
and maintenance of the flooring where the incident took place. [D.E. 48-4]. Dr. Zollo
intends to offer the following opinions: (1) the wet condition of the subject bathroom
floor created a foreseeable hazard that would be known to cause falls like the one
suffered by Plaintiff; (2) the hazardous condition of the subject flooring surface were
caused by the design, construction and maintenance defects that allowed “liquid
31
contaminants” to become present on the floor, and that such defects were known to
Carnival; (3) under the events described by Plaintiff, and with the condition of the
floor as it allegedly was, a person would not be able to adjust accordingly in order to
prevent a slip-and-fall incident from occurring; and (4) Carnival’s expert’s conclusions
have “no bases in science of physics or mechanics.”
Carnival raises three separate challenges to these opinions. First, Carnival
argues that Dr. Zollo’s opinions are, in fact, mere speculation because Zollo’s
methodology is “not scientifically valid.” [D.E. 45, p. 17]. Defendant alleges that Dr.
Zollo merely bases his opinions on his experience, and that such experience alone
cannot satisfy Daubert and Rule 702’s requirements. Id. Next, Carnival asks that we
preclude Dr. Zollo from testifying about water contamination on the date of Plaintiff’s
incident, once again claiming that such an opinion is speculative. [D.E. 45, p. 18]. In
particular, Carnival argues that Dr. Zollo’s expert and rebuttal reports failed to
include any analysis he conducted on the plumbing aboard the vessel in question and
its potential impact on the incident giving rise to the Complaint. Id. Carnival’s third
challenge involves its contention that Dr. Zollo cannot reliably opine that the hazards
Plaintiff alleges were present prior to his fall were “foreseeable” to Defendant and
therefore should have been known and addressed prior to Mr. Ward’s fall. [D.E. 48-4,
p. 9].
We have reviewed Dr. Zollo’s report, his deposition, and other relevant portions
of the record and we find no basis to preclude his opinions from reaching the jury –
in this case. We disagree that the opinions are not scientifically valid, as Carnival
32
argues; Dr. Zollo visited the subject vessel, took measurements of the bathroom floor
where the incident took place, and compared those measurements with standards he
believes are applicable to the floor at issue. Further, Dr. Zollo’s explanation as to the
various standards used by professionals in this particular field, and what those
standards required with regard to minimum levels of coefficient of friction and slip
resistance, will be helpful to the jury.
Carnival is free to explore at trial whether those standards should be used in
the maritime passenger context, and – if so – whether the standards discussed by Dr.
Zollo would have any applicability in the area of the vessel where Ward’s fall allegedly
took place. See Sorrels, 796 F.3d at 1282 (finding district court abused its discretion
in excluding witness from testifying about certain ASTM standards by relying on
other standards that contained discrepancies with those used by challenged expert);
Holderbaum v. Carnival Corp., 2015 WL 5006071, at *6 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 23, 2015)
(“[Defendant’s] contention that certain ambiguities in the regulations render [the
expert’s] testimony as pure speculation is misplaced, as the ambiguities in these
regulations actually reinforce the need for an expert to assist the jury in sorting
through these sources to try to establish the standard of care in this negligence
action.”); see also Cook v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 2012 WL 1792628., at *3
(S.D. Fla. May 15, 2012). Defendant’s challenge is an attack on the weight that should
be given to Dr. Zollo’s opinion by the jury, not whether that opinion should be struck
as a whole. But to entirely prevent that testimony from reaching the jury would be
error. Holderbaum, 2015 WL 5006071, at *6 (“Carnival's contentions may surely be
33
addressed during cross examination, but they are not a reason to strike the expert's
findings or preclude his testimony at trial.”).
The other arguments raised by Carnival in support of its Motion – many of
which are presented in a haphazard, “shotgun-style” format – are unavailing.
Proffering these arguments in such a way makes it difficult to determine which
arguments apply to each of Zollo’s opinions, and it is not our duty to attempt to sort
out what is what. Based on the record before us, we find it would be improper to
exclude Dr. Zollo’s testimony, as he satisfies the qualification, reliability, and
helpfulness prongs set forth by the Eleventh Circuit. See Quiet Technology, 326 F.3d
at 1341.
V.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated herein, we find that both Motions should be DENIED.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 14th day of
March, 2019.
/s/ Edwin G. Torres
EDWIN G. TORRES
United States Magistrate Judge
34
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