Cordes v. OSG Shipmanagment, Ltd
Filing
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ORDER AND REASONS DENYING 12 MOTION in Limine. Signed by Judge Susie Morgan.(cbn)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
WREN CORDES,
Plaintiff
CIVIL ACTION
VERSUS
No. 12-2214
OSG SHIPMANAGMENT, LTD.,
Defendant
SECTION “E”
ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is a motion in limine filed by Plaintiff, Wren Cordes (“Plaintiff”).1
Plaintiff seeks to exclude the expert testimony of Captain Ronald L. Campana (“Capt.
Campana”) at trial. In the alternative, Plaintiff seeks relief from the scheduling order
entered in the above-captioned matter in order to retain a marine safety expert. Defendant,
OSG Ship Management UK, Ltd. (“OSG”), opposes the motion.2 After carefully considering
the parties’ arguments, Capt. Campana’s report and affidavit, and the law, the Court
DENIES Plaintiff’s motion in all respects for the following reasons.
Background
As alleged in Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff is employed with Cooper/T. Smith
Corporation (“Cooper/T. Smith”) as a boat operator and line handler. On November 14,
2011, Plaintiff was receiving bow mooring lien from the tanker M/T OVERSEAS
YELLOWSTONE (the “vessel”) while the vessel was attempting to dock at the Ergon
Terminal on the Mississippi River in Hymel, Louisiana. According to Plaintiff, the “line
1
R. Doc. 12. At a March 28, 2013 status conference with the Court, Plaintiff requested relief from
the scheduling order so that he could retain a marine safety expert. The Court instructed Plaintiff to file a
written motion requesting relief. R. Doc. 11.
2
R. Doc. 16.
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became tangled[,] causing the wench to retrieve the line rather than pay out the line and
further causing the shackle welded to the end of the line to spin from the dock wench and
strike [P]laintiff in the hand.”3 Plaintiff alleges that this accident resulted in “severe,
debilitating, disfiguring and permanent injuries to his wrist.”4 OSG was operating the
vessel on November 14, 2011.5 Plaintiff contends that OSG’s negligence caused his injuries
and he seeks to recover against OSG for such injuries under general maritime law.6 Plaintiff
designated this matter as a maritime claim within the meaning of Rule 9(h) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure.7 Non-jury trial is scheduled to begin June 17, 2013.8
This Court entered a scheduling order in accordance with Rule 16 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure on November 26, 2012.9 The scheduling order provides that
“[w]ritten reports of experts, as defined by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2)(B),
who may be witnesses for Plaintiffs, fully setting forth all matters about which they will
testify and the basis therefor, shall be obtained and delivered to counsel for Defendant as
soon as possible, but in no event later than February 19, 2013,” and further provides a
March 19, 2013 deadline for OSG to deliver its expert reports to Plaintiff’s counsel.10 In
addition, the parties’ witness and exhibit lists were to be filed no later than March 19, 2013.
3
R. Doc. 1 at p. 2.
4
R. Doc. 1 at p. 2.
5
R. Doc. 4 at p. 2.
6
R. Doc. 1.
7
R. Doc. 1 at p. 3.
8
R. Doc. 7.
9
R. Doc. 7.
10
R. Doc. 7 at p. 1 (bold in original).
2
OSG retained Capt. Campana as a marine safety expert. Capt. Campana, who prepared a
Rule 26(a)(2)(B) expert report, intends to testify at trial that OSG’s negligence did not cause
the November 14, 2011 accident. OSG timely delivered Capt. Campana’s expert report to
Plaintiff’s counsel and timely filed its witness list, which indicates that Capt. Campana will
be called as an expert witness.11
Plaintiff, who did not retain a marine safety expert, has moved in limine to exclude
Capt. Campana’s testimony because it does not satisfy Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of
Evidence or Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993) and its
progeny.12 In essence, Plaintiff argues that Capt. Campana should not be permitted to
testify because his testimony is unreliable.13 In the alternative, Plaintiff requests an
“opportunity to offer rebuttal evidence to expose [Capt. Campana’s] . . . untruthful and
unsupportable statements.”14 OSG responds that Plaintiff’s motion “ask[s] the Court to
completely disregard the Scheduling Order [by allowing him] to file an expert report almost
two months after the deadline expired and after the deadline for disclosing trial
witnesses.”15 OSG contends that “any extension of expert deadlines would prejudice
11
R. Doc. 9 at p. 2.
12
Plaintiff does not affirmatively argue in his motion that he seeks to have Capt. Campana’s expert
report excluded from evidence. Nevertheless, Plaintiff’s memorandum repeatedly criticizes the contents of
Capt. Campana’s report. The Court, out of an abundance of caution, observes that an expert report is
considered hearsay and is inadmissible at trial. Marquette Transp. Co., Inc. v. Eagle Subaru, 2010 WL
1558921, at *3 (E.D. La. Apr. 15, 2010) (Vance, J.). OSG has not listed Capt. Campana’s expert report on
its exhibit list. See R. Doc. 10. As a result, at this time the Court need not address whether such report
itself is admissible because OSG has not indicated its intends to introduce the report into evidence.
13
R. Doc. 12-1 at p. 1.
14
R. Doc. 12-1 at p. 2.
15
R. Doc. 16 at p. 11.
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[OSG]’s ability to rebut any new expert testimony.”16
Law and Analysis
I.
Captain Campana’s Opinions
The Federal Rules of Evidence permit an expert witness with “scientific, technical
or other specialized knowledge” to testify at trial if such testimony “will assist the trier of
fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue,” so long as “(1) the testimony
is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles
and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the
facts of the case.” Fed. R. Evid. 702. Courts, as “gatekeepers,” are tasked with making a
preliminary assessment whether expert testimony is both reliable and relevant. See Pipiton
v. Biomatrix, Inc., 288 F.3d 239, 243-44 (citing Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509
U.S. 579, 592-93 (1993)).
The expert’s proponent has the burden to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that the expert’s testimony satisfies Rule 702. Mathis v.
Exxon Corp., 302 F.3d 448, 459-60 (5th Cir. 2002).
“Reliability is determined by assessing whether the reasoning or methodology
underlying the testimony is scientifically valid.” Knight v. Kirby Inland Marine Inc., 482
F.3d 347, 352 (5th Cir. 2007). As another section of this Court has explained,
A number of nonexclusive factors may be relevant to the reliability analysis,
including: (1) whether the technique at issue has been tested, (2) whether the
technique has been subjected to peer review and publication, (3) the potential
error rate, (4) the existence and maintenance of standards controlling the
technique’s operation, and (5) whether the technique is generally accepted in
the relevant scientific community.
Naquin v. Elevating Boats, LLC, 2012 WL 1664257, at *4 (E.D. La. May 11, 2012) (Barbier,
16
R. Doc. 16 at pp. 12-13.
4
J.) (citing Burleson v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 393 F.3d 577, 584 (5th Cir. 2004)).
This reliability inquiry is a flexible one, however, as “not every Daubert factor will be
applicable in every situation; and a court has discretion to consider other factors it deems
relevant.” Guy v. Crown Equip. Corp., 394 F.3d 320, 325 (5th Cir. 2004). In addition, the
relevancy of proposed expert testimony is “not simply in the way all testimony must be
relevant, Fed. R. Evid. 402, but also in the sense that the expert’s proposed opinion would
assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue.” Bocanegra v. Vicmar
Servs., Inc., 320 F.3d 581, 584 (5th Cir. 2003).
“[V]igorous cross-examination, presentation of contrary evidence, and careful
instruction on the burden of proof are the traditional and appropriate means of attacking
shaky but admissible evidence.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596. As a general rule, questions
relating to the bases and sources of an expert’s opinion affect the weight of the evidence
rather than its admissibility, and should be left for the finder of fact. United States v. 14.38
Acres of Land, More or Less Situated in Leflore Cnty., Miss., 80 F.3d 1074, 1077 (5th Cir.
1996) (internal citations omitted).
“To qualify as an expert, ‘the witness must have such knowledge or experience in
[his] field or calling as to make it appear that his opinion or inference will probably aid the
trier in his search for truth.’ ” United States v. Hicks, 389 F.3d 514, 524 (5th Cir. 2004)
(quoting United States v. Bourgeois, 950 F.2d 980, 987 (5th Cir. 1992)). Rule 702 also
permits an expert to be qualified based on “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or
education.” Hicks, 389 F.3d at 524. “ ‘A district court should refuse to allow an expert
witness to testify if it finds that the witness is not qualified to testify in a particular field or
on a given subject .’ ” Huss v. Gayden, 571 F.3d 442, 452 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Wilson
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v. Woods, 163 F.3d 935, 937 (5th Cir. 1999)). “Rule 702 does not mandate that an expert
be highly qualified in order to testify about a given issue. Differences in expertise bear
chiefly on the weight to be assigned to the testimony by the trier of fact, not its
admissibility.” Huss, 571 F.3d at 452.
Plaintiff argues that Capt. Campana’s testimony is unreliable because he has not
worked as a line handler.17 To rebut Capt. Campana’s assertions that OSG’s negligence did
not cause Plaintiff’s injuries, Plaintiff submits an affidavit from Joseph Perez (“Perez”), a
Cooper/T. Smith employee who has worked as a line handler for thirty-nine years.18 In his
affidavit, Perez avers that he has reviewed Capt. Campana’s report and that, in his opinion,
many of the expert’s conclusions are “inconsistent with [his] experience.”19 The Court
observes that Perez is not named on Plaintiff’s witness list.20 While the Court recognizes
that Rule 702 permits experts to be qualified based on their skill, experience, or training,
Plaintiff, in submitting the Perez affidavit, is seeking to interject expert testimony that was
not timely disclosed in accordance with the scheduling order. Plaintiff shall not be be
permitted to gain an advantage – to OSG’s detriment – by disregarding the Court’s orders.
As a result, the Court declines to consider Perez’s affidavit.
Furthermore, as to Plaintiff’s argument that Capt. Campana’s testimony is unreliable
because he has not worked as a line handler, the Court finds such argument unpersuasive.
Capt. Campana has extensive experience in marine navigation and safety. First, he has
17
R. Doc. 12-1 at pp. 1-2.
18
R. Doc. 12-5.
19
R. Doc. 12-5 at p. 2.
20
R. Doc. 8.
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sailed as a deck officer and master on U.S.-flagged vessels for more than ten years. In his
capacity as a deck officer, he was directly involved in mooring and unmooring vessels at
many terminals on the Mississippi River and other U.S. ports. Second, from 1985 to 1996,
Capt. Campana served as the dock liaison for Turner Marine Bulk Terminal (“Turner
Marine”) for all vessels that tied up at the terminal. In his capacity as dock liaison with
Turner Marine, he coordinated the operations between terminal line handlers and the
vessels and their pilots, often physically assisting the line handlers during the mooring and
unmooring of vessels. Finally, Capt. Campana also served as dock liaison for the Burnside
Terminal (“Burnside”) from 1994 through 2006. In his capacity as dock liaison with
Burnside, he performed the same duties as those he performed at Turner Marine. Given
this extensive employment history in the maritime industry, the Court finds that Capt.
Campana is qualified as an expert witness based on his experience. Because the Court
concludes Capt. Campana’s testimony will be helpful to the Court in understanding the
evidence before it and determining facts in issue, he will be permitted to testify regarding
the standards pertaining to procedures and practices of vessel mooring operations.
Plaintiff further challenges the bases of Capt. Campana’s opinions, contending that
he failed to conduct a thorough and independent analysis of the evidence available to him
before reaching his conclusions. The Court also finds such argument unpersuasive.
According to Capt. Campana’s expert report and affidavit, he visited the Ergon Terminal
twice to inspect the equipment involved in the accident and take measurements of the dock
on which Plaintiff was standing on November 14, 2011. Capt. Campana also relied on more
than twenty-five separate documents or sources of information in addition to his physical
inspection of the Egron Terminal. Having considered of this information, Capt. Campana
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then formulated his expert opinions based on his extensive professional experience. The
Court finds that Capt. Campana’s opinions are suficiently reliable within the meaning of
Rule 702 and Daubert. Any alleged deficiency regarding the bases and sources of Capt.
Campana’s opinions go to the weight to be afforded to his opinions, rather than their
admissibility. Plaintiff may subject Capt. Campana to vigorous cross-examination in an
effort to diminish any weight the Court gives his opinions when making its findings of fact.
In addition, the Court observes that this matter will be tried to the bench and not a jury.
As a result, the danger that the factfinder will place improper weight on Capt. Campana’s
opinions is not implicated here. See Young v. BP Exploration & Prod. Inc., 2012 WL
2087405, at *2 (E.D. La. June 8, 2012) (Barbier, J.).
Finally, Plaintiff argues that Capt. Campana’s opinions on the ultimate issue of
causation are inadmissible. The Court observes that an expert witness is permitted to give
his opinions on an “ultimate issue” of fact, assuming he is qualified to do so, but he is not
permitted to make credibility determinations or offer conclusions of law. Fed. R. Evid. 704;
see also Goodman v. Harris Cnty., 571 F.3d 388, 399 (5th Cir. 2009) (“[A]n expert may
never render conclusions of law . . . nor, may an expert go beyond the scope of his expertise
in giving his opinion.”); Owen v. Kerr-McGee Corp., 698 F.2d 236, 240 (5th Cir. 1983)
(“Fed. R. Evid. 704 abolished the per se rule against testimony regarding ultimate issues
of fact. . . . Rule 704, however, does not open the door to all opinions.”). While the Court
recognizes that distinguishing between admissible testimony regarding the inferences that
can be drawn from facts of a certain case and an inadmissible ultimate legal conclusion on
causation is often a fine line, the Court must make such distinctions. Nevertheless, at this
time, the Court cannot do so without a specific line of questioning or testimony before it.
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The Court reminds OSG that, to the extent Capt. Campana seeks to testify as to ultimate
legal conclusions, such testimony is inadmissible. See, e.g., In re Midland Enters., 2002
WL 31780156, at *3 (E.D. La. Dec. 11, 2002) (Africk, J.); Jacobs v. N. King Shipping Co.,
Ltd., 1998 WL 28234, at *2 (E.D. La. Jan. 23, 1998) (Clement, J.).
As the Court has found that Capt. Campana is qualified to testify based on his
experience, that he has formulated reliable opinions, and that his testimony will be helpful
to the Court as provided for in Rule 702, Plaintiff’s motion in limine to exclude Capt.
Campana’s testimony at trial is DENIED.
II.
Plaintiff’s Request for Relief from the Scheduling Order
In the event the Court permits Capt. Campana to testify, Plaintiff requests in the
alternative to be relieved from the scheduling order so that he can retain a marine safety
expert. The Court’s scheduling order afforded Plaintiff several months to analyze the
evidence produced in discovery and determine whether or not expert testimony would be
necessary for him to prove his case. Plaintiff ultimately concluded that expert testimony
was not necessary and declined – as was his right – to retain such a marine safety expert
by the deadline set forth in the scheduling order. Given that there are few witnesses to this
accident, OSG reached a different conclusion and timely retained an expert witness. OSG
was under no obligation to inform Plaintiff of this trial strategy until its March 19, 2013
deadline for exchanging reports.
Plaintiff has given no justification whatsoever for his failure to timely retain a marine
safety expert. A scheduling order may not be modified unless the party seeking relief from
such order shows “good cause” for the modification. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4). The Fifth
Circuit has “interpreted Rule 16(b)(4)’s ‘good cause’ standard to require the movant ‘to
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show that the deadlines cannot reasonably be met despite the diligence of the party needing
the extension.’ ” Puig v. Citibank, N.A., 2013 WL 657676 at *5-6 (5th Cir. Feb. 22, 2013)
(quoting S & W Enters., L.L.C. v. Southtrust Bank of Ala., N.A., 315 F.3d 533, 535 (5th Cir.
2003)). Given that Plaintiff has no explanation for his failure to retain an expert witness
in accordance with the scheduling order, Plaintiff has failed to show good cause under Rule
16(b)(4). Plaintiff, as master of his case, made a strategic decision when he declined to
retain an expert. In addition, affording Plaintiff the relief he seeks will prejudice OSG’s
right to retain rebuttal expert testimony. Thus, Plaintiff’s alternative request for relief from
the scheduling order is DENIED.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above,
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion in limine is DENIED in all respects.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 10th day of May, 2013.
_____________________________
SUSIE MORGAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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