Fick v. Exxon Mobil Corporation

Filing 367

ORDER AND REASONS denying 352 Motion to Exclude Testimony of Glen Hickerson. Signed by Judge Susie Morgan on 1/9/2017. (cg)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
THOMAS FICK ET AL.
Plaintiffs

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

No. 13-6608

EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION,
Defendant

SECTION “E”

ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is a motion in limine filed by Defendant, ExxonMobil
Corporation, to exclude the testimony of Plaintiff’s proffered aerial photography expert,
Glen Hickerson.1 The motion is opposed.2 For the reasons that follow, Defendant’s motion
is DENIED.
BACKGROUND

On January 4, 2017, Exxon filed a motion in limine to exclude testimony or other
evidence prepared by Glen Hickerson, Plaintiffs’ aerial photography expert.3 Exxon
argues “Mr. Hickerson’s expert opinions are inadmissible because he lacks sufficient
qualifications in the field of photogrammetry and the methodology he employed to form
his opinions is unreliable and/or unsupported.”4
STANDARD OF LAW
The Federal Rules of Evidence permit an expert witness with “scientific, technical
or other specialized knowledge” to testify if such testimony “will help the trier of fact to
understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue,” so long as “the testimony is based
upon sufficient facts or data,” “the testimony is the product of reliable principles and
R. Doc. 352.
R. Doc. 365.
3 R. Doc. 352-1 at 1.
4 Id.
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methods,” and “the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of
the case.”5 The threshold inquiry is whether the expert possesses the requisite
qualifications to render an opinion on a particular subject matter.6 If the expert’s
qualifications are found to be sufficient, the court then must examine whether the expert’s
opinions are reliable and relevant.7 The United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,8 provides the analytical framework for
determining whether expert testimony is admissible under Rule 702. Under Daubert,
courts, as “gatekeepers,” are tasked with making a preliminary assessment of whether the
expert’s testimony is relevant and reliable.9
The party offering the expert opinion must show by a preponderance of the
evidence that the expert’s testimony is reliable and relevant.10 The reliability of expert
testimony “is determined by assessing whether the reasoning or methodology underlying
the testimony is scientifically valid.”11 In Daubert, the Supreme Court enumerated several
non-exclusive factors that courts may consider in evaluating the reliability of expert
testimony.12 “These factors are (1) whether the expert’s theory can or has been tested, (2)
whether the theory has been subject to peer review and publication, (3) the known or
potential rate of error of a technique or theory when applied, (4) the existence and

FED. R. EVID. 702.
Wagoner v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 813 F. Supp. 2d 771, 799 (E.D. La. 2011). See also Wilson v. Woods, 163
F.3d 935, 937 (5th Cir. 1999) (“A district court should refuse to allow an expert to testify if it finds that the
witness is not qualified to testify in a particular field or a given subject.”).
7 United States v. Valencia, 600 F.3d 389, 424 (5th Cir. 2010).
8 509 U.S. 579 (1993).
9 See Pipitone v. Biomatrix, Inc., 288 F.3d 239, 243–44 (citing Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509
U.S. 579, 592–93 (1993)).
10 Mathis v. Exxon Corp., 302 F.3d 448, 459–60 (5th Cir. 2002).
11 Knight v. Kirby Inland Marine Inc., 482 F.3d 347, 352 (5th Cir. 2007). See also Burleson v. Texas Dep’t
of Criminal Justice, 393 F.3d 577, 584 (5th Cir. 2004); Bocanegra v. Vicmar Servs., Inc., 320 F.3d 581,
584–85 (5th Cir. 2003).
12 Daubert, 509 U.S. at 592–96.
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maintenance of standards and controls, and (5) the degree to which the technique or
theory has been generally accepted in the scientific community.”13
The Supreme Court has cautioned that the reliability analysis must remain flexible.
Various Daubert factors “may or may not be pertinent in assessing reliability, depending
on the nature of the issue, the expert’s particular expertise, and the subject of his
testimony.”14 Thus, “not every Daubert factor will be applicable in every situation . . . and
a court has discretion to consider other factors it deems relevant.” 15 In sum, the district
court is offered broad latitude in making expert testimony determinations.16
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.17 “Vigorous 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.”18 The Court is not concerned with whether the
opinion is correct, but whether the preponderance of the evidence establishes that the
opinion is reliable. “It is the role of the adversarial system, not the court, to highlight weak
evidence.”19
DISCUSSION
I.

Is Hickerson Qualified to Give Testimony?
Exxon argues Mr. Hickerson should be precluded from testifying about any version

of the photograph Bates-numbered LLE_Fick01756 because he lacks the necessary

Bocanegra, 320 F.3d at 584–85 (citing Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593–94).
Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 150 (1999).
15 Guy v. Crown Equip. Corp., 394 F.3d 320, 326 (5th Cir. 2004).
16 See, e.g., Kumho Tire, 526 U.S. at 151–53.
17 See Primrose Operating Co. v. Nat’l Am. Ins. Co., 382 F.3d 546, 562 (5th Cir. 2004).
18 Pipitone, 288 F.3d at 250 (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596) (internal quotation marks omitted).
19 Primrose, 382 F.3d at 562.
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qualifications.20 Specifically, Exxon argues Mr. Hickerson is not a certified
photogrammetrist, and his expertise is limited to the examination of aerial photographs
in contexts other than photogrammetry.21
In response, Plaintiffs argue Mr. Hickerson need not be a licensed
photogrammetrist to provide helpful testimony, because “[w]hat is being asked is whether
the two-dimensional photograph provided is a reliable source of information, and what
information can be gleaned from said photograph.”22 Plaintiffs contend Mr. Hickerson is
qualified to provide testimony on the topic of two-dimensional historical photograph
interpretation.23
According to Mr. Hickerson’s sworn declaration, he graduated from Radford
University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology.24 Thereafter, he worked for the EPA in
its Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center (“EPIC”), which was established
to “use monoscopic and stereoscopic aerial photographs and imagery to support [the]
EPA’s research and regulatory programs.”25 This work included the analysis of “current
and historical environmental aerial photographic interpretation and photogrammetry.”26
While at EPIC, Mr. Hickerson was “involved in refining the technique for utilizing aerial
photographs to identify lineament and fractures to determine groundwater flow
influences.”27 Mr. Hickerson is currently the Vice President of Environmental Research,

R. Doc. 352-1.
Id. at 2–3.
22 R. Doc. 365 at 3.
23 Id.
24 R. Doc. 365-2 at 2.
25 Id.
26 Id.
27 R. Doc. 352-3 at 13.
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Incorporated, and has over 30 years of experience in the fields of aerial photographic
interpretation and photogrammetry.28
The Court finds Mr. Hickerson is qualified to testify as an expert in the field of
historical aerial photography interpretation.
II.

Is Hickerson’s Methodology Reliable?
Exxon also argues Mr. Hickerson’s methodology is unreliable because he did not

use a stereo pair through a stereoscope to reach his conclusions, which Exxon contends is
the “standard methodology.”29 Exxon argues “[s]tereoscopic coverage is absolutely
necessary for any meaningful interpretation of imagery as well as the ability to obtain
reliable measurements from aerial photographs.”30 Exxon further argues Mr. Hickerson’s
methodology is unreliable because using a stereo pair requires the use of multiple images,
and Mr. Hickerson used only a single image.31 Essentially, Exxon avers, Mr. Hickerson
reached his conclusions based on a magnified image of LLE_Fick01756, which requires
no scientific expertise and which invites speculation as to what the image depicts.32
In response, Plaintiffs argue Mr. Hickerson’s methodology employs an
interpretation of the historical aerial photograph—a methodology relied upon by the
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.33 Plaintiffs contend Mr.
Hickerson’s opinions were based on an analysis of the ten basic elements of photographic
interpretation, an explanation of which can be found in the “Manual of Photographic
Interpretation.”34

Id.
R. Doc. 352-1 at 6.
30 Id. at 4.
31 Id. at 7.
32 Id.
33 R. Doc. 365 at 5.
34 R. Doc. 365-4.
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Although the use of stereo pairs viewed through a stereoscope is certainly a wellaccepted method of examining a historical aerial photograph, it is not the only way. The
Court finds that Mr. Hickerson’s methodology is based on sufficient facts and data and is
the product of reliable principles and methods. Mr. Hickerson’s testimony will be helpful
to the jury.
The Court finds the issues raised by Exxon with respect to the testimony and report
offered by Mr. Hickerson go to the weight and not the admissibility of the evidence. Mr.
Hickerson’s testimony will not be excluded pursuant to Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of
Evidence. Exxon will have the opportunity to cross-examine Mr. Hickerson and present
contrary evidence of its own expert, Clifford Mugnier.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s motion in limine35 to exclude Plaintiff’s
proffered expert, Glen Hickerson, is DENIED.36
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 9th day of January, 2017.
_____________________________
SUSIE MORGAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

R. Doc. 352.
The Court has viewed a stereo pair of photographs through a stereoscope and is familiar with this
technology. As a result, a live Daubert hearing is not necessary.

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