McDaniel et al v. United States of America et al

Filing 616

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Chief District Judge William P. Johnson granting in part (1600 in 1:18-md-02824-WJ, 535 in 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY) Opposed MOTION to Exclude Expert Testimony of McDaniel Plaintiffs' Expert, Elvin Chavez,. Related document(s): (1600 in 1:18-md-02824-WJ, 535 in 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY) Opposed MOTION to Exclude Expert Testimony of McDaniel Plaintiffs' Expert, Elvin Chavez,.. Associated Cases: 1:18-md-02824-WJ, 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY (bap)

Case 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY Document 616 Filed 08/24/22 Page 1 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
IN RE: GOLD KING MINE RELEASE
IN SAN JUAN COUNTY, COLORADO,
ON AUGUST 5, 2015
This Document Relates to:

No. 1:18-md-02824-WJ

No. 17-cv-710-WJ-SCY

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
GRANTING IN PART UNITED STATES' MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT
TESTIMONY OF McDANIEL PLAINTIFFS' EXPERT ELVIN CHAVEZ
The McDaniel Plaintiffs, who own property near the Animas River, "retained Elvin Chavez
to testify at trial about potentially increased levels of heavy metals identified in water and soil
samples taken from the McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties." Motion at 5.
Elvin Chavez earned a Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from an
accredited institution. He partook in some post graduate education. He has 37 years
of relevant field experience. Exhibit 1, Deposition of Elvin Chavez, Vol II,
November 5, 2021, p.361:5-9; pp.361:23 to 362:5. 2 He has undergone various
professional training courses, many of them sponsored by Defendant EPA. Ex. 1 at
p.362:3-9. He has worked for the EPA, the State of New Mexico, and the National
Laboratories as a water scientist, and nobody has ever questioned his qualifications.
Ex. 1 at pp.362:14 to 363:6. He had a Q Clearance, let it lapse to pursue business
interests, and he is in the process of regaining his clearance. Ex. 1 at pp. 363:7 to
364:11. He is a certified water sampler, and nobody has ever questioned his
qualifications or capability to perform as a water scientist. Ex. 1 at p.364:16-23.
Response at 9-10, Doc. 1658, filed June 7, 2022.
Mr. Chavez collected soil and water samples from the McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties,
submitted the samples to a laboratory for analysis, and prepared two reports that state "based upon
the findings some areas were adversely affected by the mine spill." Motion at 5; Expert Reports,
Doc. 1600-1, filed April 22, 2022.
The United States argues that "Mr. Chavez freely admits that substantial portions of his
expert report are well outside his area of expertise" and moves the Court to "exclude the opinions
in Mr. Chavez's report that he lacks the qualifications to render." Motion at 5. The United States
also argues that "for those opinions that Chavez is nominally qualified to express, the Court should
exclude the opinions because" "Mr. Chavez did not have sufficient facts and data to render his

Case 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY Document 616 Filed 08/24/22 Page 2 of 5
opinions, and Mr. Chavez did not use any reliable methodology to reach his opinions." Motion
at 5.
None of the Parties have requested that the Court hold a Daubert hearing prior to ruling on
this Motion.
Scope of Mr. Chavez' Testimony
It is not clear which opinions Mr. Chavez intends to testify about at trial. At his deposition,
Mr. Chavez was asked to state "what your actual expert opinions and conclusions are." Doc. 16002 at 12. Mr. Chavez responded:
My conclusions are in the report ... I ... collected samples. The laboratory ... tested
the samples and provided the results ... I compared those results to the maximum
contaminant levels that the EPA has out there provided for drinking water ... it
appeared that there was some areas that had exceedances that could be potentially
harmful to .... the environment and those around it ...So, in my opinion, there is
some areas that could—that at the time could require cleanup. That would be my
opinion.
Doc. 1660-2 at 12 (emphasis added). Mr. Chavez' expert reports provide the laboratory results of
the water and soil samples and state:
(i)

Mr. Chavez collected samples "to obtain a 'statistically accurate' determination of
contamination as a result of the Gold King Mine Spill."

(ii)

"migration of contaminants into a water source occurs as contaminants can move through
the environment."

(iii)

One goal of the study was to "identify the level of contamination and effects on individuals
and animals."

(iv)

"Based upon the findings some areas were adversely affected by the mine spill."

(v)

Three of the McDaniel Plaintiffs have developed medical conditions since the spill
occurred.

(vi)

The health effects of various metals.

(vii)

One McDaniel Plaintiff's fruit trees have died.
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Case 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY Document 616 Filed 08/24/22 Page 3 of 5
Doc. 1600-1.
Admission of Expert Testimony Under Rule 702
Rule 702, which governs testimony by expert witnesses, provides:
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training,
or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:
(a) the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the
trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
(d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the
case.
Fed. R. Evid. 702.
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 requires the district court to “ensur[e] that an expert's
testimony both rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the task at hand.”
Daubert, 509 U.S. at 597, 113 S.Ct. 2786. Under Rule 702, the court must first
decide whether the proffered expert is qualified “by knowledge, skill, experience,
training, or education” to render an opinion. See Fed. R. Evid. 702. Then “the court
must determine whether the expert's opinion is reliable by assessing the underlying
reasoning and methodology, as set forth in Daubert.” United States v. Nacchio, 555
F.3d 1234, 1241 (10th Cir. 2009) (en banc).
Bill Barrett Corp. v. YMC Royalty Co., LP, 918 F.3d 760, 770 (10th Cir. 2019).
Expert Qualifications
To perform its gatekeeping function, the Court determines whether the expert is qualified
by “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” to render an opinion. See Fed. R. Evid.
702.
The Court finds Mr. Chavez is qualified by his education, training and experience to testify
about soil and water sample collection and analysis. Mr. Chavez has college education in
chemistry and environmental engineering, has 37 years of experience as a water scientist, has
performed work as a water scientist for the State of New Mexico, the United States Environmental

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Case 1:17-cv-00710-WJ-SCY Document 616 Filed 08/24/22 Page 4 of 5
Protection Agency and national laboratories, and has taken professional training courses. See Doc.
1600-1 at 11-12; Doc. 1658-1 at 11-13.
The Court grants the United States' Motion to exclude Mr. Chavez' testimony that the Gold
King Mine Release affected the McDaniel Plaintiffs' health because Mr. Chavez is not qualified
to render such an opinion. Mr. Chavez testified that he does not have "special education regarding
human health effects of heavy metal contamination," he did not "understand the scope of [his]
work to include forming an opinion on the potential health risks that can be attributed to the Gold
King Mine spill," and he did not have "sufficient facts and data to form an opinion regarding the
specific health risks ... posed to the plaintiffs as a result of the contamination allegedly resulting
from the Gold King Mine release." Doc. 1600-2 at 14.
Opinion Reliability
The Court denies the United States' Motion to the extent it seeks to exclude Mr. Chavez'
testimony regarding sample collection and analysis. Sample results showing the presence of the
same metals in the McDaniel Plaintiffs' soil and water as were released from the Gold King Mine
are necessary, but insufficient, facts to show that the Gold King Mine Release impacted the
McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties.
The Court defers ruling on the United States' Motion to exclude Mr. Chavez' testimony that
the Gold King Mine Release adversely impacted the McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties. It is not clear
the Mr. Chavez intends to offer such testimony because, as discussed below, Mr. Chavez testified
that he "can't conclude with certainty what levels of contamination are attributable to the Gold
King Mine." However, Mr. Chavez also testified that his expert reports contain his conclusions,
one of which is that " some areas were adversely affected by the mine spill." Mr. Chavez' opinion
is based on sample results showing the presence of the same metals as were released from the Gold
King Mine and the presence of orange sludge on water filters. Mr. Chavez testified that "the river
was turning orange prior to the Gold King Mine release," and in one of his reports, which he
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prepared in 2016, Mr. Chavez' states: "Unfortunately, mines continue leaking wastewater into New
Mexico and Colorado Rivers. Discussions with individuals in these current sampling locations
indicated that these leaks and the river turning orange have been going on for years." Doc. 16002 at 26; Doc. 1600-1 at 2. Mr. Chavez testified that that "there are other mines that contribute
wastewater to the Animas River besides the Gold King Mine," he "did not perform any research
regarding potential alternative sources for the contamination found at the plaintiffs' properties," he
"did not investigate the volume of contamination leaving any other mines and being deposited in
the Animas River," he did not investigate or research the pre-August 2015 quantity of heavy
metals in the San Juan and Animas Rivers or in the McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties" and "without
knowing the specific numbers that existed before the Gold King Mine Release" he "can't conclude
with certainty what levels of contamination are attributable to the Gold King Mine." Doc. 16002 at 8-9, 26 (emphasis added). The Parties shall confer regarding whether Mr. Chavez intends to
testify that the Gold King Mine Release adversely impacted the McDaniel Plaintiffs' properties
and may file motions in limine if they cannot agree on the scope of Mr. Chavez' testimony.
IT IS ORDERED that the United States' Motion to Exclude the Expert Testimony of Elvin
Chavez, Doc. 1600, filed April 22, 2022, is GRANTED in part as follows:
(i)

The Court denies the United States' Motion to the extent it seeks to exclude Mr.
Chavez' testimony regarding sample collection and analysis.

(ii)

The Court grants the United States' Motion to exclude Mr. Chavez' testimony that
the Gold King Mine Release affected the McDaniel Plaintiffs' health.

(iii)

The Court defers ruling on the United States' Motion to exclude Mr. Chavez'
testimony that the Gold King Mine Release adversely impacted the McDaniel
Plaintiffs' properties.
________________________________________
WILLIAM P. JOHNSON
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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