In Re: Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether ("MTBE") Products Liability Litigation

Filing 4143

MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Opposition re: (568 in 1:07-cv-10470-SAS) MOTION to Strike Document No. (527) PLAINTIFFS' NEW THEORY OF LIABILITY IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR LACK OF CAUSATION. REDACTED. Document filed by Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board. Filed In Associated Cases: 1:00-cv-01898-SAS-DCF, 1:07-cv-10470-SAS(Axline, Michael)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
INTRODUCTION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
STATEMENT OF FACTS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ARGUMENT ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
I.

THE SALE/PURCHASE/EXCHANGE AGREEMENT IS EVIDENCE THAT EXXON
SOLD AND SUPPLIED MTBE GASOLINE TO ESSO, AND IS NOT A
“NOVEL” THEORY OF LIABILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

II.

PLAINTIFF PUT DEFENDANTS ON NOTICE OF ITS INTENT TO USE THIS
EVIDENCE OF EXXON’S SUPPLYING ESSO BY EXCHANGE WITH CORE.. . . 10

III.

PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSES TO CONTENTION INTERROGATORIES WERE
SUFFICIENTLY EXPLICIT, AND THE INFORMATION CONCERNING EXXON’S
EXCHANGE WAS MADE KNOWN TO ALL DEFENDANTS DURING THE
DISCOVERY PROCESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

IV.

IF PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSES TO INTERROGATORIES ARE INCOMPLETE IN
ANY WAY, IT IS DUE TO EXXON’S FAILURE TO DISCLOSE IN DISCOVERY
ITS SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS WITH ESSO .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

V.

ANY OMISSION IS HARMLESS SINCE EXXON AND ESSO WERE PARTIES TO
THE 1982 SALE/PURCHASE CONTRACT, HAD AMPLE NOTICE DURING
DISCOVERY AND PROVIDED THEIR EXPERTS WITH THE EVIDENCE EXXON
NOW WANTS STRICKEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

CONCLUSION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

RULES AND STATUTES
Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(e)(1)(A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(c)(1).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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