Hewitt v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad
Filing
97
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: denying 69 Motion in Limine; denying 69 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. The Court will allow Dr. Andres' proposed expert testimony, except as to any "legal conclusions" he purports to offer. The Court t herefore denies Metro-North's motion to preclude Dr. Andres' testimony, to preclude Dr. Sasson's testimony, and for partial summary judgment. This resolves Docket Number 69. The Court hereby orders the parties to meet and confer to eng age in settlement discussions and to discuss a joint proposed schedule for the case. The parties shall submit a joint letter, no later than April 14, 2017, that suggests a deadline for the submission of a joint pre-trial report and the other pretrial materials detailed in Rule 5 of the undersigned's Individual Practices in Civil Cases and proposes potential trial dates. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Alison J. Nathan on 3/24/2017) (ama)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Donovan G. Hewitt,
Plaintiff,
14-cv-8052 (AJN)
-vMEMORANDUM &
ORDER
Metro-North Commuter Railroad,
Defendant.
ALISON J. NATHAN, District Judge:
In this action brought pursuant to the Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA"),
Defendant Metro-North Commuter Railroad ("Metro-North") has filed a Daubert motion and a
motion for partial summary judgment. The crux of Metro-North's motion is that much of the
testimony of Plaintiffs ergonomics expert, Dr. Andres, should be excluded as unreliable. As
explained below, the Court concludes that Dr. Andres' expert opinion is admissible. The Court
therefore denies Metro-North's motion to preclude Dr. Andres' testimony. Because MetroNorth's partial summary judgment motion and motion to exclude another expe1i's testimony are
premised on the exclusion of Dr. Andres' testimony, the Court also denies those two motions.
I. Background
Plaintiff Donovan Hewitt has brought this FELA action against his former employer,
Metro-North. Metro-North is a railroad company located in New York. Amend. Compl.
(Dkt No. 56); Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
Statement~
from 2004 to 2014. Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
~
4
2 (Dkt No. 91). Hewitt worked for Metro-North
Statement~~
6, 88. From 2007 to 2014, Hewitt worked
as an "E-Cleaner" or "coach cleaner" at Metro-North's Highbridge facility. Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
Statement~~
6, 88. This job was allegedly very physically demanding, as it entailed cleaning
"every surface" in a railroad car, including the ceiling, walls, windows, floor, bathrooms, and
seats. Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
Statement~
23. This work required Hewitt to "use[] his arms
constantly," including by reaching to clean high spaces, wringing out a mop, lifting heavy items,
and removing or "popping" seat cushions. Plaintiff's Rule 56.1
Statement~~
7, 198, 214.
According to Hewitt, the job was especially demanding because Metro-North frequently
understaffed the coach cleaning division. Plaintiff's Rule 56.1
Statement~
38; Def. Ex. Bat 14-
15 (Dkt No. 70-2).
Plaintiff alleges that, as a result of his work as a coach cleaner for Metro-North, he
suffered certain injuries to his shoulders and arms. Plaintiff's Rule 56.1
Statement~~
1, 58.
Multiple MRls revealed that Hewitt suffered from, among other things, a torn rotator cuff,
tendinosis in both his shoulder and elbow, shoulder impingement syndrome, and shoulder joint
adhesions. Plaintiff's Rule 56.1 Statement~~ 199-202, 209, 238. Over the span of
approximately one year, Hewitt underwent three surgeries to attempt to fix these problems.
Plaintiff's Rule 56.1 Statement~ 201, 204, 210. He also attended physical therapy. Plaintiff's
Rule 56.1 Statement ~ 211.
On October 6, 2014, Hewitt filed the present lawsuit. Dkt No. 1. His lawsuit alleges that
the injuries to his shoulder and elbow were caused by Metro-North's failure to provide necessary
tools, supervision, training, and manpower during his time as a coach cleaner. Amend. Compl. ~
16. The core of Hewitt's complaint is that Metro-North failed to "use reasonable care to provide
[him] with a reasonably safe place in which to work" in violation of FELA. Amend. Compl. ~~
2, 13, 16.
To support his claims, Hewitt retained the services of Dr. Robert Andres, a bioengineer
and ergonomist. Plaintiff's Rule 56.1 Statement~~ 118-19; Opp. at 6 (Dkt No. 90).
2
"Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of
the working population." Ahmed v. Keystone Shipping Co., No. 10-14642, 2012 WL 5300094,
at *5 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 25, 2012). This science focuses on ensuring a proper "fit" between a job
and worker in order to increase productivity and avoid injuries. Id.; Def. Ex. B at 1.
Dr. Andres was retained for the purposes of assessing Hewitt's exposure to ergonomic
risk factors while working as a cleaner for Metro-North. Def. Ex. Bat 2. Ergonomic risk factors
are "work-related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal disorders." Ahmed, 2012 WL
5300094, at *5. "Common examples" include "repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertions of the
hands; frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying of heavy objects; and prolonged
awkward postures." Id. Dr. Andres reviewed Hewitt's various job tasks, including lifting seat
cushions, scrubbing overhead luggage racks, and cleaning various other parts of a Metro-North
railroad car. Def. Ex. 13-19, 32-33. He concluded that these tasks exposed Hewitt to multiple
ergonomic risk factors, including "awkward upper extremity postures" and repetitive hand
gestures. Id. at 18. Dr. Andres also concluded that the amount of force that it required a cleaner
such as Hewitt to remove a seat cushion in a Metro-North car exceeded recommended limits. Id.
at 3'1-32.
In addition to analyzing Hewitt's exposure to ergonomic risk factors, Dr. Andres also
reviewed Metro-North's approach to mitigating its employees' exposure to such factors. Id. at 2,
40-41. According to Dr. Andres, Metro-Nmih failed to take a number of actions that could have
limited Hewitt's exposure to ergonomic risk factors, including failing to perform an ergonomic
screening or job analysis, failing to provide adequate tools to remove seat cushions, and failing
to provide ergonomic training to employees. Id. at 40-41. Based on these observations, Dr.
Andres concluded that it was his "opinion to a reasonable degree of ergonomic certainty that
3
[Metro-North] failed to provide Mr. Hewitt with a reasonable safety and health program that
dealt with ergonomic issues that met standard industry work practices." Id. at 41. In reaching
his conclusions, Dr. Andres relied upon various materials, including Hewitt's deposition
transcripts, an interview with Hewitt, the deposition transcripts of other Metro-North employees,
Hewitt's medical records, Metro-North's car cleaning manual, Metro-North's "Medical
Guidelines for Coach Cleaner," and various scientific articles and literature. Id. at 3-5. Dr.
Andres also conducted a site inspection of Metro-N01ih's Highbridge facility on October 5,
2015. Id.; see Dkt No. 39. Metro-North hired its own ergonomics expert, Dennis Mitchell, who
issued a report criticizing Dr. Andres' findings and methodology. Def. Ex. P (Dkt No. 70-17).
Hewitt also asked his treating orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Victor Sasson, to testify as an
expert. Dr. Sasson started treating Hewitt in 2014 for his various shoulder and elbow injuries,
and he was the doctor that performed the surgeries on Hewitt's arm. Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
Statement ~~ 7, 198-211. Dr. Sasson was asked to provide a summary of his evaluation and
treatment of Hewitt and to opine on the cause of Hewitt's injuries. Plaintiffs Rule 56.1
Statement~
197; Def. Ex.Nat 1 (Dkt No. 70-15). Accordingly, Dr. Sasson issued a report that
outlines Hewitt's medical history. Def. Ex.Nat 1-3. Dr. Sasson also conducted a differential
diagnosis -
a process through which a physician determines what has caused a patient's
symptoms by "consider[ing] all relevant potential causes of the symptoms and then eliminat[ing]
alternative causes based on a physical examination, clinical tests, and a thorough case history,"
see Hardyman v. Norfolk & W Ry. Co., 243 F.3d 255, 260 (6th Cir. 2001)- in order to
determine the cause of Hewitt's injuries. Dr. Sasson ultimately concluded that "Hewitt's job as a
Metro North Railroad coach cleaner ... was a significant contributing cause (not the sole cause)
of the injuries/conditions and symptoms [Dr. Sasson] ha[d] treated him for and operated upon."
4
Def. Ex.Nat 14. To reach this conclusion, Dr. Sasson relied on, inter alia, Hewitt's medical
history, Metro-North's "Medical Guidelines for Coach Cleaner," Hewitt's deposition transcripts,
and Dr. Andres' preliminary report. Id. at 3-4.
On March 30, 2016, Metro-North filed a motion for partial summary judgment. Dkt No.
69. The primary argument in this motion is that, with the exception of his opinions related to
seat removal, Dr. Andres' proposed expert testimony is inadmissible under Daubert v. Merrell
Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). Mot. at 11-22 (Dkt No. 72). The company also seeks to
exclude Dr. Sasson's testimony on the ground that he relied upon Dr. Andres' purportedly
inadmissible opinion. Mot. at 22-23. Finally, Metro-North argues that, without the testimony of
Dr. Andres and Dr. Sasson, Hewitt does not have sufficient evidence to prove his claims, with
the exception of his allegation that his "injury was allegedly cause[d] by car seat removal." Mot.
at 24. The company therefore asks the Court to "dismiss[] all claims in plaintiffs Amended
Complaint other than those regarding alleged injuries sustained by plaintiff due to removal of
seat cushions on Metro-North trains." Mot. at 25.
II. Legal Standards
A.
Federal Employers' Liability Act
Hewitt brought suit pursuant to the Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA"). FELA is
"'a broad remedial statute' whose objective is 'to provide a federal remedy for railroad workers
who suffer personal injuries as a result of the negligence of their employer."' Green v. Long
Island R.R. Co., 280 F.3d 224, 229 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co.
v. Buell, 480 U.S. 557, 561-62 (1987)). The statute states, in relevant part, that:
Every common carrier by railroad ... shall be liable in damages to any person suffering
injury while he is employed by such carrier ... for such injury or death resulting in whole
or in part from the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of such carrier,
5
or by reason of any defect or insufficiency, due to its negligence, in its cars, engines,
appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, or other equipment.
Goodrich v. Long Island R.R. Co., 654 F.3d 190, 193 (2d Cir. 2011) (ellipses in original)
(quoting 45 U.S.C. § 51 ). In short, "the statute creates liability for the 'negligence' of a common
carrier by railroad resulting in 'injury or death' to a worker." Id. To succeed on a claim under
FELA, a plaintiff "must prove the traditional common law elements of negligence." Tufariello v.
Long Island R.R. Co., 458 F.3d 80, 87 (2d Cir. 2006). However, the plaintiffs burden "is lighter
under FELA than it would be at common law," id., as this Circuit applies "a relaxed standard of
negligence" in FELA cases, Williams v. Long Island R.R. Co., 196 F.3d 402, 406 (2d Cir. 1999).
B.
Summary Judgment
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 authorizes a court to grant summary judgment to a
moving party "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and
the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." A fact is "material" if it "might affect the
outcome of the suit under the governing law," and it is "genuinely in dispute" if "the evidence is
such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Roe v. City of
Waterbury, 542 F.3d 31, 35 (2d.Cir. 2008) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 248 (1986)). When deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court must resolve all
ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the party against whom summary judgment is
sought. Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs., 22 F.3d 1219, 1223 (2d Cir. 1994). The moving
party has the initial burden of demonstrating that no genuine issue of material fact exists. Id. If
the moving party satisfies this burden, then "the opposing party must come forward with specific
evidence demonstrating the existence of a genuine dispute of material fact" to survive summary
judgment. Brown v. Eli Lilly & Co., 654 F.3d 347, 358 (2d Cir. 2011) (citation omitted).
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C.
Expert Testimony
Federal Rule of Evidence 702 governs the admissibility of expert testimony. That rule
states:
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. According to the Supreme Court's decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), district courts analyzing the admissibility of expert testimony
under this rule have a "gatekeeper function." Restivo v. Hessemann, 846 F.3d 547, 575 (2d Cir.
2017). Specifically, a court has "an obligation to determine whether the expert's specialized
knowledge will assist the trier of fact, i.e., will be not only relevant, but reliable." United States
v. Romano, 794 F.3d 317, 330 (2d Cir. 2015). The court should "focus on the principles and
methodology employed by the expert" and exclude the expert's testimony if those principles and
methodology are unreliable. Jn re Pfizer Inc. Sec. Litig., 819 F.3d 642, 662 (2d Cir. 2016)
(citation omitted).
Although it establishes a "gatekeeper" function for expert testimony, the Daubert test is
nonetheless "a liberal" and "permissive" standard of admissibility. Nimely v. City of New York,
414 F.3d 381, 395-96 (2d Cir. 2005). Under Daubert, expert testimony should be excluded only
"if it is speculative or conjectural or based on assumptions that are so unrealistic and
contradictory as to suggest bad faith or to be in essence an apples and oranges comparison."
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Restivo, 846 F.3d at 577 (quoting Zerega Ave. Realty Corp. v. Hornbeck O.ffehore Transp., LLC,
571 F.3d 206, 214 (2d Cir. 2009)). Absent this degree of unreliability, any "other contentions
that the assumptions are unfounded go to the weight, not the admissibility, of the testimony." Id.
(quoting Boucher v. US. Suzuki Motor Corp., 73 F.3d 18, 21 (2d Cir. 1996)).
III. Discussion
The overarching argument in Metro-North's motion is that Dr. Andres' expert
ergonomics testimony must be largely excluded under Daubert. Mot. at 11-18. IfDr. Andres'
testimony is inadmissible, Metro-North further argues that Dr. Sasson's expert testimony should
be precluded (because it relies upon Dr. Andres' inadmissible opinions) and that the company
should be granted summary judgment on every claim except those related to seat removal. Mot.
at 22-25.
As explained below, the Comt holds that Dr. Andres' proposed testimony survives
Daubert scrutiny. Although district courts have been inconsistent regarding the admission of
ergonomics expert testimony, after reviewing the available precedent and Dr. Andres' reports,
the Court concludes that his opinions are based on sufficient facts and data and are sufficiently
reliable. Because the Court finds Dr. Andres' expert testimony admissible, it denies MetroNorth's contingent arguments that the Court should exclude Dr. Sasson's testimony and award
partial summary judgment in the company's favor.
A.
Dr. Andres' Expert Opinions Are Admissible Under Daubert
Metro-North argues that, with the exception of the proposed testimony related to seat
removal, Dr. Andres' testimony should be excluded under Daubert. The company identifies four
purported deficiencies with Dr. Andres' expert opinions: (1) Dr. Andres did not observe any
employees performing Hewitt's job tasks (with the exception of seat removal), (2) Dr. Andres
8
relied upon Hewitt's "vague and self-serving statements and testimony" in forming his opinion,
(3) Dr. Andres relied upon videotapes of employees working at railroads other than Metro-No1ih,
and (4) Dr. Andres' methodology lacks quantitative analysis. Mot. at 11-15. The railroad
further argues that, because there is no generally accepted ergonomics mitigation standard, Dr.
Andres should be precluded from testifying about what a reasonable railroad would have done to
mitigate Hewitt's ergonomic risk factors and whether Metro-North complied with those
recommendations. Id. at 15-18. Finally, Metro-North contends that Dr. Andres cannot testify as
to "legal conclusions." Id. at 21. For the following reasons, the Court mostly rejects these
arguments, but agrees with Metro-North's contention that Dr. Andres cannot testify as to "legal
conclusions."
1.
District Courts' Inconsistent Approaches to Ergonomics Expert
Testimony
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to opine on the admissibility of ergonomics
expert testimony. However, many district courts, including a few courts within this Circuit, have
grappled with this issue. Courts have taken arguably inconsistent approaches.
Several courts have excluded ergonomics expert testimony as unreliable. See, e.g., Myers
v. Illinois Cent. R.R. Co., 679 F. Supp. 2d 903 (C.D. Ill. 2010); Meyers v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger
Corp., 648 F. Supp. 2d 1032 (N.D. Ill. 2009); McCarty v. Canadian National/Illinois Cent. R.R.,
No. 3:06-cv-00177-HTW-LRA, 2008 WL 539214 (S.D. Miss. Feb. 26, 2008); Pretter v. Metro
North Commuter R.R. Co., 206 F. Supp. 2d 601 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (Judge Rakoft); Stasior v. Nat'l
R.R. Passenger Corp., 19 F. Supp. 2d 835 (N.D. Ill. 1998); Magdaleno v. Burlington N. R.R. Co.,
5 F. Supp. 2d 899 (D. Colo. 1998). In contrast, many courts have found ergonomics expert
opinions admissible under similar situations. See, e.g., Hardyman, 243 F.3d 255; Rowley v.
Union Pac(fic Railroad Co., No. l l-CV-46, 2016 WL 6561296, at *1-*3 (E.D. Wis. Nov. 3,
9
2016); Wright v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. 13-CV-24-JED-FHM, 2016 WL 1183135 (N.D. Ok. Mar.
28, 2016); Marzoll v. Marine Harvest US, Inc., No. 08-261-B-S, 2009 WL 4456321 (D. Me.
Nov. 29, 2009) (report and recommendation), adopted by 2010 WL 53502 (D. Me. Jan. 7, 2010);
Powers v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., No. 9:07-CV-212-TH, 2009 WL 734707 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 19,
2009); Arsement v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., No. 9:07-CV-80-TH, 2009 WL 700606 (E.D. Tx. Mar.
17, 2009); Bennett v. CSX Transp., Inc., No. 1:05-CV-839-JEC, 2006 WL 5249702 (N.D. Ga.
Sept. 19, 2006)); Prater v. Consol. Rail Corp., 272 F. Supp. 2d 706 (N.D. Ohio 2003); Ahmed,
2012 WL 5300094. The parties' briefing here focuses on only two opinions, both from this
Circuit, one by Judge Rakoff that excluded ergonomics expert testimony, see Pretter, 206 F.
Supp. 2d 601, and one by Judge Suddaby that partially admitted it, see Campbell v. Consol. Rail
Corp., No. 1:05-CV-1501(GTS/GJD),2009 WL 36890 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 6, 2009). Mot. at 14-15,
18; Opp. at 18-20.
On an even more specific level, district courts are split as to the admissibility of Dr.
Andres' expert testimony. Several courts have found his ergonomics opinions sufficiently
reliable to be admissible. Ahmed, 2012 WL 5300094, at *5 ("Dr. Andres's expert testimony has
been received in other federal courts on the subject of ergonomic risk factors associated with the
workplace and remedial measures that could have addressed those factors.") (collecting cases);
see, e.g., Abernathy v. Union Pacific R.R. Co., No. 4:08CV04187-BRW, 2011 WL 1397439, at
*3-4 (E.D. Ark. Apr. 13, 2011); Fitzgerald v. Buffalo & Pittsburgh R.R., Inc., No. 08-1534, 2011
WL 3163241, at *2-5 (W.D. Pa. Mar. 7, 2011) (report and recommendation), adopted by 2011
WL 3203729 (W.D. Pa. July 25, 2011); Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *2-*5; Huffman v. Union
Pac. R.R. Co., No. 9:07-CV-37-TH, 2009 WL 734709, *4 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 19, 2009); Arsement,
2009 WL 700606, at *4. Other courts have excluded his testimony as unreliable. See, e.g.,
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Khoury v. Philips Med. Sys., 614 F.3d 888 (8th Cir. 2010); Bisson v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. 2: 13-
CV-0330-RHW, 2015 WL 12645757, at *4 (E.D. Wash. Feb. 13, 2015) (excluding some of Dr.
Andres' testimony as unreliable); Campbell, 2009 WL 36890, at *4-5 (excluding some of Dr.
Andres' testimony as unreliable); Pretter, 206 F. Supp. 2d at 605.
With this legal background in mind, the Court analyzes the admissibility of Dr. Andres'
testimony in this particular case.
2.
Dr. Andres is Qualified
Although Metro-North does not contest the issue, see Mot. at 9, the Court briefly notes
that Dr. Andres appears qualified to provide expert ergonomics testimony. A witness may offer
expert testimony if he is "is "qualified ... by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or
education." Fed. R. Evid. 702. Dr. Andres has worked as an ergonomics researcher and
professor for approximately forty years. Def. Ex. B at 1. He has repeatedly provided ergonomic
job analyses to railroad companies upon request. Id. Additionally, Dr. Andres has conducted
approximately two hundred site inspections of railroad workplaces. Id. at 1-2. Other district
comis have found Dr. Andres qualified to offer expert ergonomics testimony. See, e.g., Ahmed,
2012 WL 5300094, at *6 ("Dr. Andres appears well qualified to render an opinion on the subject
of ergonomic risk factors associated with the workplace environment, as well as to suggest
remedial measures that employers could have taken to address those risk factors."); Powers,
2009 WL 734707, at *2; Campbell, 2009 WL 36890, at *2.
3.
Dr. Andres' Expert Opinions are Based on Sufficient Facts and Data
Expert testimony is admissible only if it is "based on sufficient facts or data." Fed. R.
Evid 702(b). Dr. Andres relied on the following materials when forming his expert opinions:
(1) Hewitt's deposition testimony, (2) an interview with Hewitt, (3) descriptions of Hewitt's job
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created by Metro-North, (4) an October 5, 2015 site inspection of Metro-North's Highbridge
Yard Car facility, (5) depositions from other Metro-North employees, (6) Hewitt's medical
records, (7) information Dr. Andres has accumulated during two hundred site inspections of
other railroad workplaces, (8) various scientific literature on ergonomics, and (9) litigation
materials provided to him by Plaintiff's counsel. Def. Ex.Bat 3-5.
District courts have repeatedly found that the types of materials relied upon by Dr.
Andres in this case satisfy the "sufficient facts or data" requirement of Rule 702. For example,
in Powers, the district court concluded that Dr. Andres' opinions were based on sufficient facts
and data when he relied upon "litigation files, [plaintiff's] work history, medical diagnoses and
treatments," "job analysis summaries," "scientific literature and industry materials," and his "28
years of experience and practice in the field of ergonomics and over a decade of experience
studying the railroad industry." 2009 WL 734707, at *2. Similarly, in Rowley, the district court
admitted an ergonomic expert's testimony that was based upon an interview with the plaintiff,
the depositions of two of plaintiff's coworkers, safety videos from the defendant railroad, various
scientific literature, and the expert's own experience, education, and training. 2016 WL
6561296, at *1-*2. Various other district courts have ruled similarly. See, e.g., Wright, 2016
WL 1183135, at *7 (admitting ergonomics expert testimony where proffered expert based his
conclusions on plaintiff's deposition testimony, an interview with plaintiff, "numerous published
studies and analyses," and evaluations by others who were employed by the defendant railway);
Ahmed, 2012 WL 5300094, at *6 (admitting Dr. Andres's expert testimony, which was based
upon photographs of the employee's work area and Dr. Andres's prior experience in "numerous
workplace settings"); Prater, 272 F. Supp. 2d at 714 (admitting ergonomics expert testimony
where proffered expert based his conclusions on an onsite analysis of the workplace and
12
"pertinent research"). The Court agrees with these courts that the materials relied upon by Dr.
Andres when forming his opinions in this case satisfy the "sufficient facts or data" requirement
of Rule 702.
Notwithstanding this precedent admitting ergonomics expert testimony under similar
circumstances, Metro-North makes several arguments as to why Dr. Andres' opinions are not
based on sufficient facts and data. These arguments also could be classified as challenging the
reliability of Dr. Andres' proposed testimony.
First, Metro-North objects that Dr. Andres' opinions are inadmissible because he never
personally observed any Metro-North employees performing the job tasks that allegedly led to
Hewitt's injuries. Mot. at 11-15. Similarly, Metro-North criticizes Dr. Andres for relying upon
videotapes of employees working at other railroad companies, rather than observing employees
at Metro-North itself. Mot. at 12-13. The company also criticizes Dr. Andres for failing to
observe Hewitt perform any of the allegedly dangerous job tasks. Mot. at 12.
For two reasons, the Court finds this alleged shortcoming insufficient to warrant
exclusion of Dr. Andres' testimony. First, the evidence before the Court suggests that the
science of ergonomics is sufficiently well-established so as to justify admitting expert testimony
on the topic, even when the expert has not personally observed the allegedly unsafe job
environment. As other district courts have recognized, it is well-established that "exposure to
recognized ergonomic risk factors-including awkward postures, forceful exertions, repetitive
motions, contact stresses, and cold temperatures-can cause" certain types of injuries and that
these types of risk factors are especially prevalent in certain workplace settings, such as
railroads. Rowley, 2016 WL 6561296, at *2; see also Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *4 ("That
ergonomic risk factors exist in a certain occupations and that known remedial measures alleviate
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such risks has been widely described and accepted in the scientific community. That corrective
actions can address ergonomic risk factors has been commonly accepted in the scientific
community for several decades."); Ahmed, 2012 WL 5300094, at *6 (noting that the defendants
did not "question the basic science of ergonomics"). Additionally, the Second Circuit has
recognized that "in many cases," the requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 704 can be met
simply through the "personal knowledge and experience of the expert." United States v. Litvak,
808 F.3d 160, 181 n.25 (2d Cir. 2015) (citation omitted). Given these two considerations -
the
profusion of scientific literature on ergonomics and Dr. Andres' general familiarity with the
science -
the Court concludes that Dr. Andres could permissibly rely upon materials other than
personal observations of Hewitt to form his opinions about the ergonomic risk factors present in
Hewitt's particular workplace. The Court notes that other district courts have ruled similarly.
See, e.g., Rowley, 2016 WL 6561296, at *3 (rejecting argument that an ergonomics expert's
opinions were "unreliable because he failed to ... conduct an on-site investigation"); Wright,
2016 WL 1183135, at *6-7 (rejecting argument that ergonomics expert opinion should be
excluded because the expert "did not personally assess plaintiffs work environment"); Ahmed,
2012 WL 5300094, at *6 (rejecting argument that Dr. Andres' testimony should be excluded
because he had "only seen photographs of the stairway and area where Plaintiff fell and
admittedly has never visited the ship"); Smith v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. CIV-08-1203-D, 2011 WL
4054858, at *4 (W.D. Okla. Sept. 12, 2011) (rejecting argument that ergonomics expert's
testimony should be excluded because the expert "never observed Plaintiff perform his job
duties, nor did he observe any other railroad employee who held similar duties to those
performed by Plaintiff'). But see Myers, 679 F. Supp. 2d at 915 (excluding expert testimony
partly because the experts had "never been to any of Plaintiffs job sites nor observed Plaintiffs
14
work"); Magdaleno, 5 F. Supp. 2d at 905 (excluding expert testimony partly because the expert
"did not make any detailed on-site analysis of the repair facility in operation").
Second, the Court rejects Metro-North's argument as inconsistent with the reality of
FELA cases. Metro-North's arguments suggest that ergonomics expert testimony can be
admitted only if the expert personally observed the plaintiff performing his job. But, as one
district court noted, it may be "impossible for [an ergonomics expert] to observe plaintiff
perform his job duties" because the plaintiffs injuries likely prevent him from continuing to
work for the defendant railway. Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at *7; see also Rowley, 2016 WL
6561296, at *3 (rejecting argument that it was necessary for an ergonomics expert to personally
observe the plaintiff at work, especially when the plaintiff "ha[ d] not worked for [the defendant]
in years," meaning that "it would be impossible to directly observe him at work now"). The
implication of Metro-North's arguments is that virtually all ergonomics expert testimony should
be inadmissible, a result the Court rejects given the general acceptance of ergonomics in the
scientific community and the numerous district courts that have admitted this evidence.
Next, Metro-North contends that Dr. Andres' testimony should be excluded because he
pai1ly based his opinions on Hewitt's own descriptions of his work, which Metro-North
describes as "vague and self-serving." Mot. at 12. But, as mentioned above, it is frequently
impossible for an ergonomics expert to observe the plaintiff in a FELA action doing his job, as
that employee is presumably injured and has stopped working for the defendant railroad. See
Rowley, 2016 WL 6561296, at *3; Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at *7. A plaintiffs description of
the type of work he did is one of the available alternative methods for an ergonomics expert to
assess the ergonomic risk factors prevalent in the plaintiffs job. See, e.g., Wright, 2016 WL
1183135, at *7 ("[W]hile [the expert's] analysis is based in part upon what the plaintiff relayed
15
to him, whether through the questionnaire, or deposition or interview testimony, the mere fact
that he relied on plaintiffs representations does not make his opinion inadmissible by default.");
Smith, 2011 WL 4054858, at *4 ('[T]hat [an expert] relied on Plaintiffs description [of his daily
responsibilities] does not render his opinion inadmissible."). Metro-North can of course crossexamine Dr. Andres about the fact that he relied upon Hewitt's own description of his work in
forming his opinions and argue to the jury that this entitles his expert opinion to less weight. See
Amorgianos v. National R.R. Passenger Corp., 303 F.3d 256, 267 (2d Cir. 2002) ("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."
(alteration omitted) (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596)).
Overall, the Comi concludes that Metro-North's criticisms of the type of information Dr.
Andres relied upon when forming his expert opinions go to the weight, rather than the
admissibility, of the proffered testimony. See Restivo, 846 F.3d at 577.
4.
Dr. Andres' Methods are Sufficiently Reliable
In addition to assessing whether an expert's opinion is based on sufficient facts or data, a
district court engaging in the Daubert gatekeeper function must also ensure that the testimony is
reliable. Fed. R. Evid. 702; see also Ruggiero v. Warner-Lambert Co., 424 F.3d 249, 253 (2d
Cir. 2005). This inquiry is multi-faceted; the court must ensure that the expert employed reliable
methodologies and that he reliably applied those methodologies to the facts of the particular
case. See Fed. R. Evid. 702(c)-(d). A number of factors are relevant when conducting this
analysis, including "the theory's testability, the extent to which it 'has been subjected to peer
review and publication,' the extent to which a technique is subject to 'standards controlling the
technique's operation,' the 'known or potential rate of error,' and the 'degree of acceptance'
16
within the 'relevant scientific community."' Romano, 794 F.3d at 330 (quoting Daubert, 509
U.S. at 593-94). Nonetheless, this inquiry "is a 'flexible one,"' Restivo, 846 F.3d at 576 (quoting
Daubert, 509 U.S. at 594), and these factors "do not constitute a 'definitive checklist or test,"' id.
(quoting Kumho Tire Co., 526 U.S. at 150).
After reviewing Dr. Andres' reports and Metro-North's expert's criticisms of these
reports, the Court concludes that Dr. Andres' opinions are sufficiently reliable to be admissible.
Def. Exs. B, P. As mentioned previously, ergonomics is an accepted scientific field. There is a
"wealth of research" and scientific literature supporting "the general theory that exposure to
recognized ergonomic risk factors" can cause certain injuries. Rowley, 2016 WL 6561296, at *2"
see also Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *4 ("That ergonomic risk factors exist in a certain
occupations and that known remedial measures alleviate such risks has been widely described
and accepted in the scientific community."). "[T]he subject of the physical effect of ergonomic
conditions on employees has been widely studied, analyzed, and discussed in published studies[,
and] .... the application of these conditions to railroad employees is also supp01ied by reference
to published studies and analyses." Smith, 2011 WL 4054858, at *4; see also Rowley, 2016 WL
6561296, at *2; Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at *8; Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *4 (noting that
an ergonomics expert's methodologies had "been subject to peer review and publication dating
back to 1976" and that "the field of ergonomics is known to reach reliable results"). Dr. Andres'
report includes an overview of some of this literature. Def. Ex. B. at 5, 9-13. Cf Myers, 679 F.
Supp. 2d at 915 (excluding expert testimony partly because the expert did "not cite any specific
scientific literature to support their causation opinions or any threshold levels for causation").
The acceptance of ergonomics in the scientific community suggests that Dr. Andres' opinions are
reliable.
17
Additionally, Dr. Andres' report employs multiple methodologies that are generally
accepted in the field of ergonomics. For example, Dr. Andres utilized the "NIOSH lifting
equation" when analyzing Hewitt's exposure to ergonomic risk factors, which has been accepted
by district courts as reliable. Def. Ex. B at 31-32. See Marzoll, 2009 WL 4456321, at *7 ("The
NIOSH Lifting Equation ... is a tool generally used in the ergonomics field for evaluating lifting
work tasks"); Bennett, 2006 WL 5249702, at *6 (noting that the defendants "concede[d] that the
NIOSH lifting equation is a valid tool used within the field of biomechanics to evaluate the
safety of a lift"). Dr. Andres also conducted a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment ("RULA"),
another methodology considered reliable in the field of ergonomics. Def. Ex.Bat 7, 32-35;
Fitzgerald, 2011WL3163241, at *2; Campbell, 2009 WL 36889, at *8. Although Metro-North
quibbles with Dr. Andres' application of these formulas to the facts of this case, "[a]ny
limitations weaknesses of [Dr. Andres'] use ofthe[se] formula can be adequately addressed
during both direct and cross-examination and grasped by a jury." Marzoll, 2009 WL 4456321, at
* 1O; see also Bennett, 2006 WL 5249702, at *7 ("[T]he identification of issues associated with
the alleged issues of a methodology that, in the abstract, is reliable should be accomplished on
cross-examination-not by excluding a method as unreliable." (citing Quiet Tech. DC-8, Inc. v.
Hurel-Dubois UK Ltd., 326 F.3d 1333, 1345 (11th Cir. 2003)).
Furthermore, the Court notes that, although courts are not unanimous on this point, many
district courts have deemed Dr. Andres' expert ergonomics testimony reliable. See, e.g.,
Abernathy, 2011 WL 1397439, at *3-*4; Fitzgerald, 2011 WL 3163241, at *2-*5; Powers, 2009
WL 734707, at *2-*4; Huffman, 2009 WL 734709, *4; Arsement, 2009 WL 700606, at *2-*4;
see generally Ahmed, 2012 WL 5300094, at *5. But see Pretter, 206 F. Supp. 2d at 605; Bisson,
2015 WL 12645757, at *4 (excluding some, but not all, of Dr. Andres' testimony as unreliable).
18
Despite this authority, Metro-North contends that Dr. Andres' opinions are unreliable. In
addition to raising the arguments discussed and rejected in the previous section, Metro-North
contends that Dr. Andres' methodology lacked sufficient quantitative analysis to be reliable.
According to Metro-North, Dr. Andres analyses were "entirely non-quantitative," not based on
"measurements of equipment or of plaintiff," and lacked "any objectively measured evidenced
[sic] of the frequency with which Metro North employees repeated their job functions or the
levels of force they employed." Mot. at 12-15.
The Court finds Metro-North's argument unpersuasive for two reasons. First, Dr.
Andres' methodology is not entirely devoid of quantitative analysis. Dr. Andres relied upon
Hewitt's testimony and descriptions of his job to determine, chart, and tabulate the frequency
with which Hewitt performed tasks associated with ergonomic risk factors. Def. Ex B at 14-16.
He also calculated and sketched several awkward body postures that Hewitt experienced while
working at Metro-North. Def. Ex. B at 18. Furthermore, he employed the NIOSH lifting
equation discussed above. Def. Ex. B at 31-32. Additionally, Dr. Andres calculated "posture
scores" for various tasks that Hewitt performed while working as a coach cleaner. Def. Ex. B at
32-34.
Second, even if Dr. Andres' methodologies were "non-quantitative" as Metro-North
contends, the Court is not persuaded that this would render his opinion wholly inadmissible.
Other courts have recognized that some aspects of ergonomics are unquantifiable. Hardyman,
243 F.3d at 265 (holding that district court erred in excluding expert testimony on the ground
"there has been no scientific study conducted specifically on railroad brakemen"); Marzolf, 2009
WL 4456321, at *10 (admitting expert testimony even though the experts acknowledged that
"quantifying the degree of risk of injury posed by a lifting task is a challenging endeavor, with a
19
variety of occupational and non-occupational factors potentially contributing to an injury"). The
Court agrees with this authority.
In sum, although Metro-North identifies several purported deficiencies in Dr. Andres'
methodology, the Court finds his opinions sufficiently grounded in the accepted scientific field
of ergonomics as to be admissible. Daubert is a "liberal" and "permissive" standard of
admissibility, see Nimely, 414 F.3d at 395-96, and the alleged deficiencies in Dr. Andres'
opinion identified by Metro-North can be addressed through cross-examination at trial.
5.
Dr. Andres May Testify About Metro-North's Lack of an Ergonomics
Mitigation Program
In addition to analyzing Hewitt's job for ergonomic risk factors, Dr. Andres also
reviewed Metro-North's approach to ergonomic risk factor mitigation. In his report, Dr. Andres
identified a number of actions that a reasonable railroad could take to lessen the likelihood of
employee injuries. According to Dr. Andres, those steps include "[p]erforming an ergonomic
screening or job analysis," "[i]mplementing engineering (preferably) or administrative controls
to decrease worker exposure to ergonomic risk factors," and "[a]dminister[ing] ... ergonomic
training." Ex. B. at 40-41. Dr. Andres also concluded that, based upon his review of the
materials provided to him, Metro-North did not take these actions. Ex. B. at 41.
Metro-North contends that this proffered testimony should be excluded. Mot. at 15.
According to Metro-North, there is no "generally accepted corporate practice" or standard
benchmark ergonomics program, as organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), the United States General Accounting Office, and the American
Association of Railroads, have failed to adopt an industry-wide standard. Mot. at 16-17.
Because of this, Metro-North seeks preclusion of Dr. Andres' "general ergonomic opnion [sic]
20
regarding Metro-North's alleged lack of an ergonomic program and testimony concerning OSHA
or OSHA rules and/or literature and General Accounting Office." Mot. at 25.
The Court finds this argument unpersuasive. As noted, it is widely accepted in the
scientific community that ergonomic risk factors exist in certain occupations. See Rowley, 2016
WL 6561296, at *2; Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at *8; Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *4. More
importantly for purposes of Metro-North's argument, it is also widely accepted that "known
remedial measures" and "corrective actions" exist to "address [these] ergonomic risk factors."
Arsement, 2009 WL 700606, at *4. Dr. Andres' report reiterates this point. See Ex.Bat 9-13,
3 5. Although the fact that no organization such as OSHA has adopted a recommended or
standardized ergonomics mitigation program may undermine Dr. Andres' conclusion that
Metro-North failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate Hewitt's exposure to ergonomic risk
factors, the absence of such a program does not, by itself, render his opinion inadmissible in light
of the various scientific literature supporting Dr. Andres conclusion that a company can take
certain remedial measures to mitigate ergonomic risk factors. See Hardyman, 243 F.3d at 265
(concluding that district court erred in excluding ergonomics expert testimony on the basis that
there was "no scientific study conducted specifically on railroad brakemen"). Many district
courts have allowed ergonomics expert testimony about what steps a company could have taken
to mitigate the effects of ergonomics risk factors and whether a particular company had done so.
See, e.g., Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at *6 (permitting ergonomics expert to testify that railway
company "was aware of the ergonomic risks to which plaintiff was exposed and while there were
means to reduce plaintiffs exposure to such risks, [the company] decided not to implement
them"); Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *3 (permitting Dr. Andres to testify about how the
defendant railway's "ergonomic effmis compared to accepted best practices ofreasonable
21
industrial employers"); Arsement, 2009 WL 700606, at *3 (same). The Court is persuaded by
this authority. Again, Metro-North is free to cross-examine Dr. Andres about the lack of an
industry-wide standard in an attempt to undermine his testimony. But the Court will permit Dr.
Andres to opine on what steps could have been taken to mitigate the effect of certain ergonomic
risk factors and whether Metro-North complied with these recommendations.
6.
The Court Will Preclude Testimony Regarding "Legal Conclusions"
Although the Court concludes that Dr. Andres' testimony is generally admissible under
Daubert, the Court will preclude one aspect of Dr. Andres' proposed testimony. Dr. Andres may
not testify as to any "legal conclusions," such as causation or negligence.
Under Federal Rule of Evidence 704(a), "[a]n opinion is not objectionable just because it
embraces an ultimate issue." The Second Circuit, however, has held that "expert testimony that
expresses a legal conclusion" must nonetheless be excluded. Hygh v. Jacobs, 961 F.2d 359, 363
(2d Cir. 1992); see also Snyder v. Wells Fargo Bank, NA, 594 F. App'x 710, 714 (2d Cir. 2014)
(noting "that while expert 'may opine on an issue of fact within the jury's province,' he 'may not
give testimony stating ultimate legal conclusions based on those facts"' (quoting United States v.
Bilzerian, 926 F.2d 1285, 1294 (2d Cir. 1991)); In re Thilman, 557 B.R. 294, 302 (E.D.N.Y.
2016) ("Rule 704 was not intended to allow experts to offer opinions embodying legal
conclusions." (citation omitted)); Howard v. Town of Dewitt, No. 5: 12-cv-870, 2014 WL
12591690, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Dec. 15, 2014). The Second Circuit based this rule on the Advisory
Committee Note to Rule 704, which states that expert "opinions which would merely tell the jury
what result to reach" are impermissible. Hygh, 961 F.2d at 363 (quoting Fed. R. Evid. 704
advisory committee's note); see also United States v. Lumpkin, 192 F.3d 280 (2d Cir. 1999)
(noting that expert testimony is inadmissible "if it will usurp either the role of the trial judge in
22
instructing the jury as to the applicable law or the role of the jury in applying that law to the facts
before it" (citations and quotation marks omitted)).
This principle requires the exclusion of some of Dr. Andres' proposed testimony. First,
while Dr. Andres may testify that Hewitt was exposed to certain ergonomics risk factors at work
and that those factors are associated with certain injuries, he cannot testify that those risk factors
caused Hewitt's injuries. See Prater, 272 F. Supp. 2d at 714 ("Testimony that circumstances
may give rise to a certain result differs from testimony that those circumstances gave rise to that
result. That testimony is relevant and admissible, while leaving for the jury the ultimate question
of causation in the paiiicular case."); Lovato v. Burlington N and Santa Fe Ry. Co., No. CIV.A.
OO-RB-2584CBS, 2002 WL 1424599, at *7, *9 (D. Colo. June 24, 2002) (permitting expert to
testify that the plaintiff "in the course of his normal daily activities as a carman, was routinely
and regularly exposed to ergonomic risk factors" but precluding expe1i from testifying "that the
risk factors present in [the plaintiffs] work were sufficient to cause and did cause [the
plaintiffs] injuries").
Second, Dr. Andres cannot testify that Metro-North was "negligent." Dr. Andres may
permissibly opine on what steps a reasonable employer could have taken to mitigate ergonomic
risk factors and whether Metro-North took those steps. See, e.g., Wright, 2016 WL 1183135, at
*6; Powers, 2009 WL 734707, at *3. He cannot, however, testify that Metro-North was
"negligent" or, as he states in his repmi, that Metro-North "failed to provide Mr. Hewitt with a
reasonably safe place to work." Def. Ex.Bat 41; see Hygh, 961 F.2d at 364 ("We have held that
an expert's testimony that a defendant was 'negligent' should not have been allowed."); see also
Strong v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours Co., 667 F.2d 682, 685-86 (8th Cir. 1981) (concluding that an
expert could not testify "whether the lack of warnings rendered [certain] products unreasonably
23
dangerous"); GlobalRock Nef'vvorks, Inc. v. MCI Communications Servs., Inc., 943 F. Supp. 2d
320, 343 (N.D.N.Y. 2013) ("[A]n expert may not offer an opinion as to whether a parties'
actions amount to gross negligence."); Atlantic Specialty Ins. Co. v. Gold Coast Developments,
Inc., No. 05-CV-4863 (JFB)(WDW), 2008 WL 974411, at *9 n.3 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 8, 2008)
(permitting "testimony regarding steps or procedures [were] available to a landlord [to avoid a
sprinkler system from freezing]" on the ground that such testimony would "assist the trier of fact
in determining the issue of negligence" but precluding testimony regarding the "ultimate legal
conclusion as to whether the defendants were negligent").
Finally, Metro-North contends that Dr. Andres should be prohibited from defining or
using the word "safety." Mot. at 21. According to Metro-North, use of the word "safety" is "a
conclusory opinion" about the "ultimate issue in this case." Id. The Court finds this argument
unpersuasive. Contrary to Metro-North's argument, Rule 704 expressly permits experts to opine
on "ultimate issues." Fed. R. Evid. 704. And while an expert cannot testify as to legal
conclusions, see Hygh, 961 F.2d at 363-64, the term "safety" is not a legal conclusion for
purposes of this case. In order to succeed in this FELA action, Hewitt will need to show the
basic elements of negligence. See Tufariello, 458 F.3d at 87 ("In FELA actions, the plaintiff
must prove the traditional common law elements of negligence: duty, breach, foreseeability, and
causation."). The general term "safety" is not one of those elements.
7.
The Court Reserves on the Rule 403 Arguments
Metro-North makes a number of arguments based on Federal Rule of Evidence 403. For
example, Metro-North contends that Dr. Andres' comments about how the railroad industry has
"resisted ergonomics systematically" and has "suppresse[ d] the publication of research results"
should be excluded as "inflammatory, irrelevant, unscientific and unduly prejudicial." Mot. at
24
19. Similarly, they contend that Dr. Andres' statements about how Metro-North circumscribed
his October 2015 site inspection should be excluded for the same reason. Id.
The Court reserves judgment on these issues. Under Rule 5 of this Court's Individual
Practices in Civil Cases, it is the Court's regular practice to resolve evidentiary issues, such as
Rule 403 arguments, only after dispositive motions have been resolved. Here, Metro-North does
not appear to contend that, if the allegedly inflammatory evidence is excluded, Hewitt will have
insufficient evidence to survive summary judgment. See Mot. at 18-22. Furthermore, Hewitt
fails to respond to these Rule 403 arguments. Because Metro-North's Rule 403 arguments will
not affect the Court's summary judgment decision, the Court will maintain its usual practice of
resolving such evidentiary disputes at a later time. Metro-North may renew its Rule 403
arguments in a pretrial motion in limine.
B.
The Court Denies Metro-North's Motions to Exclude Dr. Sasson's Testimony
and for Partial Summary Judgment
Finally, Metro-North contends that the Court should exclude Dr. Sasson's expert
testimony and award summary judgment in its favor on every issue with the exception of seat
removal. Mot. at 22-25. Both of these arguments are premised on Metro-North's contention that
the Court should exclude Dr. Andres' testimony. See id. As outlined above, the Court has
concluded that Dr. Andres' testimony is largely admissible. Because Metro-North's arguments
for the preclusion of Dr. Sasson's testimony and for partial summary judgment are based entirely
on the company's view that Dr. Andres' expert testimony should be mostly excluded, and
because the Court has rejected this argument, the Court also denies Metro-North's motion to
preclude Dr. Sasson's testimony and for partial summary judgment.
25
IV. Conclusion
The Court will allow Dr. Andres' proposed expert testimony, except as to any "legal
conclusions" he purports to offer. The Court therefore denies Metro-North's motion to preclude
Dr. Andres' testimony, to preclude Dr. Sasson's testimony, and for partial summary judgment.
This resolves Docket Number 69.
The Court hereby orders the parties to meet and confer to engage in settlement
discussions and to discuss a joint proposed schedule for the case. The parties shall submit a joint
letter, no later than April 14, 2017, that suggests a deadline for the submission of a joint pre-trial
report and the other pretrial materials detailed in Rule 5 of the undersigned's Individual Practices
in Civil Cases and proposes potential trial dates.
SO ORDERED.
Dated:
, 2017
New York, New York
United States District Judge
26
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