Thornhill v. Aylor et al

Filing 174

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/18/17. (jcj)

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CL S OFFI U 9. ST. ERK' CE DS COURT I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A ATROAN3éEV ïC ,A C FL' lLD CHARLOTTES LLE DI S ON VI VI I gcJ jg 2 1 g7 , SH ERRY LY NN TH O RN HI LL, f he s fa asA dm i s r t r oft or r el nd nit a o he Esa eofhe s Shawn Chrsophe Bery, tt r on, it r r dec as i vi ly a on be l o e ed, ndi dua l nd ha f f al ot r smia l st td, l he s i lry iuae Pl ntf, ai if J îAj u' VL( ï' U t ) ' : 'x ' Li , t ; UTY CtHF. . .. 4 Ci lA c i No.3: 5CV00024 vi ton l M EM ORANDUM OPI ON NI By: on,G l n E.Conr H e ad U nie St t D it i tJ t d a es s rc udge F.GLEN N A Y LO R,e a1, t . Dee f ndant . s Thi ac in a ies fom a i t ' deah whie e re i dnz a a c s to rs r n nma e s t l xpe i ncng g nd l ohol wi d a ld rn h sc n ie n a a Vigna r go a j i i Au u t2 4 Th a to i t rwa u ig i o fn me t t r ii e i n l al n g s 01 . e cin s h br htpurua t 42 U. C.j 1 f delbeaei fernc t a srousme c lnee a oug s nt o S. 983 or i rt ndif e e o e i dia d nd Vigi aCodej8. - : s f wr ulde t r ni 0150 . eu. or ongf ah.Thec ei pr e l beor t c tont 1 as s esnty f e he our he de e nt 'm otons i lmi t e ude t t si f nda s i n i ne o xcl he e tmony ofpl ntf se rs Liens Pr c ial ai if xpe t , c ed a tc Nur e Ki be l Ha ve a Dr Rus el Sur s Fort r as s tf t beow,t m oton i s m ry r y nd . s l a ky. he e ons e orh l he i n lm i ast Har y wilbegr nt a t m o i i lmi a t Dr Sur ky wilbede ed. i ne o ve l a ed nd he ton n i ne s o . as l ni I t r m otons def nda s a g t t t pr n hei i , e nt r ue ha he opos d e r s t tm ony s d be e xpe t ' es i houl e l xcuded unde t s t tve rquie nt ofVigni Code j8. l58120 a t rRul r he ubsani e rme s ri a 0 - . nd mde es 702 a 403 of t Fe r lRul o Evi nc De e a s co e t tne t r H a ve nor Dr nd he de a es f de e. f nd nt nt nd ha ihe z y . Sur s m ant i a ac i ci c lpr tce wihi one ye roft dae oft i i n gi ng a ky i aned n tve lnia aci t n a he t he nc de t vi r s t t s l w s t a t e or ,t tt y ca i e o hi a ui, nd her f e ha he nnott s iy on t s a r of c r f t V igi a e tf he t nda d a e or he r ni wr ul deat cl m . As t a1 ot i ues at ti ,t def ongf h ai o 1 her ss ral he endant ar t bot pr s gue hat h oposed expert l t neces y qualt i and w oul r s ack he sar iicatons d ender opi ons t w oul m i l or ni hat d s ead c nf e te j r b c u e te h v ne e prcie ciia me ii e i Vign a p o ie o us h u y e a s h y a e v r a tc d l c l dcn n r ii, r vd d n r g lrc r i aj i o c re to ls tig o rg lry te td pain su d r ong d u o e ua ae n al r or cina etn , r e u al r ae te t n e g i r g r aco wihdr wa . On Ocobe 1 201 t cou the d a he rng on t m otons i lmi l hol t a l t r 7, 7, he r l ai he i n i ne. Themotonsha be f l b if d a a enow rpef r viw . i ve en uly re e nd r i or e e l e St ndar u zal a ds Vigni Co e j8015 l2 s t frh te s b tn ie rq ie n s f r a win s t ri a d . - 8 .0 e s o t h u sa tv e ur me t o tes o qualf as a e r on t sa r of c r i a Vigi a medi lmal a tc cai tld i iy n xpe t he t nda d ae n r ni ca pr c ie l m le n f de a co t Esa e ofHa ve e r l De v.Roa ke Ciy She ifs Ofi e,585 F.Supp.2d e r l ur . t t r y x e . nt no t rf ' tc 844,862 ( . Va.20 ) Theea et rquie nt: ()t k W D. 08 . r r wo e rme s 1 he ç knowldgerquie nt'a e e r me ' nd ( t k ci clni lprci r q rme . W rch v.Ka 593 S. 2d 307,311( 2004) 2) he l tve i ca a tce e uie nt' i t a ' ye, E. Va. . The l te o r quies a wine s t ha m ant ne a S c i ci c lpr c ie i eihe t at r ne e r t s o ve i ai d n k tve lnia a tc n t r he a de e ntss cily orar a e fed ofme cne wihi one y roft da eoft a lge a t f nda ' pe at elt d i l di i tn ea he t he le d c o o sinf r n teb sso t ea to ' . d Al j8015 120 r miso o mig h a i f h cin. 'Va Co e m. . - 8 . . Alhough Vigi a Code j8. - 120 c tol t s tntve r uie nt f a t r ni 0158 . onr s he ubsa i eq rme s or n e r qualfc ton i a Vigi a m e c m apr tce or wr ul deah cai , Rul 702 xpe t ii ai n r ni dial l aci ongf t lm e o he wie c r s t a isbiiy of e pe t t tm ony i t s c s be aus i ars s unde t r s ontol he dm s i lt x r esi n hi a e c e t ie r f rllw. Se Crqkmor v.M ayvi Hos ,662 F. 68 69 ( h Ci,2011. t r edea a e e e r ew p. 3d 6, 0 4t r ) l unde Rul 702,a pur t d expe tm us fr t hur e t obs a e of bei q lfe t t tf a a e por e r t is dl he t cl ng ua ii d o es iy s n e r.' Va.Ve c ie Lt v.W . Grc & Co.Conn. 98F.Supp.2d 7 732 ( . Va. xpe t' nniult d. R. a e , 29, W D. 2000) An i viua quaii asa e r i t i viua pose s t rquiieSk wldge . ndi d l lfes n xpe t f he ndi d l s ses he e st kno e , s l,expe i e,tani o e a i .. .. Fe R.Evi 702. The i vi ua ne no kil renc r i ng, r duc ton ' d. ' d. ndi d l ed t ûp s s a l fve r s t - a l as he pos es e one,he m ay be d m ed a e r . V a. t os e s l i equiies s ong s ss ee n xpe t' ' Ve m iult Lt , F.Supp. a 732. r c ie d.98 2d t Fort e tst tm ony t be a m isbl i mus ofe t ce ii ,t hnial orot he xper' esi o d s i e, t t f r l intfc ec c , s her s ci lze know l ' t wil û l t t i r o f c t unde sa t e de e or t pe a i d edge ' hat l k p he r e f a t o he r t nd he vi nc o d emi af c i is ....'Fe R. d.702() Howe r t t extntt t tmony i s etr ne a t n sue ' d. Evi a. ve ,o he e he esi G ha ag e trp tn il o mila t a t e lg tn (t s o l b e cu e ' e t rvv. sa e rae oe ta t se d h n o nih e i h ud e x l d d. j 'W sber Gilv d GummiAB,1 F. 257,26l( h Ci.1 . Rul 403 pemisac 't ' l r e nt 78 3d 4t r 999) e r t oul o Yxcude elva t e de e i is pr atv val i s t ntal out i d by a da r of o or mor of t vi nc f t ob i e ue s ubsa i ly weghe nge ne e he f lo n ' n arp eu ie c n u igteis e , se dn tej r , n u d ly, sigtme o lwig. f i rj dc , o f sn h su s mila ig h u y u d e ea wa tn i , u orne es l pr s ntng c ultvee denc ' Fe R. d. edl sy e e i um a i vi e. d. Evi 403. ' D i cus i n s so 1 . Li e e Pr t c N ur e H ar y c ns d ae i al s ve K i bery Ha ve ha bee a lc ns d p a tc l nur e s nc 1 . She tea e pa i nt m l r y s n ie e r ci a s i e 991 r t d te s e re i wihdr lfom dr a aloholwhie wor ng f t Log Reg ona M edi l xpe inc ng t awa r ugs nd c l ki or he an i l ca Ce e i W e tVigi afom 2003 t 2005. Fr m 2005 t 2006,s wor d a t Uni r iy of nt r n s r ni r o o o he ke t he ve st N o t Ca olnahos t l Durng t tye ,s a s teae i aesa t Fe r lM e ca Ce e rh r i pia . i ha ar he lo r td nm t t he de a di l nt r i But r Norh Ca olna on a r xi t l 5 da . She t tfed t tnone oft e i t s n ne , t r i pp o ma ey 2 ys esi ha hos nma e e renc d dr ora c xpe i e ug l oholwihdr wa . Ha vey i c r nty lc ns d i Vigi a an wor f t a l r s ure l ie e n r ni d ks or t Vigi a Pr m irHeat Pln i Ro he r ni e e 1h a n anoke Vigi a whe e s r vi me c lr c ds t , r ni , r he e ews di a e or o de e m i whe he team e sa e a horze f pa m e by M e c r orM e c d. Si s t r ne t r r t nt r ut i d or y nt di a e diai nce he sa td i t sr e i 2008,a oxi t y 1 2% oft r or s hasr e d have i ve tre n hi ol n ppr mael he ec ds he eviwe nvol d he oi wihdr w a a a he 1 2 ha i ve al oholw ihd a al The pl i if c ends r n t a l nd not r - % ve nvol d c t rw . a ntf ont t tHa vey i q lfe t t tf on,a ong o he is s t f l ng ma t r : t tai ng t t ha r s ua iid o esiy m t r s ue , he olowi te s he r ni ha nurses r ve,nuzsng i a cor ectonal seti whet t def ecei i n r i tng, her he endant act wih delber e s ed t i at i fee eorr c e s st t i t ss rousme c lne dsunde j1 a t sa r ndifrnc e klsnes o he nmae' ei dia e r 983, nd he tndad ofc r a i bl t nu s s a e pplca e o r e . Thede enda sa g t Ha ve i no qualfed t r nde s h o ni ort o he wie f nt r ue hat r y s t ii o e r uc pi ons o t r s t tf i t s ca e bec us s f ld t ma n an a a tve clni a pr c i as r quied unde esiy n hi s a e he aie o i t i n ci i c l a tce e r r Vigi a lw a s l c e re eorexpe ts i te tng pa int unde g ng dr oracohol r ni a nd he a ks xpe inc rie n r a i te s r oi ug l wihdr w a . The c tag ee . t a l our r s Fr Ha ve sde ii n t tmony,i i u s ed t ts ha note om r y' posto esi t s ndiput ha he s ngag i c i c ed n lnial p a tc sn e20 8 Hav y tsiid t t sn e2 0 ,h rj b h siv v d rviwig me ia r cie i c 0 . r e etfe ha, ic 0 8 e o a n ole e e n dc l c r s a i c t d t ts has notha çs g fc ntdie tpa i ntc r a pa i n i e ac i ' ha t nd ndi a e ha he d ti nii a r c te a e nd t e t nt r ton,' w hi h s ts y t ac i c i c l pr ctce r uie en . Sç N . .v.Al m bi 160 F.Supp.3d c a i f he tve lni a a i eq r m t e O e k, 90 906( D.Va 201 ,af d s nom. O.byOr gv. e k,694F. x895( hCi. 2, E. . 6) f ub N. wi Almbi App' 4t r 201 ) She t rf e di notha a a tve ci ca prcie wihi oneyea oft i t s 7. heeor d ve n ci lni l a tc t n r he nmae' wihdr waland de t i 201 Ac or ngl Har y i notqua iid t t tf asa e r on t t a a h n 4. c di y, ve s lfe o esiy n xpe t he sa r ofcaei t pl ntf' wr ngf de t cli Se Va CodeAnn.j8, - . tndad r n he ai ifs o ul ah am. e . 0158120. A s t t ot r i s a t i l t c t fnds t t a t o he he s ues t r a , he our i ha lhoug H a ve has sgnii a h r y i t c nt e re as a lce e pr c ialnure,s ha lm ie a dit nt e re e wih te tng xpe ince i ns d a tc s he s i t d nd sa xpe i ne t r a i pa int unde goi dr oraloholwihdr wa . Shet tfed t tf t ye r s wor a a te s r ng ug c t a l esii ha or wo a s he ked t hos t ,i whi s be ive a oxi ael 1 20% ofabou 45 pa int we eunde goi dr pial n ch he le s ppr m t y 5t te s r r ng ug orac loholwihdr wa on a ave a day a t ts woul te ts e oft epai nt. Thi t a l n r ge nd ha he d r a om hos te s s e r e e f om ove 1 ye r a doe not s fce t esa i h t S w l dge s l, xpe i nc r r 0 a s go s uf i o t bls he ' kno e , kil e re e,tani o ed a i 'r quied i t s c s See Fed.R.Evi 702. Tesi xpe i nc r i ng, r uc ton' e r n hi a e. d. tmony r r ng nur i i ge r l w oul no pr de t t pe of s c a i d know l dge t t w oul ega di s ng n ne a d t ovi he y pe i lze e ha d hel a ti r off tunde s a t de e nt r pons t t i a e' m e ca rs i t s c e, p re ac r t nd he f nda s' es e o he nm t s di l i k n hi as whih i ve dug a ac c nvol d r nd loholwihdrwa. Se Fe R.Evi 7 a . The c tt r f e t a l e d. d. 02() our he eor 4 fndsHa ve unqualfed t t siy unde Rul 70 i r y ii o e tf r e 2. I 1. D r Sura ky . s Dr Rus e lSu as i a doc or lce ed i New Yor a c rii i ne ol a . s l r ky s t i ns n k nd e tfed n ur ogy nd a cton me cne. The pli ifi e t elc tt si ddi i dii antf ntnds o ii e tmony fom Dr Su as on t a i l r . r ky he pplcab e s a r ofca e and t ca c OfBe r sde t t nda d r he us r y' a h. Def nda s a g t tD r Sur ky c l otqua iy t t s i y a ti be us he ha ne r e nt r ue ha . as a m lf o e tf t ral ca e s ve pr c ied i Vigi a or q ii a a e r i Vigi a ha ne r te t d pa int i a a tc n r ni ualfed s n xpe t n r ni , s ve r a e te s n c rci or e tonal s ti a t tfe t t he has not ha a e e tng, nd es ii d ha d ny xpere e wih i te te m e i nc t npa i nt r at nt snc J 201 The t r or a guet the lc e r knowl ge on t sa r ofc r i i e une 3. y he ef e r ha a ks xpe t ed he t nda d ae n V i g ni ora c r c i ls ti a c nnots t s y t a tve clni a pr c i e r r m e und ri a or e tona e tng nd a a i f he c i i c l a tc equie nt er Vigi aCodej8. - 120. r ni 0158 . Howe r t cou tbei ve t Dr Su as qua ii u rVigi a a f r l1 w t ve , he r le s hat . r ky lfes nde r ni nd ede a a o t siy asan e r. Fis,unde Vigi a lw,Dr Sur s a pe r t s tsy t r uie nt f e tf xpe t rt r r ni a . a ky p a s o a if he eq r me s or lc ns e i Vigi a a t r f r he i d es e t know t sa e de sa r ofca e i ie ur n r ni , nd he e o e, s t um d o pr he tt wi t nda d r n t s i t orfel ofpr ciei whih hei qu iid a c riid. Va.CodeAnn.j8. he pecaly i d a tc n c s alfe nd e tfe ' ' 01 581. The c tfndst sc s a l ust Ga 20. our hi a e na ogo o ynorv.Ob/ Gyn Specals s Lt ,51F.Supp. i it, d. 2d718 7 ( . Va 1 ,i whiht c tf mdadocorlc ns d i M aylndqualte t , 24 W D. . 99) n c he our ot t ie e n r a iid o t tf a a e r on t a i a e sa r ofc r f r a Vigi a me c mapr c ie ca m esiy s n xpe t he pplc bl t nda d ae o r ni di al l a tc li be aus t doc o m e t r q r m e s f lce ur i V igi a de o tat e r c e he tr t he e uie nt or i ns e n r ni , m ns r ed xpe t knowl dge i t r l vant fe d, a a tve y pr ctce i t t f e d w ihi o yea of t e n he e e i l nd c i l a i d n ha i l t n ne r he i i t gi ng r s t t l x s t H e e,Dr Sur s a nc den vi i e o he a v ui. r . a ky ppea s t s ts y t r ui e e s f r r o a i f he eq r m nt o lc ns e i V igi a, ha de ons r t d e r know l dge on d ug a a c i e ur n r ni s m ta e xpe t e r nd l ohol w ihdr w a t a l t o h hi e r e hr ug s xpe i nce tea i a ut ca es of s h wihdr w a , a a tve y t e t d pa i nt r tng c e s uc t a l nd c i l r a e te s unde goi wihdr wa wihi one ye roft i i ntg vi rs t t sl ui. r ng t a l t n a he ncde i ng ie o hi aws t D e e nt a t m pt t di tng s Ga f nda s te o s i uih ynor f om t s c s b a gui t D r Sur s r hi a e y r ng hat . a ky l ks s fcintf m ii rt wih t def nda s'me c lpr ctce whih i ve a c r tona ac ufi e a la iy t he e nt di a a i , c nvol s oreci l s ti and t t unlket e r i Gay r Dr Sur s ha notpr vi l qualfe t t siy etng, ha , i he xpe t n no , . a ky s e ousy ii d o e tf a a expe ti Vigi a. The c l l doe nttJnd t c r c i ls tng s gnii a . Se D ot f s n r n r ni tu ' s l i he or e tona eti i f c nt e t sm v.J e No.3: os ph, 04CV1 09 2005 W L 3 498 a *1 ( . Va.De 8,2005) rpor a 0 9, 43 3, t 0 W D. c. , e t nd r c me i a ed i pa ta modii d i pa ton ot rgr e om ndaton dopt n r nd fe n r he ounds N o.CI . 3:4, V A. 0 CV- 1 0 9 2 0 W L 21 71 ( . Va J n. 6 2 0 )(11ti i tra ta n i e d co ha 09, 06 3 2 W D. . a 2 , 0 6 1 q s mmaeil h t et r o tr d ( h e re eprciig i ac rci lf iiy.l;s eas M c welv.Brwn,392 F.d 1 , xpe inc a tcn n ore tona aclt ' e lo Do l o 3 283 1 ( lh Ci.200 (i- sa r ofc e a ia e t nure i uni ra,a doe no 296 1 t r 4) klhe tndad ar pplc bl o s s s ves l nd s t - di n s wh nt esti i aj i rte ta h s tl'.Th d fn nsha eno s o ta a miih e h et s al ah r h n o pi .) e ee da t v t h wn h t ng a' c r e tona s ti de a o r c i l e tng m nds a m at r a l dif r nt cou s of t e t e f dr a al hol e i ly f e e re r a m nt or ug nd co wihdr wa .Theco ta s doesnotfnd Dr Sur s sl c ofprore r t si o i Vigi a t a l ur lo i . a ky' a k i xpe t e tm ny n r ni t be c l i o onc us ve. A s de c i bel , D r s rbed ow .Sur s pos e s t ne es a y expe i nc i a ky s s es he c s r re e n t e tng pa i nt unde g ng a ut a co w ihdr w a . r ai te s r oi c e l hol t a l The de e nt a gue t tDr Su a ky lc t e ne s ar e re e a t the do f nda s r ha . r s a ks h ce s y xpe inc nd ha es nots ts y t a tveclni a pr c ier quie ntunde Vigi alw .Alhough Dr Sur ky has a if he c i i c l a tc e r me r r ni a t . as no pr vi d i ten te t tsnc J 201 he hasha t i fca diec pa intc r a t o de npa i t r a men i e une 3, d i gnii nt r t te a e nd s pa i nt i e ac i ' snce t t tm e. Se N . , 1 F. Supp. 3d a 906. H e t s i i d t t te nt r ton,' i ha i e O. 60 t e tfe ha û s e i ly e r da ' he a is a t e t pa i nt i ç u e opi t or a co wihdr w a . ' s nta l ve y y' e dm t nd r a s te s n i t ac ae l hol t a l' ' D e ofD r Rus e lSur s y 25- D oc tN o.1 - . W ihi one ye r oft i a e' de t i p. . sl ak 26, ke 61 1 t n a he nm t s a h n A ugus 2014, Dr. Sur t asky m ai ai an actve clni pr i by wor ng as a neur ogi t nt ned i i cal actce ki ol s s c a i i i a c i m e ci a New Y o k N e ol & M edi alSe vi es P. s nc J y pe i lz ng n ddi ton di ne t r ur ogy c r c , C. i e ul 6 201 a as a neu ol s a Le town He t Ce e fom M a c 201 t J nua y 2015. 3 nd r ogit t vit a1h nt r r rh 4 o a r A c or ng y,t c tf nds Dr Sur ky qua i i d t t tf w ih r pec t pl i if s w r ul c di l he our i . as lfe o es iy t es t o a ntf ongf de t c ai . ah l m Sec ond,bec us ofD r Sur s s r l va e pe i e t c tfnds t tDr Sur ky i a e . a ky' e e nt x renc , he our i ha . as s quaiid asan e tunde Rul 702 a doesnotbei t thi opi onswoul c us or lfe xper r e nd leve ha s ni d onf e mila tej r u d rRue4 3 se d h u y n e l 0 . C oncl on usi For t f egoi r as ,t c twilgr n t def nda s moton i lmi a t he or ng e ons he our l a t he e nt ' i n i ne s o Ki ry Ha v y a de t def nda s moton i lm i a t Dr Rus elSur ky. mbe l r e nd ny he e nt ' i n i ne s o . s l as The Cl r i diece t s nd c rii co e o t s m e or ndum opi on a t e k s r td o e e tfed pi s f hi m a ni nd he a om pa ng or rt a lcouns ofr c d. cc nyi de o l el e or DATED: i S Ths d yo Oco e, 01 a f tb r2 7. U nie St t D i ti tJ t d a es sr c udge

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