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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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

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