Torres v. Carnival Corporation, No. 1:2012cv23370 - Document 64 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER Granting 45 Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Liability Expert Kevin A. Rider, Ph.D. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 7/17/2014. (jw)
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Torres v. Carnival Corporation Doc. 64 U NI TED STATES D I STRICT CO URT SO UTH ERN D I STRICT O F FLO R I DA M I I DW I O N AM SI CA SE NO .1 cv2- 23370JLK AI E SEPULV EDA TORRES, D Pl i if antf, CA RN I VAL CO RPORATI ON, af r i c por indba o egn or ato // CAS IVAL CR UI LI SE NES Def endant . / OR DER G R AN TI G M OTI N TO STRIK E N O PLAI TI S LI LI EXPERT K EVI A .RIDER.PH . . N FF' ABI TY N D TH I CAU SE com e bef e t Cour upon D e e S s or he t f ndants M oton t Sti ' i o rke Opi on ofPli ipsLibiiy Exp r Ke n A.Ri r Ph. ( E.45 ,fld J 6, ni s antf a lt e t vi de , D. D. ) ie une 201 The Courti f l bref on t m a t . Upon r ew of t r d and c ef 4 s uly i ed he terl evi he ecor ar ul c i r ton,t Cour fndst t M oton s d be gr nt d. onsde a i he t i hat he i houl a e L BA CK G RO U ND Thi i a s m pl cas Pl i ifw as apas e ron D ef s s i e e. a ntf s nge endants c ui e s p on J y ' r s hi ul 24,2011. On t day,a s w asdiem ba ki t ves e d hr hat s he s r ng he s l ' ough a ope pas a w ay t n n s ge o t t e t ro de k..s j ti d a d f l o r a r ie t e ho d t t h d be n n o he x e ir c .lhe rppe n el ve as d hr s l ha a e c r ove wih a m a or sm ia m a eral w hi h obs ed,di gui e or hi t r i ed ove ed r t t i lr t i , c cur s s d, d he a s 1Pli iffld aRes et t M otonofJ 27, 2 4( E. 4 a dDee d n fldaRe yo J l 1 2 1 antf ie pons o he i une 01 D. 5 ) n fn a t i e pl n uy 0 0 4 ( E. 1 ' 6) D. Dockets.Justia.com t e hol ' Co . 7.Tha i t e ke e e . Pl i ifbrn t sa to i ne lge e hr s d. mpl ! ' t s h y v nt antf i gs hi c in n g i nc agai t Def ns endant f cove i t r i ed t e hol w ih a m a eral f lng t pr l or rng he a s hr s d t t i , aii o opery as itPl ntf and s r s t di e ba ka i pr s s ai i f upe vi e he s m r ton oduce,a f lng t w a n pas e r nd aii o r s nge s o t ha ad. mpl!9. f he z r Co . Pl ntf r t ned K e n A ,Ri r PI. .t dr ndtropi onsr a ed t t la lt ai if e ai vi de , AD o de ni elt o he i biiy i s i t s cas ' D . 54 at3. Ri r s t pr es i s ues n hi e.' E. de ' en of sonalopi ons i t s cas ar s t ni n hi e e e f rh i hi r po tD. 45 1a 1 o t n s e r. E. - t 0.The f l i ot r eb oa c t g re :1 t eha ng y a l nt h e r d a e o is ) hos vi t do wi De e ntstoo i g .1 7 ;2)o e r g r i lg tng g 8 ;a 3 o o t fnda ' l rng nos - 1 h n e a d ng i h i no. 1 nd ) ne r gadi g wa n ng ( 9 . Ri rs fna o nin i a s mm ai n. De e da mo st e r n r i s no. j2 de ' i l pi o s u to f n nt ve o excl Ri . ude der I .LEG A L STA NDA R DS I The t es d cons der i i al evi ntar i s i r evancy.See Fed.R.Ev. hr hol i aton n l de i y s ues s el 402. Fe r Rul of Evi de al e dence 403 per is t cour t e ude ot r s r eva m t he t o xcl he wi e el nt e de vi nce i is pr tve va ue i s t i l out ei d by a dange of unf r f t oba i l s ubsantaly w ghe r ai peudc ,c u i t is s mila ng te j r ,und dea watng tme or rj ie onfsng he sue , se di h u y ue ly, si i , nee es l pr entng cum ul i evi e. dl sy es i atve denc Tesi ony by a w iness who has be qualfed as an expe t i gove ned by tm t en ii r s r Fede al Rul of Evi r e dence 702. The El ve h Cicui has ari at a t ee- onge e nt r t tcul ed hr pr d as e s e f adm is biiy ofe s s m nt or s i lt xper evi nce. The Cour m us consde w het ' t de t t i r her . 2Athi deposii , Ri clrfed t the now knowst matwass e a notl e;when wrtng hi s ton der a ii ha he ecur d t oos ii s r por,hehad as umed t matwasl e. He sat t f t tt m atwass ed doesnotcha hi e t s he oos t es he act ha he ecur nge s concl ons. D. 45-1at36: 1 38: usi E. 1 - 9. 2 ( )t e pe ti qu lûe t t siy c 1 he x r s a i d o e tf ompe e l r ga d n t mat r h t nty e r i g he te s e i e s t a r s ;( ) t me ho l g by whih t e r r a he hi ntnd o dd e s 2 he t do o y c he xpe t e c s s concl i i s fci nty r i e as de e m i usons s uf i e l elabl t r ned by t s t of i r he or nquiy ma dae i Dau e t a ( ) t t si ny a sss t t i r of f c , n td n b r; nd 3 he e tmo s it he r e at t ough t applcaton of s entfc,t hr he i i ci ii echni ,or s ci i d expe ts , to cal pe alze r ie under t nd t evi nce ort de e m i a f cti is s a he de o t r ne a n s ue. Unie Stts v Fr ze ,38 F.d 1 4, 1 0 ( 1h Ci.20 ) ( uoi Cf o td ae . a ir 7 3 24 26 1 t r 04 q tng / f y T s al o a v.Har r s Che . I . 5 F. 5 ,5 ( 1h Ci.1 98 ) ( mp ss uc os co ms, nc,1 8 3d 48 62 1 t r 9 ) e ha i a de . d d) Fe e a Rul ofEvi e c 7 2( )r q r st a û h e pe tss intfc t c i a,o d rl e d n e 0 a e uie h t û e x r' c e ii, e hn c l r t ot s ci i ed know l her pe alz edge w ilhel t t i of f t unde s a t e dence or t l p he rer act o r t nd he vi o detr i a f ct i i s .' The Fede a Rul of Evi e' Advior Com m it e m ne a n s ue. .' rl es denc s s y tee Not s a e t tde er i ng t appr i e sofexpe tt tm ony i ves a tcom m on es t t ha t m ni he oprat nes r es i nvol û s ns i r w het t untai l a w oul be qualfed t de e m i i eli l e e nquiy her he r ned aym n d ii o t r ne nt lgenty a t t bes pos i e degr t pari ul r is w ihout e i e e f om t e nd o he t s bl ee he tc a s ue t nlght nm nt r hos b vi as caie u e sa i o t s j c i l d i t ds ut. Fe R. d. a ng pe ilz d nd rtndng f he ube t nvove n he ip e' d. Evi ' 7 Ad s r Co it eNo e ( 97 Pr pos dRuls . 02 vio y mm te t s 1 2 o e e) The diti t cours per or a kgat kee ng' f ton.D auber v.M e re l D ow s rc t f m s e pi ' unc i t r l Ph m. 5 9 U. 57 5 ( 99 . An e r' o ni n s ou d be ba e o s intfc ar , 0 S. 9, 97 1 3) xpe ts pi o h l s d n ce ii prnci es;t Cour i not r r t adm i opi on e dence t ha i conne e t i pl he ts equied o t ni vi û t s t ct d o e si d t o y b t ls di toft e r. Ge Elc Co v J ne ,5 U. 1 6, xitng a a nl y he p e xi he xpe t' n. e . . oi r 22 S. 3 ' 1 ( 997 . çf ec urr m i no t epl c f rs i n ii g swor .'Ri e v Sa o 46 1 ) s' o too s t h a e o c e tfc ue s k.. d r . nd z -h ' Ph r Co p. 2 F. 1 9 1 0 ( 1h Ci.2 ) ( uo ig Ro e v Ci - i. a m. r , 95 3d 1 4, 2 2 1 t r 002 q tn s n . ba Gegy Cc#. 78F.d 31 ,31 ( h Ci. 9 6). ,, r 3 6 9 7t r1 9 ) 3 ik e 702' l pf ne s' sa r r r a vald s e ii connec i t t t ul l s hel ul s t nda d equies i ci ntfc ton o he pe tnent i r as a pr ondii t a i sbiiy. D auber , 509 U . a 591- . ri nquiy ec ton o dm s i lt ' ' t S. t 92 Expe tt tm ony m us ha a pr r esi t ve oper;tt'w ih t f ct of a cas f a 5 1. U ndert $5 ' t he a s e. #. t 9 he hepf nes pr l ul s ong,çexper t s i ony i adm i sbl i i conce ns m a t r t a e be û t e tm s si e f t r te s hat r yond t under t ng oft a r l per on.' azir,387 F. a 1 he sandi he ve age ay s 'Fr e 3d t 262. 1 1 A NA LY SI 1. S The onl cl y ouds dar ni t cl ar w a er of t s cas a e t a t m pt t ke ng he e t s hi e r he te s o ir ntoduce e r t s i ony on t toor f at e lghtng,and w ar ngs. Thi t tm ony xpe t e tm he l e ur s, i i ni s esi unneces arl com plc est ca s iy i at he se. W a ki Tha i t ac i att hea toft s ca e. W al ng i s e hi al os l ng, t s he ton he r hi s ki s om t ng m t a1 i vi s under t nd. Ri r derve num e ous conc usons fom hi anal i oft l ndi dual sa de i s r l i r s ys s he ca pe ,a lt s t tPl ntf ti r t l o ay ha ai if rpped beca e ofa condii on t gr us ton he ound.Se D . 45e E. 1 a 1 , n . 17. Hi r po t sa e ,Sl l e wak ys a e i r pe l d sg d a t 5 os s e r t t s sW h n l wa r mp o ry e ine nd m a nt ne pedesrins m ay be expos t da r condii .'1 at6. Thi i not i ai d, ta ed o nge ous tons' d. ss t ki of as e ton whi r r s exper t tm ony;i i neihe a sr t h nor even a he nd s ri ch equie t es i t s t r tec hop of l c t s t t hum ans m ay ti i t encount an obs a e i t r pa h. ogi o ay ha rp f hey er t cl n hei t J or ca easl unde s a t sm pl m echa cs of wal ng and t va i r ons ur s n iy r t nd he i e ni ki he r ous eas one m ay f l i udi t i ng on a c pe . al, ncl ng rppi ar t Peopl ot rt n Pl ntf pr pos expe tal o f eque l e e he ha ai ifs o ed r s r nty ncount cha er nges i n 'gh i Ri rwrt si hi r po t d W l n pe pl e o trsg fc ntdif r n e i l tng. de ie n s e r, i he o e nc un e i nii a fe e c s n i g tea u o lg fom o ae t a he,tee sr q r tmet f l a j tt t h mo nt f iht r ne ra o not r h ye e uie i o ul dus o he y 4 c nge i il i i ' ffa 11' a 15, no. 8. H e c udes t t t he c ha n lum naton. t t , t ' oncl ha i t hange i n brght s be w e t i e i and e e i oft door i nes t en he nt ror xt ror he way i bied M s.Tor es abiiy nhi t r ' lt t det ctand i ntf t ti haza d. ffa 11. The t tm ony i es entaly t tw hen o e de iy he rp r ' t t ' es i s s i l ha on g sfo alg td ae t ad r ne ae ,t e tke tmet a j ta d i e oe r m ihe r a o ake d ra he ye a s i o dus nd urng ' t i e va i i m or dit ul t s An e hat nt r l t s e fsc t o ee. xper i neiherneces ar nor hel ulf t s ts t s y pf or hi t t Cha - . ac nges i br ght sar enc n i nes e ount r d eve yda by al i vi sf t e e ee r y l ndi dual orunat nough t have e i . Thi under t ndi of t hum a e s ba c r tons t cha o yesght s s a ng he n ye' si eac i o nges i n lghti i t t ha ng eye i .The Cour i s ptca why a expe tw oul e rt tf i s nna e o vi s ght t s ke i l n r d ve es iy t s h evi e. o uc denc Ri ral o opi on t ef i y ofDef ndantsw a ni Se ffa 15,no.9. He de s nes he fcac e ' r ngs. e t t s a es t-he ca i cones us nea t i dent door a do not ef ec i y al t a tt , i r uton ed r he nci w y f tvel er pe t in t t une desra o he xpect d ti ha d oft ca pet' 1 at 1 Ther i no s ci i e rp zar he r .' d. 3. e s pe alzed know l edge neede t l atconesa as est rabiiy t w a n.A n a age l y pe s d o ook nd s hei lt o r ver a r on ca ls en t l y t tm ony aboutpl m e ,c or s ze,e c.ofc s and de de whe he n it o a es i ace nt ol , i t one ci t r a wa ni g wa a o it o no . Ri e i no a ssi t j y und rtnd ma tr r n s ppr pra e r t d r s t s itng he ur e sa te s whi t y w oul notot w i e com pr hend. ch he d her s e Ri ha no gr e a no l s expe i e t n t gene alpublc i t m ater der s eat r nd es renc ha he r i n he t s r eva t t scas A she hi s fsat i hi r por,dW al ng i a com m on ac i t i el nt o hi e. m el t es n s e t i ki s tviy n d iy lvi .'1 a 5 A j y c n d tr ne q t welf is l ho t Dee da al i ng.. d. t . ur a eemi uie l or tef w he fn nt ' a td i t sc s a wha r lto hi i a y,t s a ton ha t Plitf ij re . ce n hi a e nd t eains p, f n ho e ci s ve o anifs n u is 41 of t is t whi h Ri w oul t tf a e w el w ihi t under t ndi oft 1 he s ues o c der d esiy r l t n he s a ng he , 5 a r gely pe s n.To pe mi e r t si ny on is e whe et j y c n e sl f r ve a a r o r t xpe t e tmo s u s r he ur a a iy o m a o ninwo dbet iva t prvic oft j r Th Cou tbeive t j y i a n pi o ul o n de he o n e he u y. e r le s he ur s ca bl a com pe ent a s d be r s ct as s pa e nd t , nd houl e pe ed uch. Exper t tm ony i nothel ul t es i s pf on i uest sasut body ca unde sand. ss hi t e n rt A tbes ,Ri r' t tm ony w oul be s rl t de s es i d upe luous A tw or t t t tm ony woul . s , he es i d c nf s t j r r . Ex r t tmo y i he e ty ha a S we f a d po e ily o u e he u o s pe t esi n n r n l s s rul n po tntal m i l ng ef ec .'Fr er,387 F. at 1263.dsi pl put e r t tm ony m a be seadi f t' azi 3d ç m y , xpe t es i y a sg d tls ni sg fc nc i te e e o 1y j r r,a d,t r f r,t dsrc sine aima c inii a e n h y s f a u o s n hee oe he itit cours m us t ke ca e t w ei t val ofs h e dence agai tispot i t m i l ad t ta r o gh he ue uc vi ns t ental o s e or conf e.'1 Ri r' t s i ony woul ne es l com plcat a sm pl cas The us ' d. de s e tm d edl s y i e i e e. s bsa ta rs ofc nf i h j r a wa tng tme me t te ciei stfrh i u tn il ik o usngte uy nd si i es h rtra e o t n Feder Rul ofEvi nce 403 f e udi t e de al e de or xcl ng he vi nce. Th tsi ny i be te l e a t sj ncu e a notlf t a û ihtofte e etmo s s xcud d t hi u tr nd et o t g we h evi e' ar e at ti . Suc an appr h woul pe m i t e de denc ' gum nt ral h oac d r t he vi nce unde t r he te r t tholsi tepr os de e tstsi nyaet bec nsd rdbyt j y fra h oy ha e n h op e xp r' e tmo r o o iee he ur o ce biiy d tr nai S e eg.Ro ef l v Oc a a Cr s s I . 65 F. 11 0, rdi l eemi ton. e . s ned . e ni uie , nc, 4 3d 9 t 11 4 ( 1h Ci.201 ) ( r i ig e e t e i nc ,fndig a g n s at c e ih 9 1t r 1 pe m t n xp r v de e i n r ume t ta k d t e t t weg ta pe s sve e s'oft t si y,n isa s i lt . Thi i ar a ou ih nd rua i n s ' he e tmon ot t dmisbiiy) s s un- r nd on t Cour ' ga ekeepi f i he ts t ng uncton. The diti t cours a e r r t de er i s rc t r equied o t m ne com pet ency, hel ul s a r i biiy of t pr pf nes , nd ela lt he opos e ed xper . Fact cali i o t s lng nt ques i any oft t ee pr ton he hr ongs a e notar e s overpe s si nes butar diput r gum nt r ua ve s e s es 6 t Cour i r r t addr s i t fr t i t he t s equied o es n he i s nsance. I oul m a t exc i tw d ke he epton s l t r e i,i cas lke t s t û ei of t evi walow he ul f n es i hi , he t ght w he dence' a gum ent won out 'r o rt c e rlw r q rn t Co tt be agae e ra t ej r sf nda ntlr e ve he l a a e uii g he ur o t ke pe nd h u y' u me a ol t t Am erca l o he i n egalpr s oce s. Mo e ve, d rsmeh ol yi q sina e.Hen v rivetgae t s b e t r o r Rie ' tod og s ue to bl e e n si td he u jc ve s and f ti was unneces a y t do s D . 45- a 45: 48: 4. H i a ys s oft s el el t sr o o. E. 5 t 16- 1 s nal i he cmre i ba ed on c pa i onsofs a che e pl y oft cam e bele t be on t pts s om r s w t s xem ar he t i ved o he ves el at t tm e Pl ntf f l W ih r d t hi opi ons on lghtng,he di not s he i ai i f el. t egar o s ni i i d quantf t dif r ncesi lghtng bet ee t i eror a e eror of t shi 1 at iy he f e e n i i w n he nt i nd xt i he p. d. 75: 1 23. H i lghtng a ys s i bas d on phot aphs and de ii e n t 2s i i nal i s e ogr postons ve hough he ac know l edgest phot a do notadequa el de c how a bi ntlghti s n by t hat ogr phs t y pi t m e i s ee he hum a e 1 a 74: 1. Thi l ck of fr t hand i s i i m ake t r evanc of n ye. d. t 2s a i snve tgaton s he el e Ri r s e de ' xperm ent quie at i s t tenuat d. The r a i hi bet e Ri r' fndi and e el tons p w en de s i ngs Pl ntf f li a l dit nce one. A c di y,a r fom hi l k ofhel ul st ai ips al s ong- s a cor ngl pa t r s ac pf nes o t ti roff t hi opi ons a e notbas on a s fci l r i bl m et he re ac , s ni r ed uf i enty ela e hodol t m e i ogy o rt t ri uson a ti . hei ncl i t r al l .C ON CLU SI N V O A cc di y, upon a ca ef r ew of t r cor and t Cour bei ot nvi e or ngl r ul evi he e d he t ng he s f l a s i i O RD ER ED ,ADJUD G ED,and D ECREED t Def nda ' M oton uly dvied, t s hat e nts i t Sti ( E.45 be a d t s me i,he e y GRANTED. Ke n A.Ri r Ph. ' o rke D. ) , n he a s r b vi de , D.s na e i her STR I EN f om Pl ntf ls ofti lw ines es. m s eby CK r ai ips i t r a t s 7 DO NE and O RD ER ED i Cha ber a t Ja esLa e e K i Feder J tce n m s t he m wr nc ng al us i Buidi and Unied St t Courhous M i i Fl i t s 17t day ofJ y,201 l ng t a es t e, am , or da hi h ul 4. 2m uw- W J M ES LA N CE K I G N I TED STATES DI STRI J CT SOU TH ERN D I STRI OF F O CT cc: A l Couns ofRec d l el or 8 A
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