Erlandson et al v. Ford Motor Company, No. 3:2008cv01137 - Document 83 (D. Or. 2009)
Court Description: Opinion And Order: GRANTS Defendant's Motion 37 for Summary Judgment. DENIES as moot Defendant's Renewed Motion 42 to exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert. DENIES as moot Defendant's Motion 61 for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiff's Claim for Punitive Damages. Signed on 10/29/09 by Judge Anna J. Brown. (cib)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON TRACIE C. ERLANDSON, and MATTHEW L. ERLANDSON, wife and husband, and as Guardians Ad Litem for A.E., C.E., and S.E., minors, Plaintiffs, v. FORD MOTOR COMPANY, Defendant. TRACIE D. ERLANDSON MATTHEW L. ERLANDSON 18220 Indian Creek Drive Lake Oswego, OR 97035 (503) 624-4968 Plaintiffs, Pro Se NANCY M. ERFLE CHRISTIANE R. FIFE Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, P.C. 1600-1900 Pacwest Center 1211 S.W. Fifth Ave. Portland, OR 97204 (503) 222-9981 Attorneys for Defendant 1 - OPINION AND ORDER 08-CV-1137-BR OPINION AND ORDER BROWN, Judge. This matter comes before the Court on the Motion (#37) for Summary Judgment, the Renewed Motion (#42) to Exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert, and the Motion (#61) for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiff's Claim for Punitive Damages filed by Defendant Ford Motor Company. For the reasons that follow, the Court (1) GRANTS Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, (2) DENIES as moot Defendant's Renewed Motion to Exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert, and (3) DENIES as moot Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Claim for Punitive Damages. BACKGROUND The following facts are undisputed or, if disputed, are viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs Matthew Erlandson and Tracie Erlandson (the Erlandsons) and their children, Plaintiffs A.E., C.E., and S.E (the children). On June 30, 2001, the Erlandsons purchased a 2001 Ford Windstar from Courtesy Ford. The Windstar was designed and manufactured by Defendant. On November 6, 2006, Tracie Erlandson was taking the children, ages two, four, and five, to preschool in the Windstar. Tracie Erlandson started the engine and put the Windstar in 2 - OPINION AND ORDER reverse, but it did not move. She concluded an object might be blocking the back tires, so she decided to investigate. She set the emergency brake, but she left the Windstar in reverse and did not put it in park. After she exited the Windstar and walked behind it to check for objects, the Windstar began to roll backwards down the driveway with the driver's door open. Tracie Erlandson was able to move out of the way of the Windstar and was not injured. The Windstar, with the children still inside, rolled down the driveway, crossed the sidewalk and street, and hit a neighbor's parked car. The children, although upset, did not show any visible signs of injury, did not complain of any injuries, and were not taken anywhere for medical treatment. Tracie Erlandson was able to get the children to school in the Windstar between 30 minutes and an hour late. To date, neither Tracie Erlandson nor the children have shown any sign of physical injury, pain, or soreness from the accident nor have they received medical treatment for any physical injury arising from the accident. Before November 6, 2006, Plaintiffs did not experience any problems in the nature of delayed transmission shifts or engagements while operating the Windstar. On November 7, 2006, after the accident, Plaintiffs took the Windstar to AAMCO Transmissions in Tigard, Oregon, and AAMCO performed a visual inspection and a diagnostic service. 3 - OPINION AND ORDER AAMCO gave Plaintiffs a copy of a July 24, 2006, "Technical Service Bulletin" (TSB) issued by Defendant, which describes repairs that should be made to certain Ford vehicles (including some 2001 Windstar vans) if they exhibit problems with the engine and/or transmission due to water entering the vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM). Plaintiffs did not take the Windstar to Courtesy Ford or to any other Ford dealership to have it inspected nor was the Windstar inspected or tested at any time by either Plaintiffs or a qualified expert for purposes of determining the cause of the November 6, 2006, accident or determining whether the Windstar should have repairs of the type described in the TSB. Instead, Plaintiffs continued to drive the Windstar without any other problems potentially caused by delayed transmission shifts or engagements. On December 4, 2006, Plaintiffs wrote a letter1 to Defendant in which they described the accident and indicated they did not want to participate in a lawsuit or join a class action. They offered to waive "any considerations for damages for the emotional distress that occurred and was, or should have been, foreseeable by the manufacturer" in exchange for prompt settlement in the amount of $15,000. Defendant notified Plaintiffs it was forwarding the letter to its legal department. 1 Although the letter is dated December 4, 2001, the parties agree it was sent on December 4, 2006. 4 - OPINION AND ORDER On October 3, 2007, Plaintiffs traded in the Windstar at an Oregon auto dealership as part of a transaction to purchase a new vehicle. Plaintiffs did not notify Defendant in advance that they intended to dispose of the Windstar. On October 16, 2007, Plaintiffs sent Defendant a second letter in which they indicated they were planning to file an action against Defendant, but they did not inform Defendant that they no longer owned the Windstar. auction on February 12, 2008. The Windstar was sold at Plaintiffs commenced this action on September 30, 2008, and it was shortly thereafter Plaintiffs disclosed to Defendant that they had traded in the Windstar. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On September 30, 2008, Plaintiffs, appearing pro se, filed a Complaint in this Court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction in which they alleged various tort and contract claims. Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint on January 20, 2009, and a Second Amended Complaint on May 1, 2009. In their Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs allege claims against Defendant for (1) strict liability, (2) breach of implied warranty of merchantability, (3) product liability, (4) breach of contract, (5) breach of implied warranty of fitness, (6) negligence, and (7) fraud, all based on the contention that the November 6, 2006, accident was caused by a "mis-manufacture of the engine 5 - OPINION AND ORDER transmission driveability" or "delayed reverse engagement." Plaintiffs seek noneconomic damages for the emotional distress of Tracie Erlandson, the loss of consortium by Matthew Erlandson, and the alleged physical harm to and emotional distress of the children. Plaintiffs also seek punitive damages. On May 20, 2009, Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in which it moves for summary judgment as to all of Plaintiffs' claims or, in the alternative, for partial summary judgment as to Plaintiffs' request for noneconomic damages. Defendant also filed a Motion to Exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert. On July 6, 2009, Defendant filed its Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Claim for Punitive Damages. On September 28, 2009, the Court provided the parties with a preliminary Opinion and Order focused on the consequences of the Plaintiffs' sale of their Windstar. The Court permitted the parties to file supplemental briefing and heard oral argument on October 26, 2009, as to that issue. STANDARDS Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) authorizes summary judgment if no genuine issue exists regarding any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The moving party must show the absence of an issue of material fact. Rivera v. Philip Morris, Inc., 395 F.3d 1142, 1146 (9th 6 OPINION AND ORDER - Cir. 2005). In response to a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party must go beyond the pleadings and show there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. Id. An issue of fact is genuine "'if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.'" Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1061 (9th Cir. 2002)(quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). The court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Id. "Summary judgment cannot be granted where contrary inferences may be drawn from the evidence as to material issues." Easter v. Am. W. Fin., 381 F.3d 948, 957 (9th Cir. 2004)(citing Sherman Oaks Med. Arts Ctr., Ltd. v. Carpenters Local Union No. 1936, 680 F.2d 594, 598 (9th Cir. 1982)). A mere disagreement about a material issue of fact, however, does not preclude summary judgment. Haw., 902 F.2d 1385, 1389 (9th Cir. 1990). Jackson v. Bank of When the nonmoving party's claims are factually implausible, that party must "come forward with more persuasive evidence than otherwise would be necessary." Wong v. Regents of Univ. of Cal., 379 F.3d 1097 (9th Cir. 2004), as amended by 410 F.3d 1052, 1055 (9th Cir. 2005)(citing Blue Ridge Ins. Co. v. Stanewich, 142 F.3d 1145, 1149 (9th Cir. 1998)). 7 - OPINION AND ORDER The substantive law governing a claim or a defense determines whether a fact is material. Miller v. Glenn Miller Prod., Inc., 454 F.3d 975, 987 (9th Cir. 2006). If the resolution of a factual dispute would not affect the outcome of the claim, the court may grant summary judgment. Id. DISCUSSION Defendant contends it is entitled to summary judgment as to all of Plaintiffs' claims on the grounds that Plaintiffs' disposal of the Windstar amounts to spoliation of material evidence to such a prejudicial degree that it requires the sanction of dismissal. In the alternative, Defendant contends it is entitled to summary judgment as to Plaintiffs' claims for emotional distress and loss of consortium damages. I. Standards. "A federal trial court has the inherent discretionary power to make appropriate evidentiary rulings in response to the destruction or spoliation of evidence." Med. Lab. Mgmt. Consultants v. Am. Broadcasting Cos., Inc., 306 F.3d 806, 824 (9th Cir. 2002)(quoting Glover v. BIC Corp., 6 F.3d 1318, 1329 (9th Cir. 1993)). The Ninth Circuit "has recognized as part of a district court's inherent powers the 'broad discretion to make discovery and evidentiary rulings conducive to the conduct of a fair and orderly trial.'" 8 - OPINION AND ORDER Unigard Sec. Ins. Co. v. Lakewood Eng'g & Mfg. Corp., 982 F.2d 363, 368 (9th Cir. 1992). This inherent power "includes the power to sanction the responsible party" for failing to preserve material evidence. Consultants, 306 F.3d at 824. Med. Lab. Mgmt Such a sanction may include dismissal of the case or exclusion of evidence. Pirv v. Glock, Inc., No. 06-CV-145, WL 54466, at *5 (D. Or. Jan. 8, 2009). II. Analysis. A. Sanctions for failure to preserve material evidence. "Even when a court imposes a lesser evidentiary sanction than outright dismissal, it must find that the party willfully destroyed the evidence." 368 n.2. Id. (citing Unigard, 982 F.2d at 368, "A party's destruction of evidence qualifies as willful spoliation if the party has 'some notice that the [evidence was] potentially relevant to the litigation before [it was] destroyed.'" Leon v. IDX Sys. Corp., 464 F.3d 951, 959 (9th Cir. 2006)(quoting United States v. Kitsap Physicians Serv., 314 F.3d 995, 1001 (9th Cir. 2002)). Plaintiffs contend the design and manufacturing defects in the Windstar are not at the heart of their contract claims, and, therefore, Defendant does not require the opportunity to examine the vehicle. The Court, however, disagrees. are at the crux of all of Plaintiffs' claims: The alleged defects In their first and third claims, Plaintiffs allege a defect present in the Windstar caused Plaintiffs' damages; in their second and fifth claims, 9 - OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiffs allege a defect present in the Windstar breached the implied warranty of merchantability and the implied warranty of fitness; in their fourth, sixth, and seventh claims, Plaintiffs allege different theories under which Defendant should have disclosed or warned Plaintiffs of the existence of a defect in the Windstar. Accordingly, the Windstar is material evidence in this matter as to every claim. Moreover, because each claim is based on an alleged defect in the Windstar, Plaintiffs knew or should have known the Windstar would be material evidence in any action Plaintiffs brought arising from the alleged transmission "mis-manufacture." See Unigard, 982 F.2d at 368-69 (plaintiff's willful failure to preserve allegedly defective heater warranted sanctions). See also Silvestri v. Gen. Motors Corp., 271 F.3d 583, 591 (2d Cir. 2001)(case dismissed when plaintiff's failure to preserve allegedly defective vehicle was determined to be willful and prejudicial to defendant); Dillon v. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 986 F.2d 263, 267-68 (8th Cir. 1993)(plaintiff sanctioned for failing to preserve vehicle when he knew or should have known it would be material evidence). Nonetheless, even though Plaintiffs implied the possibility of litigation in their December 4, 2006, letter when they indicated they would prefer to waive their claims in exchange for $15,000, Plaintiffs traded in the Windstar without any notice to Defendants of their intention to do so. 10 - OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiffs, however, argue their particular Windstar is not relevant evidence because their claim is premised on a defect present in all Windstars, and therefore, it would be an abuse of discretion for the Court to dismiss this action as a sanction for Plaintiffs failure to preserve as evidence their particular Windstar. Plaintiffs rely on the TSB published by Defendant, which they assert amounts to an admission that a defect in Ford Windstars allows moisture to enter the PCM module through the vehicle's cowl. Plaintiffs argue Defendant's general acknowledgment of this problem in some Windstars is sufficient for Plaintiffs to prosecute--and for Defendant to defend against--their claim to a jury as to their specific Windstar. The Court notes the TSB does not constitute an admission by Defendant that a defect exists in all Windstars because it is no more than a recommended repair method for Windstars experiencing problems with moisture entering the PCM. In any event, Plaintiffs do not cite any case law to support their theory in this respect. Plaintiffs also insist that because Defendant could have requested to examine the Windstar at any time, Defendant is not entitled to rely on a failure-to-preserve-evidence defense merely because Defendant failed to do so. But the initial duty to preserve material evidence falls to Plaintiffs and "extends to that period before the litigation when a party reasonably should 11 - OPINION AND ORDER know that the evidence may be relevant to anticipated litigation." Silvestri, 271 F.3d at 591. The party in control of the evidence has "an obligation to give the opposing party notice of access to the evidence . . . if the party anticipates litigation involving that evidence." F.2d at 267. Id. See also Dillon, 986 It is undisputed that Plaintiffs traded in the Windstar nearly a year before they brought this action and that they did not notify Defendant they were planning to do so before they traded it in. The fact that Defendant did not ask to examine the Windstar before Plaintiffs commenced litigation does not erode Plaintiffs' duty to preserve the Windstar as material evidence in their lawsuit and/or to give notice to Defendant that they were planning to trade in the Windstar. Plaintiffs, nevertheless, assert this Court should adopt a rule under which a potential plaintiff can dispose of an allegedly defective product that may be relevant evidence in a future lawsuit if, after receiving notice of a claim, the defendant does not affirmatively request an inspection or preservation of the allegedly defective product within a reasonable time. Plaintiffs, however, do not cite to any case to support this proposition except for Silvestri. In Silvestri, which Plaintiffs agree is controlling here, the plaintiff was driving a borrowed vehicle when he lost control of it and slid off of the road in November 1994. 12 - OPINION AND ORDER 271 F.3d at 586. In the accident, the plaintiff sustained serious injuries to his face that allegedly occurred because the vehicle's airbag did not deploy properly. Id. The plaintiff retained an attorney, who in turn retained two accident-reconstruction experts in anticipation of litigation. Id. The two experts examined the vehicle and the crash site and wrote reports concluding the airbag should have deployed. Id. at 587. The vehicle's owner transferred title to his insurance company approximately three months later, and the vehicle was subsequently repaired and sold. Id. Neither plaintiff nor his attorney notified the defendant that an accident had occurred or that the plaintiff planned to file a lawsuit until three years after the accident occurred. The defendant ultimately found the vehicle in 1998 and was able to retain its own expert to conduct an inspection. Id. The defendant's expert reviewed the reports by the plaintiff's expert and, based on those reports, concluded there was not any need for the airbag to deploy because of the nature of the collision. Id. at 587-88. Moreover, the expert found the airbag sensing and diagnostic module did not suffer from any defects. Id. at 587. He also noted, however, there was not any way to determine whether the airbag sensing and diagnostic module was the same module that was in the car in 1994. Applying federal spoliation law, the Fourth Circuit concluded the defendant was severely prejudiced because the 13 - OPINION AND ORDER plaintiff failed to notify the defendant of its potential claim and to provide the defendant with an opportunity to inspect the vehicle before it was repaired even though the plaintiff knew the vehicle would be relevant evidence. Id. at 593. The court placed emphasis on the fact that even though some inspections of the vehicle had been performed, the plaintiff had "denied the defendant access to the only evidence from which it could develop its defenses adequately." Id. at 594. Similarly, Plaintiffs here have also denied Defendant access to the only evidence from which Defendant can adequately investigate Plaintiffs' claims and develop its defenses. Id. In addition, unlike in Silvestri, no one performed any inspections on Plaintiff's Windstar, which is now unavailable. Although Plaintiffs emphasize the fact that the plaintiff in Silvestri waited three years before notifying the defendant of its lawsuit, the court in Silvestri focused on the fact that the vehicle was disposed of only a few months after the accident without notice to the defendant or an opportunity to inspect the vehicle. The Court notes Plaintiffs did not have the benefit of counsel, there is not any evidence that they traded in their Windstar with an improper motive, and Plaintiffs merely mentioned to Defendant's counsel after they filed the action that the Windstar had been traded in, all of which suggests Plaintiffs did not appreciate the potential consequences their actions would 14 - OPINION AND ORDER have on this case. Nonetheless, because Plaintiffs disposed of their vehicle without notice to Defendant, Defendant was deprived of the opportunity to inspect the vehicle. Even though Plaintiffs' motives were apparently innocent, the prejudice to Defendant is significant. For these reasons, the Court concludes Plaintiffs' failure to preserve the Windstar as material evidence was willful and, therefore, warrants sanctions. B. Appropriate sanction. As noted, sanctions for willfully disposing of material evidence may include dismissal of the matter. WL 54466, at *5. Pirv, Inc., "[D]ismissal is severe and constitutes the ultimate sanction for spoliation" and "is usually justified only in circumstances of bad faith or other like action." 271 F.3d at 593. Silvestri, Even "when conduct is less culpable[, however,] dismissal may be necessary if the prejudice to the defendant is extraordinary, denying it the ability to adequately defend its case." Id. See also Unigard, 982 F.2d at 369 (disposal of material evidence prejudicial). Defendant contends it is severely prejudiced by Plaintiffs' disposal of the Windstar because Defendant, without being able to examine the Windstar, is precluded from showing that something other than the alleged defect (for example, driver error on the part of Tracie Erlandson) caused the Windstar to roll backwards 15 - OPINION AND ORDER down the driveway. Moreover, without Plaintiff's Windstar, Plaintiffs themselves are prevented from testing their own theory as to what occurred. Here, as in Silvestri, there is not any adequate substitute for the vehicle itself in adjudicating Plaintiffs' claims and Defendant's ability to evaluate and to defend against those claims. Thus, a lesser sanction than dismissal will not cure the prejudice to Defendant. As noted, however, the theories of Plaintiffs and Defendant cannot be tested in the absence of the actual product that is alleged to be defective. See Unigard, 982 F.2d at 369 (destruction of allegedly defective heater prejudicial to Defendant and fatal to plaintiff's claims). See also Silvestri, 271 F.3d at 594 (failure to preserve an allegedly defective car a "highly prejudicial" act warranting dismissal); Dillon, 986 F.2d at 267-68 (plaintiff's failure to preserve allegedly defective car prejudicial). On this record, the Court concludes Plaintiff's disposal of the Windstar is so prejudicial to Defendant's ability to defend against Plaintiff's claims that a sanction less than dismissal of this matter would be meaningless. The Court, therefore, concludes Defendant is entitled to summary judgment of dismissal as to all of Plaintiff's claims. Defendant's Motion to Exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert and Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiff's Claim for Punitive Damages are, 16 - OPINION AND ORDER therefore, moot. CONCLUSION For these reasons, the Court (1) GRANTS Defendant's Motion (#37) for Summary Judgment, (2) DENIES as moot Defendant's Renewed Motion (#42) to Exclude Matthew Erlandson as an Expert, and (3) DENIES as moot Defendant's Motion (#61) for Partial Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Claim for Punitive Damages. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED this 29th day of October, 2009. /s/ Anna J. Brown ANNA J. BROWN United States District Judge 17 - OPINION AND ORDER
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