Campos v. Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.

98 F. Supp. 3d 372, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47764, 2015 WL 1608068
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedMarch 31, 2015
DocketCivil No. 12-1529 (PAD)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 98 F. Supp. 3d 372 (Campos v. Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campos v. Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., 98 F. Supp. 3d 372, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47764, 2015 WL 1608068 (prd 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

DELGADO-HERNÁNDEZ, District Judge.

Gerardo Campos, his wife Yadira Veguilla-Rosario, their legal conjugal partnership, and their minor child C.C.V. initiated the instant action under Puerto Rico law against Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.; Makita USA, Inc.; National Rental and Sales, Inc.; and Tool Box, Inc., seeking redress for damages arising out of Campos’ alleged exposure to a chemical agent (“SK-105”), as a result of which he supposedly developed .chronic myelogenous leukemia (“CML”).1 The defendants denied liability.

Following discovery, the parties moved for summary judgment and filed various motions in limine. For the reasons bellow, all of the motions are DENIED, except for (1) Makita’s motion for summary judgment at Docket No. 99, which is GRANTED IN PART as to Campos’ claim; (2) Safety-Kleen’s motion for summary judgment at Docket No. 113, which is GRANTED IN PART to exclude potential recovery of punitive damages; (3) Safety-Kleen’s motion at Docket No. 137, which is GRANTED as to leave to file excess pages with respect to Docket No. 138; and (4) Safety-Kleen’s request at Docket No. 150, which is GRANTED IN PART with respect to exclusion of internet materials. ’

Before the Court are:

[377]*377• “Defendant Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony, Opinions, and Report of David F. Dr. Goldsmith, Ph.D.” (Docket No. 93) — -joined by Makita (Docket No. 104) — plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 117) and defendants’ reply (Docket No. 123);
• “Defendant Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony, Opinions, and Report of Su-Jung (Candace) Tsai, Sc.D.” (Docket No. 94) — joined by Makita (Docket No. 104) — and plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 116);
• “Defendant Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.’s Motion in Limine to Preclude the Testimony, Opinions, and Report of Dr. Arthur Frank” (Docket No. 95) — joined by Makita (Docket No. 104) — plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 114), and defendants’ reply (Docket No. 125);
• “Defendant Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.’s Motion to Exclude the Testimony, Opinions, and Report of Melvyn Kopstein, Ph.D.” (Docket No. 97)— joined by Makita (Docket No. 104)— plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 118), and defendants’ reply (Docket No.-124);
• Co-defendant Makita USA’s “Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law in Support” (Docket No. 99), plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 105) and Makita’s reply (Docket No. 122);
• Plaintiffs’ “Motion for Summary Judgment Against Makita” (Docket No. 109) and Makita’s opposition (Docket No. 136);
• “Plaintiffs’ Motion to Exclude the Testimony of Julie Panko and Motion for Sanctions” (Docket No. 110), SafetyKleen’s opposition (Docket No. 138), and plaintiffs’ reply (Docket No. 153, Exh. 1);2
• Plaintiffs’ “Motion for Summary Judgment/Motion to Strike Dr. Peter Shields under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and Daubert” (Docket No. Ill), Safety-Kleen’s opposition (Docket Nos. 139 and 144), plaintiffs reply to Docket No. 139 (Docket No. 160), and Safety-Kleen sur-reply to Docket No. 160 (Docket No. 165); and
• “Defendant Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment” (Docket No. 113), plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket No. 135), Safety-Kleen’s reply and request to strike evidence in sup7 port of Plaintiffs’ opposition (Docket Nos. 149 and 150), plaintiffs’ sur-reply to Safety-Kleen’s evidentiary objections (Docket No. 159), and SafetyKleen’s response to Docket No. 159 (Docket No. 163).

I. Motions in Limine

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

The motions at Docket Nos. 93, 94, 95, 97, 110, 111, essentially challenge contemplated expert testimony under Fed. R.Evid. 702.3 This rule requires district [378]*378courts to act as gatekeepers, ensuring that an expert’s proffered testimony both rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the task at hand. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 597, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993); Milward v. Acuity Specialty Products Group, Inc., 639 F.3d 11, 14 (1st Cir.2011). The task is a flexible one. Its focus is based solely on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions that expert testimony generates. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 580, 113 S.Ct. 2786.

There are four factors that may assist a trial court in determining the admissibility of an expert’s testimony: (1) whether the theory or technique can be and has been tested; (2) whether the technique has been subject to peer review and publication; (3) the technique’s known or potential rate of error; and (4) the level of the theory or technique’s acceptance within the relevant discipline. U.S. v. Mooney, 315 F.3d 54, 62 (1st Cir.2002). These factors do not constitute a definitive checklist or test. Milward, 639 F.3d at 14 (citing Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 150, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999)). Given that there are many different kinds of experts, and many different kinds of expertise, these factors may or may not be pertinent in assessing reliability, depending on the nature of the issue, the expert’s particular expertise, and the subject of his testimony. Id. At the end, the Court must determine whether the putative expert is qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education. Pages-Ramírez v. Ramírez-González, 605 F.3d 109, 114 (1st Cir.2010).

Daubert does not require a party who proffers expert testimony to carry the burden of proving that the expert’s assessment of the situation is correct. Ruiz-Troche v. Pepsi Cola of Puerto Rico Bottling Co., 161 F.3d 77, 86 (1st Cir.1998). As long as the expert’s testimony rests upon good grounds based on what is known, it should be tested by the adversarial process, rather than excluded for fear that jurors will not be able to handle the scientific complexities. Milward, 639 F.3d at 15 (citing Daubert, 509 U.S. at 590, 596, 113 S.Ct. 2786). Vigorous cross-examination, presentation of contrary evidence, and careful instructions on the burden of proof are the traditional and appropriate means of attacking shaky but admissible evidence. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 596, 113 S.Ct. 2786.

B. DISCUSSION

(i) David, F. Goldsmith (Docket No. 93)

Defendants seek to exclude the testimony of Dr. Goldsmith, contending he ignores overwhelming evidence not supporting his general causation opinion that benzene exposure can cause CML (Docket No.

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98 F. Supp. 3d 372, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47764, 2015 WL 1608068, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campos-v-safety-kleen-systems-inc-prd-2015.