Echevarria v. Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Corp.

279 F.R.D. 73, 81 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 826, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5046, 2012 WL 119113
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Echevarria v. Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Corp.. Read the opinion of the Court — 839 F. Supp. 2d 464
District Court, D. Puerto Rico·Decided January 17, 2012·No. Civil Nos. 09-2034 (GAG), 09-2142 (GAG), 09-2158 (GAG), 09-2160 (GAG)·Published

Opinion

ORDER

GUSTAVO A. GELPÍ, District Judge.

Plaintiffs filed the present action against Robinson Helicopter Co. (“Robinson”), Caribbean Aviation Maintenance, Corp. and Chartis Insurance Company—Puerto Rico (“CAM Defendants”) (collectively “Defendants”) for [74]*74the events that led to the death of Diego Vidal Gonzalez (“Vidal Gonzalez”). On November 12, 2008, a helicopter piloted by Jose A. Montano (“Montano”) and carrying Vidal Gonzalez suffered severe damage while attempting to land at the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport. Vidal Gonzalez was rushed to the Rio Piedras Medical Center where he was treated for injuries. Vidal Gonzalez lapsed into a coma and died 59 days later. Through the various consolidated actions Vidal Gonzalez’s widow and three children (“Bouret Plaintiffs”), his son (‘Vidal-Shirley”), his father and sisters (“Vidal-Lampon Plaintiffs”), and Montano (collectively “Plaintiffs”) brought suit against Defendants for damages, claiming it was the negligence of Defendants that led to the death of Vidal Gonzalez.

The present matter involves CAM Defendants’ motion in limine to preclude Robinson’s President, Kurt Robinson (“Kurt”) from testifying at trial (Docket No. 285). Robinson filed a memorandum in opposition (Docket No. 334). CAM Defendants filed motion to clarify the record (Docket No. 350), which was opposed and clarified by Robinson (Docket No. 352). After reviewing the pleadings and pertinent law, the court GRANTS CAM Defendants’ motion to preclude the testimony of Kurt.

I. Factual Background

The complaint in this case was filed on October 7, 2009 (Docket No. 1). Robinson listed Frank Robinson (“Frank”), the President of the Robinson, as a fact witness it intended to call at trial in the joint case management memorandum. (See Docket No. 48 at 27-28.) In this memorandum, dated February 4, 2010, Frank’s testimony would be in regards to numerous aspects of helicopters and aviation, and how that knowledge applies to the present case. (See id.) In an e-mail communication dated October 25, 2010, between Louis Martinez (“Martinez”), counsel for CAM Defendants, and Tim Goetz (“Goetz”), counsel for Robinson, Martinez stated that he wanted to arrange a time to depose Frank. (See Docket No. 350-1.) Martinez stated that the discovery deadline of December 1, 2010 was approaching and he would have to make the arrangements to fly to California for the deposition. (See id.) Also in that e-mail, Martinez asked Goetz if Robinson planned on calling Frank as a witness because Goetz had stated in previous communications that it was possible Frank would not be called as a witness. (See id.) Goetz wrote a one sentence response stating, “We do not intend to call Mr. Frank Robinson as a fact witness at the trial of the above-referenced matter.” (See id.) Based on this representation, CAM Defendants did not depose Frank during the discovery stage of litigation.

In August of 2010, Frank stepped down as President of Robinson and was succeeded by his son Kurt. (See Docket No. 334 at 2.) In the proposed pre-trial order Robinson submitted, dated October 14, 2011, Kurt is listed as a witness to testify as to the history of the Robinson business and to authenticate corporate records. (See Docket No. 267.) On December 1, 2011, CAM Defendants filed the present motion to preclude Kurt from testifying at trial (Docket No. 285). In opposition, Robinson argued the switch of Kurt for Frank was substantially justified and harmless because CAM Defendants knew since the filing of the joint case management memorandum that Robinson planned on calling the President of Robinson as a witness. (See Docket No. 334 at 4.) This memorandum was signed by Diego Ramos and Goetz. (See id. at 7.) In response, CAM Defendants, through counselor Martinez, reminded of Robinson Goetz’s representation that Frank would not be called as a witness and asked Robinson to withdraw Kurt from the witness list. (See Docket No. 350-2.) Robinson responded with an apology to opposing counsel and to the court for any misunderstandings, claiming Goetz forgot about his representation to Martinez and that there was a break-down in communication between Martinez, Robinson’s lead counsel and Goetz, Robinson’s in-house counsel. (See Docket No. 352 at 2, 5.)

II. Legal Analysis

Rule 26(a) requires a party to provide the name of each witness it plans to call during trial. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(3)(A)(i). A violation of Rule 26(a) is cause for the [75]*75court to preclude the witness from testifying at trial. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(c)(1) (stating preclusion of witness is the penalty for failure to timely name witness); Harriman v. Hancock Cnty., 627 F.3d 22, 29-30 (1st Cir.2010) (upholding preclusion of witnesses because party did not comply with Rule 26(a) disclosures). However, if a party can demonstrate the failure to comply with Rule 26(a) is substantially justified or is harmless, then the witness may still testify. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 37(c)(1); Crispin-Taveras v. Mun. of Carolina, 647 F.3d 1, 8-9 (1st Cir.2011) (holding party’s non-compliance with Rule 26 harmless).

III. Discussion

Robinson states in its opposition to CAM Defendants’ motion to clarify the record, that had counsel remembered his representation to Martinez, it would have limited its opposition to the harmlessness of Kurt’s testimony. (See Docket No. 352 at 5.) However, earlier in its opposition, Robinson argues Goetz, “never meant not to call Robinson’s current president if the need arose later on, as it has, considering all the bad reputation evidence the plaintiffs and CAM are now intent on offering against Robinson.” (See Docket No. 352 at 4.) The court will address whether Robinson properly preserved the right to call the President of Robinson and whether the addition of Kurt as a witness is harmless as to CAM Defendants.

A. Ability to Call Robinson’s President

Robinson argues it never meant to waive its right to call the President of Robinson as a witness. However, the actions of Robinson’s counsel seem to indicate otherwise. When Frank was replaced by Kurt as President of Robinson in August of 2010, there remained roughly three months left of the discovery period. Neither did Robinson indicate to CAM Defendants that Frank was no longer President, nor did they update the joint case management memorandum. In fact, when Goetz and Martinez were communicating in October 2010 regarding whether Frank would testify, Frank was no longer President. Goetz did not inform Martinez that Kurt was currently the President. Robinson argues the significance of Frank’s testimony is that he was the President of Robinson. However, when Martinez contacted Goetz to schedule Frank’s deposition, Frank was no longer President. Robinson had the opportunity at that time to inform CAM Defendants that Kurt was President and Frank was no longer being considered as a witness.

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Echevarria v. Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Corp., 279 F.R.D. 73, 81 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 826, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5046, 2012 WL 119113 (prd 2012).

279 F.R.D. 73 (Echevarria v. Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Corp.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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